Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 15, 15-24, Copyright © 1968 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Resuscitation at the Place of Accident and During Transportation

¹ Institute of Anaesthesiology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz

Personal experiences in 200 emergency calls with different types of ambulance gave a chance to evaluate the modern possibilities of resuscitation at the place of accident and during transportation. The emergency ambulance of the future should have sufficient space in the rear compartment for the treatment of the patient.

The stretcher should facilitate every position required for the patient. Administration of oxygen, artificial ventilation, and suctioning should always be possible--even outside the ambulance. If a doctor accompanies the ambulance, plasma expanders, cardiac stimulants, analgesics, barbiturates, and cortisone should be available. Sets for intubation, venous cut-down, and pleural puncture should be at hand, but the most expensive and best-equipped ambulance can never replace the skill and experience of well-trained rescue personnel.