Challenge

Road traffic injuries are a rapidly growing epidemic in low- and middle-income countries, and the world's leading killer of people ages 5-29. Many of these deaths could be prevented by timely access to basic first aid at the crash scene, and rapid transportation to the hospital. 

When we began our journey, Bangladesh, like many developing nations, was a country deeply affected by the road traffic injury epidemic, but lacking a dedicated prehospital emergency medical system, with most victims receiving care from untrained bystanders lacking appropriate medical equipment.

Injured patients are much more likely to survive if they receive treatment quickly, so having rapid access to medical care at the crash scene is essential. Fortunately, within the first hour after injury, simple medical treatments can be highly effective at preventing paralysis and death. This critical window is known as the “Golden Hour” and is the period of time during which TraumaLink's First Responders work.