Roadside emergencies. A casualty director's view.

Emergency care: where untrained laymen sometimes rush in, many doctors are reluctant to become involved in fear their attempts might result in additional injury to the patient and an action for malpractice. The doctor (accustomed to approaching each new patient with a routine of history taking and examination) is ill equipped by his or her training for the different priorities of accident work. To become expert in emergencies the practitioner must have a plan of action, some special apparatus and training in a few techniques, but procedures should be limited to those necessary to get the injured safely and quickly to appropriate medical care.