Directly following the bombings at the finish line of the Boston marathon, dozens of people were rushed to every major hospital in the area with injuries so critical and so gruesome they could stump even Dr. House; doctors who had been preparing for dehydrated and hypothermic runners were suddenly faced with the decision of whether or not to remove a person’s leg, but perhaps what is even more unsettling is that there could be dozens more people who have suffered injuries and have been left untreated.
The biggest concerns thus far range from ear damage to mild traumatic brain injuries to psychological trauma such as post traumatic stress disorder, more commonly known as PTSD.
All of these conditions could be disregarded or seem insignificant in the beginning, but can cause serious damage in the long-run if left untreated. “People shouldn’t feel embarrassed to seek medical attention because they aren’t missing a leg,” said Dr. Thomas Scalea, the physician-in-chief at the Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical System. And, unlike a punctured eardrum or mild brain injury, both of which exhibit notable symptoms in the patient, PTSD can be much harder to recognize.
Resource and trauma centers have opened up all around the Boston area, ready and waiting to help people cope with their memories of these vicious attacks. Most victims recover from the shock and are eventually able to continue their lives normally, but everyone deserves the opportunity to be helped by professions who can talk them through their traumas.
If you or someone you know is suffering from psychological backlash following the bombings at the Boston marathon, refer them to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s website or its 24-hour, toll-free disaster distress hotline: (1-800-985-5990).