The paramedic ambulance: a Canadian experience.

Prehospital critical care provided by specially trained ambulance attendants in New Westminster, BC during a 27-month period was studied. Although the most important benefit of the improved care was the prevention of sudden death in a large proportion of persons with crises due to coronary artery disease, the skills learned to provide basic life support are applicable to a wide variety of other disorders that can result in death before the patient reaches hospital.