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C4TS Newsletter Autumn 2018 Issue 17
C4TS RESEARCH NEWS AUTUMN 2018 Welcome to the Centre for Trauma Sciences (C4TS) Autumn 2018 newsletter. In this edition, we share our research into stabbings injuries in London’s youth. Media have sought commentary from C4TS leads on this disturbing rising trend. Media attention to civilian trauma survivors has also increased as a result of Barts Charity’s trauma appeal, and we give a summary of this coverage. We also give an overview of a pioneering study into the use of red blood cells and plasma in pre-hospital settings, which C4TS have helped design. Finally, we are happy to report on recent prestigious awards and public recognition bestowed on C4TS leads Professor Brohi and Professor Thiemermann.
Stab Injury Patterns in London’s Youth by Dr Paul Vulliamy, Clinical Research Fellow
C4TS study into London stabbings shows the need for a public health approach to youth violence. Background This year has seen a 15% increase in the number of knife crimes in Britain. There have been 119 murders in London, 74 of which were stabbings. In total, 117 people have been killed by knife crime across the UK. In response to this disturbing trend, C4TS have undertaken a study to better inform debate about how to tackle the growing problem.
Figure 1: Age-related variations in the pattern of stab injury. (A) Number of patients by age. (B) Time of injury. (C) Proportion of incidents occurring within 5km of home.
The study We looked at epidemiological data for 1824 people aged under 25 who were treated with emergency care for stab wounds at The Royal London Hospital’s major trauma centre from 2004 to 2014. Of these, 172 (around 9 per cent) were children under 16, and 861 (around 47 per cent) were aged 16-19. Seven hundred and ninety-one (around 44 per cent) were in their early twenties. We found the frequency of attacks in children aged under 16 spiked between 4pm and 6pm on school days. Almost half of the injuries (47 per cent) in children occurred within a 1-5 km radius from home, reflecting the average distance from home to school for children living in London (See Figure 1). Implications This work shows that children and young people in London are at risk of knife crime simply due to where they live and go to school. A long-term multi-agency and community approach is therefore needed if we are to change the culture of violence that now permeates deprived areas of London. Public health approaches to violence can show who is at risk and allow the community and police to respond effectively - through, for example, after school activities and targeted policing. We can reduce knife violence and unnecessary child deaths, but need more long term evidence-based interventions in education, policing, the community and at home. Study results have been published in the British Medical Journal.
C4TS Newsletter Autumn 2018