Program is an in-hospital injury and trauma prevention program run by Royal North Shore Hospital Trauma Service. Aimed at school age students between the ages of 15-25 years old, its goal is to reduce the over representation of young adults in injury and trauma statistics. Young people are particularly vulnerable to risk taking behaviours. International studies have shown that exposing these stude
nts to the consequences of risky behaviour resulted in a decline in risk related injuries. In 2012, 15 per cent of youths between the ages of 15 to 25 years presented to NSW hospitals with severe trauma injuries. In the past five years across Australia, there were 1,638 pre-hospital deaths associated with on road traumas in this same age group. Program is a one day program which allows students to see first-hand the consequences of risk- taking behaviours in everyday life. Throughout the day students will:
Hear from doctors, nurses, allied health staff and paramedics on the harsh reality of poor choices
Spend time in interactive sessions in the emergency room, intensive care and rehabilitation units to understand how it feels to have a severe injury or disability. Hear the story of a trauma patient recovering from their injuries on the trauma ward
Meet with an injury survivor who shares their story on how their life has changed and what it is like to have a severe life changing disability
Royal North Shore Hospital is the first hospital to implement the program in New South Wales. Program was first established in Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Canada in 1986 and has been successfully implemented by staff at more than 100 sites around the world. In Australia these hospitals are: The Royal Perth Hospital (WA), Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (QLD), The Alfred (VIC) and The Royal Melbourne Hospital (VIC).
