Accident Victims Dying Due to Poor Emergency Services, Doctors Warn

Senior physicians have underscored the importance of timely medical interventions for accident victims, warning that delays in accessing care significantly worsen outcomes.

The experts noted that many victims die due to failure to receive medical attention within the first hour of injury—known as the “golden hour”—a critical window that often determines survival.

According to the World Health Organisation, 1.35 million people lost their lives globally in 2016 from road traffic crashes, with millions more sustaining severe injuries and long-term complications. Road accidents remain the leading cause of death among young people, particularly those aged 15 to 29 years.

A 2020 study published in the African Journal of Emergency Medicine further revealed that over 80% of Nigerians lack basic first aid skills, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and bleeding control. Experts warn that in severe trauma, the first five minutes can be decisive in saving lives.

Professor Mike Ogirima, a former President of the Nigerian Medical Association and an orthopaedic and trauma surgeon, stressed that the chances of survival are far higher when patients receive urgent care within the golden hour.

“If you can get the patient within that first hour, the damage will be minimised subsequently. That is the essence,” he explained, adding that delays in treating crash victims increase both mortality and the risk of long-term disability.

He likened the situation to stroke management, where failure to act quickly can result in irreversible brain damage and lifelong impairment.

Dr. Abayomi Kolade, Chief Executive Officer of Wellane Health, attributed preventable deaths in Nigeria to the absence of functional ambulances, inadequate trauma centres, and a lack of emergency response skills among the public.

“Medical emergencies and accidents happen with alarming frequency, yet many Nigerians are unequipped to respond effectively. Too often, people film with their phones rather than act, while hospitals sometimes turn away victims over documentation issues,” he said.

Kolade urged policymakers to invest in emergency medical services, while also calling for public-private partnerships and re-education of communities to foster a culture of responsibility during emergencies.

“Lives that could have been saved are tragically lost—not for lack of possibility, but for lack of preparation,” he warned.