Assessment Of Lay First Responders Skills on Management of Trauma Patients who Present with External Hemorrhage, in the Pre Hospital Setting, in Kakamega County, Kenya
Abstract:
Trauma is a major health care issue that leads to death of 5-8 million
people yearly worldwide. External hemorrhage has significant morbidity and
mortality to date. Hemorrhage is
responsible for almost 40% of trauma deaths and 33% of the deaths occur during
the pre-hospital period. 20% of trauma-related deaths may have been prevented
with receipt of optimal trauma care and the greatest opportunity to save lives
is in the pre-hospital setting. Early death from traumatic hemorrhage is
preventable through timely quality management, beginning with pre -hospital
providers and rapid transportation to definitive care. The main objective
of the study was to assess lay first responders’ skills on management of
patients presenting with external haemorrhage in the pre-hospital setting in
Kakamega County, Kenya.. Quantitative research method was used, utilizing
descriptive cross-sectional study design. Census sampling method was used to
select Sub Counties. Study participants were chosen using simple random
sampling method. 208 Lay first responders from 8 Sub -Counties were assessed in
order to obtain their baseline skills level before training them. The assessment
was done using observation checklists in a simulation setting. Collected data
was analysed using Statistical package for Social Sciences version 28.
Findings: 70.1 % of the participants approached the scene without checking for
safety. Only 40% of the participants applied pressure to prevent bleeding. Unique contributions
to Theory, Practice and Policy: Bystanders are the first
people to arrive at a trauma scene in low and middle income Countries yet they
have inadequate skills on Scene safety and external hemorrhage control
therefore there is need for training them.
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