Trauma Services

Injury Prevention

Trauma is a leading cause of death and disability across all ages and it is preventable. Accidental injury is now the third leading cause of death for people age 1-44. Trauma is the leading cause of death in children and is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in elderly adults. At UnityPoint Health – St Luke's, it is our goal to promote evidence based programs to help reduce the number of severely injured Iowans. All of the programs listed below are free of charge or for a small fee.

ThinkFirst Iowa

ThinkFirst Siouxland is a free, school-based program offered by UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's to schools throughout Siouxland that provides age specific programs for kids, youth and teens to increase their awareness and knowledge about safety prevention. To learn more about ThinkFirst, click here.

Fall Prevention

Number one cause of injury in adults over 55
95% of all hip fractures are caused by falls
Most common cause of traumatic brain injury
Leading cause of injury death for those 85 and older

Contributing Factors

Loss of strength and balance in the legs
Poor vision or hearing
Home hazards (throw rugs, cords, lack of handrails or lighting)

Certain Medications

Talk with your doctor about medications that put you at risk for falls

Things You Can Do:

Falling is not inevitable due to aging. Almost all your risk factors are preventable with a little bit of help.
Talk with your family to help reduce home hazards
Get your eyes and ears checked yearly

Trauma Provider Resources

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

National Council on Aging - Fall Prevention

Iowa Department of Public Health - Fall Prevention

Trauma Education

Stop the Bleed

The time between injury and emergency personnel arriving is critical. The number one cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding. This course teaches skills on how to turn from a bystander to a first responder. Through the course, you will learn three basic skills that could prove to be lifesaving. The only thing more tragic than a death, is a death that could have been prevented. Click here to learn more.

TNCC - Trauma Nursing Core Course

The first few minutes of trauma care are critical to achieving better patient outcomes. The ENA's Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) is widely recognized as the premier course for hospitals and trauma centers worldwide, empowering nurses with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and
hands-on training to provide expert care for trauma patients. For dates and availability, please contact our Trauma Program and Injury Prevention Coordinator.