City of Laurel recognizes "Wound Care Awareness Week"

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - South Central Regional Medical Center teamed up with the City of Laurel to bring awareness about one particular topic of concern.

Mayor of Laurel, Johnny Magee said, "We are recognizing South Central's new Hyperbaric Wound Care Center. I heard a presentation at another club meeting and they talked about the chamber that you go in that helps you heal faster."

Wound Care program director, Deborah Myrick said, "We're trying to stress the importance of coming in and seeing your physician early so that you can prevent losing a limb due to a wound, because it's so easily preventable."

For some, this proclamation means a lot to them, due to the injuries they suffered and had to overcome.

Former wounded patient, Faye Jackson said, "I had to be treated by Wound Care and they worked on me twice a week, did everything, and they got my leg well and I appreciate them."

Myrick said "we see approximately 30 patients a day and four of those being new patients. Our numbers are rising because of the patients with diabetes. So the needs of Wound Care is growing that much more important."

Myrick said if people have a limb loss, the likelihood of mortality within the next five years, increases to 45 percent.

Myrick said the center takes care of foot wounds more than any other wounds, but will still treat other wounded areas.

It's estimated that chronic wounds affect nearly seven million people in the United States.