“You’re safe and well,” begins Tara Grenier, Injury Prevention Program Coordinator and in charge of the May 5 activity. But in the next few hours you will experience the journey of a traumatized person. »
The activity will start in the recovery room where the audience will encounter an imaginary patient: what happens from there? Camping in the hospital itself, the activity will take the form of a journey where each stop is a critical step for the patient’s survival. And so, the group would go into the imaging room, into operating rooms, into intensive care to end up in the rehabilitation room. The idea behind this journey is to understand each step that leads to recovery and to meet the people involved in the process.
Trauma, what is it?
Trauma is a physical injury that endangers life or a body part. Traumatologists are specialized surgeons who have undergone training in high-risk areas, such as war zones for example. It is a very demanding service that involves the collaboration of a large team of specialists: from paramedics who transport the injured person, to respiratory therapists who provide respiratory assistance, to nurses, nurses, and even physical therapists. The list is long. In a Class III trauma center, such as that of Montreal General Hospital, this medical staff must be ready to intervene 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Raising awareness for better protection
Risks are part of life. But some of the causes that lead us to the trauma center can be avoided by taking precautions: wearing a bicycle helmet, looking before crossing, not using your cell phone on the road, etc. “It’s not a matter of luck,” states the prevention program’s motto.
Throughout the year, the center offers this experience to youth in the fifth grade as well as a program to become an ambassador.
Can’t participate in the activity? The Trauma Center also offers virtual visits upon request. To learn more, visit their website codetrauma.com or write to them at [email protected].
