Every year there is over 50 thousand car accidents in Poland. Almost 7 thousand people are killed and 67 thousand are seriously wounded yearly. We have one of the highest death rates in Europe as far as car accidents are concerned, which is 12,6 per100 injured, where as in Europe it is 4,5 per 100 injured.
             The aim of this study was to assess the quality of pre-hospital emergency medical care in trauma victims. We examined 500 patients, 278 males and 222 females, who were injured in car accidents from 20.08.1999 till 01.02.2002. A special questionnaire and self-made computer program were used to collect patients' data. Recorded data included types and locations of injuries, arrival time of emergency medical service, reasons of the call, and type of ambulance, examination, and diagnosis, pre-hospital treatment according to the standards made by the National Council of An Ambulance Service. Mortality and major causes of deaths were described.
             RESULTS: 234 (45%) of car accidents were those in which cars' passengers were injured. Each victim was examined according to: blood pressure, pulse, heart rate, breathing, kind and localization of the pain. The Glasgow Coma Scale was used in 266 (53,3%). Head injuries were the most common type of the lesions – 170 victims (37%). In the presented study the scope of pre-hospital care included: 261 (53%) patients had dressed wounds or stanched blood, 432 (89%) patients were transported to hospitals, and only five times the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was made. The pre-hospital care was appropriate according to the standards made by the National Council of An Ambulance Service in 90% of the injured patients. Most of the patients (90,4%) were brought to surgical departments. 11 (2,2%) victims died before the arrival of the rescue teams. Arrival time to the victim was 4,6 minutes, while average distance was 4,02 kilometers.
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