As medical director of the Level I Trauma Center at John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, Chris Salvino, MD has firsthand experience with the tragic effects of red-light running. If a red-light accident happens in north Phoenix, Glendale or neighboring communities, chances are that the most severely injured victims will be rushed to his department.
“For whatever reason, some drivers get distracted. Not paying attention, they go through red lights and hit an innocent bystander,” Dr. Salvino says. “Then there are people who run red lights while high on crystal meth or alcohol, hitting an innocent family and kill someone. We also see many elderly people who can’t drive as well as they once could.”
Another contributing factor to red-light accidents is sun glare, especially at dawn and dusk. Traveling through intersections at these hours, which coincide with rush hour, can be especially dangerous. Red lights, other motorists and pedestrians can simply disappear in the blinding Arizona sun.
For Dr. Salvino, every red-light crash victim who is treated by John C. Lincoln’s trauma team offers yet another reminder that drivers need to hear the “I Stop on Red” message.
“The yellow light is not there just to race through,” Dr. Salvino warns. “You should be stopping at yellow. You may lose a few seconds on your way to your destination, but you could save a life—possibly even your own.”
New Level I Trauma Center and Emergency Department to Open
As a part of its commitment to provide excellent health care, John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital is expanding its Level I Trauma Center and Emergency Department. This October, the hospital will cut the ribbon to its 37-bed emergency center, twice the size of the current facility.
Plans call for a “fast track” emergency care unit, an expanded four-bed trauma unit, healing gardens and two additional helipads for trauma patients. Designed for patient comfort and quality care, the new facility features a streamlined design to speed diagnosis and treatment of both trauma and emergency patients.