Accident rate up

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

The accident rate had shown seven per cent increase over that of the previous year. The Colombo National Hospital had received 987 accidents victims, of different nature, from December 30 to January 1 midnight, the Accident Unit said.

Head Nurse of the Unit Puspha Ramani Ramyalatha told The Island that of 987 accident victims this year, 390 cases were admitted as against 249 last year.

She said 110 persons sought treatment due to alcohol consumption, but last year there were 80 cases. About 118 hospital transfers were made to the Colombo National Hospital from other hospitals.

She added that around 275 road traffic accidents had occurred as against 262 the previous year. There were 147 home accidents against last year’s 176. Around 183 low level falls were treated as against 133 last year. Violence accounted for 116 cases compared to last year’s 136. About 24 suicidal cases were reported. Only 12 fire-cracker accidents were taken to hospital while 4 victims of train accidents also sought treatment.

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