As the Kalispell emergency room continues to receive a growing number of severe trauma cases each year, the organization is working to educate people on how to avoid crisis.

On Saturday Kalispell Regional Healthcare hosted Spring into Safety for a second year. Dan Daub, the injury prevention coordinator for the hospital, said the effort pulled together more than 20 organizations and dozens of emergency responders to teach children and families how to play safely.

“We continue to see preventable injuries occur too often,” Daub said. “The numbers all kind of tell the same story: more people have to go to the emergency room. That’s something we expected with a growing population, but not this much.”

Last year Kalispell Regional’s Emergency Department treated 23,581 people, according to the American College of Surgeons Verified Trauma Center. That’s more than 1,000 patients compared to the year before — a pattern that has repeated for at least three years.

Daub said not every emergency visit requires trauma care, which can include major injuries caused by falls, car accidents, bike accidents or gunshot wounds.

“But with each year we’re seeing an increase in patients, the severity of the accidents continues going up, too,” he said.

In July 2015 the department hit a record-high month of trauma cases with 74 patients who required immediate emergency care, according to the center.

This year, the numbers are on track for another record-high year, with 104 trauma cases as of April. The same time last year that number was 65.

Daub said due to volunteers and donations, Spring into Safety only cost the hospital roughly $1,800.

He said Spring into Safety started as a bike safety event and transitioned into an overall injury-prevention effort.

“The worst things we see are kids and accidents that could have been prevented,” Daub said. “A fall the wrong way without a helmet could lead to an extended stay in a hospital as they regain total function. Or it could be a life-long injury that a $10 helmet could have saved you.”

The department bought 1,000 bike helmets with a $6,000 grant from Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety program. The funding came from Flathead Electric members who allowed their monthly bills to be rounded up to the next dollar.

The department handed out 554 helmets to people during the event. Daub said people can schedule a time through Friday to pick up remaining helmets if they need one.

“The more helmets we get out there will hopefully mean fewer emergencies that come through our doors,” he said.

Daub said he knew Spring into Safety could be an annual event when community members came to the department asking to be part of it, compared to former safety education efforts that proved difficult to pull in participates.

In one end of The Summit’s parking lot, the Montana Highway Patrol led kids through a bike safety course, teaching them how to make turns, check for cars and use hand signals. In another area a trooper performed car-seat safety checks for parents.

Snappy Sport Senter handed out free gun locks to those who wanted them and explained the importance of having guns out of kids’ reach, no matter their age. In another section, some kids jumped in a bounce house while others were fitted with free bike helmets.

Kalispell Police Department, Kalispell Fire Department and Creston Fire Department brought some of their biggest “toys” for children to explore, such as a tactical armored vehicle and fire trucks.

“It’s fun to crawl around in a fire truck, but it also eases a child’s stress and creates a smoother situation if they understand a firefighter’s role if they need help someday,” Daub said.

Inside The Summit, 20 tables were set up for families to visit. One had nursing students teaching first-aid, while another had a dog trainer describing warning signs from a dog that might be about to bite. The event ended as the hospital’s ALERT helicopter took off from outside of The Summit. That, Daub said, was mainly for fun.

He said Spring into Safety is an important event for the hospital.

“We have so many resources as a hospital and various departments to draw on, it makes sense something grounded in injury prevention should start at the hospital,” he said.

To schedule an appointment to pick up a bike helmet, call Daub at 406-751-5727.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at [email protected].