Workshop stresses traffic safety, accident prevention

Doctors highlight need for helmet use, construction standards

LAHORE:

Adherence to traffic rules and safety protocols during construction work can significantly reduce accidental deaths and disabilities, while 100% helmet use by motorcyclists can drastically minimise fatal head injuries, medical experts emphasised at the Advanced Trauma Life Support Workshop held at Ameer Uddin Medical College.

The workshop, organized under the leadership of Dr Farooq Afzal, Head of General Surgery, featured detailed lectures and practical training for young doctors.

Addressing the participants, Principal Dr Muhammad Al-Fareed Zafar underscored the mission of the medical profession to save lives and highlighted the preventable nature of many injuries caused by traffic negligence.

"Parents' negligence often results in young children driving motorcycles and cars, leading to tragic accidents that families regret for a lifetime," Prof Zafar said.

He called for greater public awareness and strict compliance with traffic laws to prevent such incidents.

Prominent medical professionals, including Prof. Arshad Cheema, Prof Moeed Iqbal Qureshi, Prof Shoaib Nabi, Prof Farid Ahmed Khan, Prof Muhammad Hanif, Prof Haroon Javed and Dr Farooq Rana, shared insights on modern surgical techniques and trauma care. They stressed the importance of timely medical aid for accident victims to increase their chances of survival.

Prof Asif Bashir and Prof Khalid Mehmood from the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences noted that excessive bleeding from seemingly minor injuries is often fatal. They urged citizens to promptly transport injured individuals to hospitals and for medical teams to respond swiftly to critical cases.

Speakers emphasised the importance of helmets for motorcyclists, noting that head injuries account for a significant portion of fatalities in road accidents.

They also called for improved safety measures at construction sites to prevent accidents, reducing the burden on emergency departments like neurosurgery, orthopedics, and burn units.

"By ensuring compliance with traffic rules and construction safety standards, we can reduce accident-related fatalities and ease the workload on medical institutions," Prof Farooq Afzal said.

The workshop concluded with a question-and-answer session, providing an opportunity for young doctors to gain further insights into trauma management and advanced surgical practices.