What you need to know about the Golden Hour?

The Golden hour – the first 60 minutes of the care the patient receives directly affects the outcome. It is very important especially in cases of traumatic injuries as this golden hour plays an important role in deciding the morbidity and mortality of the patient. According to experts, right care during golden hour increases the chances of survival as well as reduces the aftereffects of the trauma.

R.Adams Cowley, founder of Shock Trauma Institute, Baltimore came up with the term ‘Golden Hour’ in the year 1975. He called this time as the time between life and death. According to him, if a person is critically injured, rather than dying right away, that person might have less than sixty minutes for any chance of survival. However, this isn’t a statement or theory that is proved yet. But the concept of golden hour plays an important role even in the current situation as this spreads the importance of seeking urgent medical treatments in cases of traumas.

However, Golden hour is not always a predefined time period. Sometimes, according to the severity of the situation the golden hour can range from a few minutes to several hours. Golden hour is aimed at saving the lives of patients who underwent major trauma from early deaths mostly caused due to haemorrhage. Although it isn’t proved that the survival rates drop after 60 minutes, it is always advisable to receive the best care ASAP. Also, in some cases, the patient might experience shock due to delayed treatments which can lead to death.

Trauma is one of the leading causes of death in India. It is extremely risky for the people above the age of 40. Admitting a person in a hospital in the least time possible enhances the chances of survival and quality of life. The wise choices made by you during the golden hour is as important as realising and informing the medical authorities. If you come across a patient in trauma or injuries, call an ambulance immediately, make sure the patient is breathing and has a lot of space to get fresh air. Bleeding can be stopped by applying direct pressure on the injured area. You can also try giving CPR if found necessary. After calling an ambulance, in case of heart attacks and strokes, you can help your loved ones in taking any prescribed medications. Stroke can be identified with the warning signs, i.e, FAST-Face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, and time to call an ambulance. However, it is also important to wait till the medical care arrives if you are unsure about anything.

The basic idea behind this golden hour concept is not to delay your decision in seeking expert medical care just because you expect the situation to become better by time. The sooner the patient gets help, lesser the patient will suffer. In addition to decreasing the chances of survival, it also helps in a speedy recovery. Golden hour voices the necessity of rushing a trauma patient to the nearest health care center in the least possible time because this golden hour is the time that decides the life of a person post this trauma.