Mobile medical emergency units in France-part I.

Abstract

Doctors worldwide are becoming increasingly aware of the need for transporting some patients under medical supervision and optimum conditions by using mobile medical or paramedical units. With proper treatment and resuscitative procedures before their arrival at the casualty department, patients are less likely to die at the roadside or in an ambulance. Furthermore, the condition of patients which is already precarious is less likely to deteriorate. In this day and age patients should not arrive at an accident and emergency unit in a worse clinical state than when they left the accident. Mobile emergency medical units have been set up worldwide and particularly in France. The unit at St Julien-en-Genevois is a typical example (see part II).