OU Health: Leading Oklahoma in Trauma Education and Outreach

In critical, life-threatening situations where every second counts, the presence of trained responders is crucial. As Oklahoma's only Level I Trauma Center, OU Health not only offers the highest-level medical care but also spearheads statewide initiatives to equip healthcare professionals and community members with the necessary skills to save lives through comprehensive education and training programs.

Why Trauma Education Matters

Trauma is the leading cause of death for individuals under the age of 45 and ranks among the top three causes of death across all age groups. Traumatic injury is responsible for a staggering 41 million emergency room visits and 2.3 million hospital admissions annually in the United States. The economic burden of trauma exceeds $671 billion, highlighting the substantial impact it has on society.

While mass casualty events often capture headlines, the importance of Level I Trauma Centers extends far beyond these rare occurrences. These centers are crucial for everyday emergencies, providing critical care for severe vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, and medical emergencies that require trauma-level intervention.

The first hour after injury (often called the "golden hour") is critical for survival. Having properly trained professionals and bystanders who can respond appropriately during this window significantly improves patient outcomes.

"We have the unique opportunity to provide the highest tier of medical knowledge and experience to those suffering through trauma," said Denni Wilson-Lowber, BSN, R.N., Trauma Burn Coordinator at OU Health.

Mollie Triplett, BSN, R.N., Pediatric Trauma Program Manager, adds that prevention is key.

“We obviously want to be here to serve our community when they're involved in trauma, but truly, this is not where we want to meet them,” Triplett said. “Noone wakes up and expects to be a trauma patient. Noone expects the impact that has on their daily life and their family's daily life."

Stop the Bleed: Empowering Everyday Heroes

Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death after injury. OU Health's Stop the Bleed program teaches participants how to apply direct pressure, pack wounds, and use tourniquets to control life-threatening bleeding until professional help arrives.

"Stop the Bleed was a program that the American College of Surgeons released due to the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, where they realized that if non-medical providers knew how to stop hemorrhage, there would have been fewer casualties," Triplett said.

The pediatric program recently trained all physical education (PE) teachers and nurses in Oklahoma City Public Schools in hemorrhage control techniques. When groups participate, OU Health raffles off Stop the Bleed kits and provides kits to schools that host presentations, ensuring these life-saving supplies are available where and when they might be needed most.

Advanced Trauma Life Support: Elevating Professional Care

For medical professionals, Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) provides a systematic approach to trauma care. OU Health conducted eight ATLS courses in 2024 with 124 students, primarily physicians, physician assistants and other medical professionals from across the state.

OU Health also offers the Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) course, a specialized cadaver-based training for surgical residents from both Tulsa and Oklahoma City campuses. This precision surgical training is offered at very few facilities nationwide, making it a valuable resource for Oklahoma's medical community. This equips surgeons with the practical skills needed to access vital vessels and organs in trauma cases, enhancing their ability to perform life-saving procedures during critical situations, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Specialized Burn Care Training: Meeting Unique Challenges

Burn injuries require specialized knowledge and skills. OU Health has developed innovative programs to address this gap, including the comprehensive Burn Boot Camp that focuses on resuscitation, management, and trauma-informed care.

The burn education program has expanded to include partnerships with the Oklahoma Association of Electric Co-ops to provide high-voltage injury prevention training for utility workers statewide.

Wilson-Lowber's Ramen Noodle Injury Prevention program has reduced pediatric scald burns from ramen cooking from 38% to 11% of total pediatric burns.

The program's success has gained national recognition, with the Consumer Product Safety Commission inviting OU Health to present their approach to explore making changes to the packaging of microwave goods nationwide.

Pediatric Trauma Education: Specialized Care for Young Patients

Children require specialized approaches to trauma care. As an ACS-Verified Pediatric Level I Trauma Center, OU Health offers pediatric-specific trauma education and will host its second annual Pediatric Trauma Roundup in the fall, providing four hours of free pediatric trauma-specific education to healthcare professionals statewide. The program is funded through grants and is free for attendees.

This commitment to accessible education ensures that physicians, respiratory therapists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals across Oklahoma can provide evidence-based care to pediatric trauma patients.

Injury Prevention and Community Outreach

Beyond treatment, OU Health leads numerous prevention initiatives. The children's trauma program leads Safe Kids OKC Metro, part of a national coalition that provides car seat checks twice monthly.

Families that qualify can receive free car seats along with installation education.

"Since January alone, the inpatient side has provided 49 car seats," Triplett said. "All clinical coordinators are now certified car seat technicians, available 24/7 to ensure we're discharging patients in the safest, most appropriate way possible."

Other community outreach efforts include gun safety prevention programs that provide free gun locks with no tracking or questions asked, dog bite prevention initiatives, and Child Abuse Awareness Month activities in partnership with the child abuse prevention team.

A Statewide Commitment to Trauma Readiness

OU Health's educational outreach extends to every corner of Oklahoma, reaching both urban and rural communities with life-saving knowledge and skills.

"This is a program and institution to be very proud of, unlike anything else in the state," Triplett said. "We are the trauma facility of choice."

Through these comprehensive education and prevention programs, OU Health fulfills its mission as Oklahoma's Level I Trauma Center by elevating trauma care capabilities throughout the entire state while working to reduce preventable injuries before they occur. This dual approach ensures that all Oklahomans have access to the best possible trauma care and prevention resources when they need them most.

OU Health's Level I Trauma Center has a commitment to excellence, earned through rigorous standards, constant evaluation, and a team that never stops improving.

Learn more about Trauma Injury Prevention at OU Health, including Oklahoma Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Injury Prevention program, car seat check dates and more.