Two Hawaii island hospitals are due to be recognized this week for providing Level III trauma care.

Both Hilo Medical Center and Kona Community Hospitals have received the designation, which means they have trauma-trained surgeons, emergency department physicians and nurses available 24 hours a day. It also means the hospitals have anesthesia, laboratory and radiology services 24 hours a day.

Kona Community Hospital says the designations mean Hawaii County is better equipped to reduce death rates from trauma. It says this is especially important give the serious motor vehicle and ocean accidents people have experienced on the island.

Hilo Medical Center is due to celebrate the designation Tuesday. Kona Community Hospital is scheduled to do so on Wednesday.