A Senior Resident at the Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery Unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Dr. Raphael Kwarase, has cautioned the public against the unsafe handling of road accident victims, warning that improper intervention during emergencies could worsen injuries or even lead to death.
Dr. Kwarase gave the advice during an interview on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Wednesday, March 11, where he highlighted the dangers associated with careless handling of victims at accident scenes.
According to him, although many bystanders rush to assist victims with good intentions, their actions sometimes cause further harm.
“When accidents happen, people rush to the scene to see the person involved. Sometimes, because no help arrives quickly, they stop any available means of transport, hold the person by the hands and legs and throw them into the vehicle”.
“That alone can even kill the person. So your handling might be what has killed the person, not the accident itself or the injury.” He said.
Dr. Kwarase advised members of the public to first secure the scene and immediately call emergency service providers when accidents occur. He stressed that if victims must be moved, it should be done with extreme caution to avoid worsening their injuries.
“Make sure the head, neck and chest are all aligned so that there will not be too much shaking that could cause further injury.” He explained.
The orthopedic specialist also pointed out that many road crashes are preventable if road users adhere to basic safety measures.
He mentioned the consistent use of helmets by motorcyclists, preventing children from riding motorcycles, avoiding drinking and riding or driving, and refraining from parking long vehicles along roadsides as some of the steps that could significantly reduce road accidents.
“Things like wearing a helmet, not allowing children to ride motorcycles, not drinking and driving or riding, fixing the roads with our own taxes, and not parking vehicles along roadsides are within our reach.” He added.
Dr. Kwarase further revealed that data from the Tamale Teaching Hospital’s performance review indicates that fractures and head injuries are among the top ten cases recorded at the hospital’s emergency care unit between 2023 and the first half of 2025.
He explained that fractures constitute the leading cause of admissions to the emergency department, followed by head injuries, with most cases involving young people.
Dr. Kwarase cautioned that road traffic accidents often leave victims with long-term physical, emotional, and financial consequences, placing a heavy burden on families and communities.
He therefore called on the public, road users, and authorities to take road safety seriously in order to prevent avoidable injuries and deaths.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | David Adapuna
