Pre-hospital trauma management

This article outlines the major differences and difficulties which may be encountered when dealing with the traumatised victim in the pre-hospital setting. Many hospital-based personnel have little or no experience in working in a pre-hospital setting, other than when they are called upon to attend the scene of an incident as part of the Accident and Emergency Flying Squad. This article has been written to give a brief insight into problems which may be encountered. I have also endeavoured to encourage hospital authorities and individual units to provide regular training for personnel so as to optimise care for the casualties and also protect the team members themselves, in this often hostile environment. This paper was developed as a result of personal experiences, and comments expressed by both nursing and other professionals whilst teaching the subject at the ALS Training School.