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This article was written by James Howard Street III, MD and Ian Weston, AVP of Operations.
A split second can be all it takes for a routine afternoon to turn into a life-altering event. Whether it’s sending a quick text message behind the wheel or tuning out traffic while walking across the street, distraction is a silent factor in thousands of traumatic incidents each year.
In the hospital, “accident” and “trauma” don’t always mean the same thing. An accident is something unintended that happens. Trauma refers to critical, often life-threatening injuries, such as those from car crashes, falls, or violence. These require immediate, specialized medical intervention.
Trauma remains the leading cause of death for people in the U.S. under age 45. During National Trauma Awareness Month, our goal is to help you avoid ever having to meet our expert trauma care teams.
This year’s theme, “Stay Focused. Stay Safe,” serves as a vital reminder that most traumas are considered preventable through safer habits or paying closer attention to our surroundings. In busy urban environments like Washington, D.C., where drivers, cyclists, scooters, buses, and pedestrians all share crowded streets, staying alert matters more important than ever.
Epidemic of distraction.
We live in a world designed to grab our attention, from stadium-sized screens to chiming smartphone notifications. Yet the cost of dividing our focus can be significant:
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Distracted driving: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates over 3,300 deaths annually from distracted driving - about 9 every day. Sending or reading a text can take your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of a football field blind.
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Pedestrian danger: Distracted walking is a growing concern. Pedestrian deaths in the U.S. have reached their highest levels in decades. Pedestrians and bicyclists now account for about 20% of all traffic fatalities. This is fueled by people navigating busy streets while looking (and listening) to their phones rather than traffic around them.
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An opportunity for safety: Trauma accounts for more years of life lost before age 75 than cancer, heart disease, and HIV combined. As many as 70% of all traumatic injuries are considered preventable, and distraction is at the root of many of these.
Our clinical teams often witness the aftermath of these seemingly minor distractions. From broken bones to life-changing amputations, the consequences of distracted driving or walking can be devastating and permanent. But simple behavioral shifts can make a real impact on safety.
Practical tips to stay focused and safe.
Preventing a trauma starts with the intentional choices you make. By reclaiming your focus, you can significantly decrease your risk of becoming part of a trauma.
Tips for reducing distractions in the car.
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Out of sight, out of mind: Place your phone in the glove box, center console, or a pocket you can’t reach before you start the engine.
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Use integrated tech: If your vehicle has a hands-free communication system, use it. Set these controls up before you drive, and you’ll never have to touch your device.
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Tech first, drive second: Before shifting out of park, program your GPS and select your playlist. Adjusting these settings while driving can be just as dangerous as texting.
Advice for staying focused when walking.
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Eyes up, ears open: When walking in high-traffic areas, such as Metro stations or busy intersections, put your phone away and take off your headphones.
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Scan your environment: Make a habit of identifying exit routes and stay mindful of oncoming vehicles or changing traffic signals.
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Step aside: If you must check a notification or respond to a message, treat it like a rest stop. Step out of the flow of pedestrian traffic, move away from the curb, and stop walking before looking at your screen.
We’re here when you need us.
No matter how careful our prevention, trauma can still happen. When it does, the team at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is ready to help.
As a verified Level 1 Trauma Center, we provide 24/7/365 access to every surgical subspecialty needed to care for complex and critical injuries. Compared to other U.S. trauma centers, we improve survival odds by 40%, treating 2,200 to 3,000 patients with severe injuries each year.
Trauma care is a team sport. From the moment EMS alerts our trauma bay, teams across surgery, emergency medicine, imaging, critical care, and rehabilitation mobilize simultaneously. When a patient arrives, they’re met by a team of specialists including surgeons, nurses, and respiratory therapists all working together. This coordinated effort is designed to maximize the “golden hour”—the critical window immediately following an injury when rapid care offers the best chance of survival and recovery.
Related: Read “Study: Personalized, Coordinated Care Linked to Fewer Emergency Department Repeat Visits.”
Helping you prevent a traumatic injury is a core part of our community service. While we’re proud of our world-class surgical capabilities and collaborative expertise, we hope you never need our care.
Staying focused is a gift you can give yourself, your family, and your community. By choosing to stay aware of your surroundings, you’re doing your part to help prevent traumatic injuries.
