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State road mishap deaths surpass average

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 8 � Not floods or violence, but road traffic accidents accounted for 50.4 per cent deaths in Assam last year surpassing the national average, which is 36.4 per cent. Sharing the contents of its alarming report on �State of Youth Health: Road Traffic Accident� the GNRC Hospitals today revealed that young people between 15-44 years were the primary victims of such road accidents.

Prepared by compiling and analysing the data from records of over 25 years maintained by the GNRC and various other sources, including the police and Transport Department, the report suggested that in 2013, 2,441 deaths occurred in the State due to road traffic accidents and 6,609 were critically injured in such accidents.

�The year has just begun and already 23 road accident deaths have been reported in January so far, whereas 100 were injured,� said Dr Navanil Barua, director of neurosurgery department of GNRC adding that timely action and healthcare in such cases could prevent deaths and help in speedy recovery.

Taking an initiative in this regard, the hospital group has come up with a campaign to sensitize the youth, specially students, journalists, police, commercial drivers and also the doctors on first responders� training, and awareness on road safety, preventive measures and also the post accident care to the injured.

The GNRC team also demonstrated the first hand post-accident care to the injured at the Guwahati Press Club.

�The campaign would also include providing first aid kits and cost effective spine boards in the police vehicles to provide aid to the victims of road traffic accidents,� said Dr Atanu Borthakur, director of accident and emergency department of the hospital. �Most of such cases involve youth, who ride two-wheelers, without wearing proper helmets. Other factors like poor road condition, driving after drinking, uncontrolled speed, listening to music or talking over the phone while walking or driving, are other major causes of road accidents,� he added.

Dr JP Sarma, director of business development and growth, also spoke on the occasion.

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