The train crash in Chatsworth on Friday persistent image of fire crews perched on the first wagon, desperately trying to reach out to victims.
There were 250 firefighters, 120 players Sheriff, 200 of the LAPD who came to help.
Medical care, apparently worked well.
Less in one aspect.
The distance to most trauma centers where the wounded were evacuated. It was very big.
The duration of transport affects so crucial to survival rates and recovery.
In the field, you can stop bleeding, prevent shock from blood loss, inject morphine or antibiotics, cover burns, fractures set, opening airways ... stabilize and then cataloguing the wounded to the order of evacuation to hospital. That's it. Nothing more.
So did the medical teams at the scene of the accident: the wounded in the park and Stoney Point in Chatsworth Hills Academy were divided and equipped with identification: green for the mild, yellow for serious, red for severe.
But when the evacuation found that in the valley were only two trauma centers: the Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills and Northridge Hospital.
Both are located at a distance of about 4 miles, 10 to 12 minutes by ambulance from the accident site.
Although many wounded arrived there, the magnitude of the disaster - at least 25 dead, 135 wounded, 34 in critical condition - made it necessary to bring them to more distant centers.
But the hospital USC is 27 miles, ie from 32 to 55 minutes. The Ronald Reagan UCLA, 21 miles, from 28 to 70 minutes, the Cedars-Sinai, 25 miles, 35 to 60 minutes. The hospital California at 28.2 miles, 35 minutes to 1 hour and a half. We lost precious time.
Of course, helicopters shortened distances. Among the firefighters of the city, county and a Sikorsky H-3 of the Sheriff, took 40 of the wounded.
For the remainder was used ambulances.
It took too long to reach hospitals.
They say that the collision of trains on Friday was due to human error engineer.
Why is that not only two trauma centers in the San Fernando Valley, an area with nearly two million inhabitants?
To which the closed to save money.
Over the past five years closed in the county, with its nearly 11 million inhabitants, 11 hospitals: three in the San Fernando Valley. 65 emergency rooms closed in 10 years, and 11 trauma centers, leaving only 10. Neither one for children in the Valley.
Of course, cost a lot. Each patient took up to 12 professionals and costs an average of 250 thousand U.S. dollars.
The existing ones are so full that patients were lying on ambulance stretchers in the corridors.
The horrific train crash shows what could happen in the event of a disaster even greater, as an influenza pandemic. There will be seriously ill who do not receive medical attention.
The solution is not simple. But it takes is needed.
