Princess Margaret Hospital has set up a computer system that uses information from trauma patients to identify accident black spots.
The database, designed to be completed in less than 12 seconds per patient, records the age, sex and the type of injury of all trauma patients as well as time, location and cause of the injury to help draw an 'Injury Map' of accident black spots and high-risk activities across West Kowloon.
Kowloon West Cluster chief executive Lily Chiu Lei-lei said the system and co-operation with government departments would help save lives.
'West Kowloon is a fast-developing area with a lot of ongoing construction, as well the Container Terminal and busy roads where many injuries occur ... There are on average about 25,000-30,000 trauma patients admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital every year,' Dr Chiu said.
'By identifying the leading causes of injury we can act to prevent them, for example, by co-operating with the Labour Department to ensure safe working practices or with police to reduce traffic accident black spots. We will also share our data with the public to let them know the risk of injury in their area.'
The database has been up and running for two months and has already identified some interesting trends, such as a high rate of injury from falling near Cho Yiu Estate in Lai King, an area notable for its steep slopes.
