Do ambulance crews triage trauma patients?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether ambulance crew triage trauma patients appropriately.


METHODS
A retrospective descriptive study.


METHODS
Cornwall County Ambulance Service.


METHODS
On-scene times, injury severity, establishment of intravenous infusion and time from scene to A&E department.


METHODS
Patients with compound fracture of the lower limb taken to Truro Accident and Emergency department.


METHODS
Ambulance service on-scene times and mission times.


RESULTS
Ambulance crew do not appear to be triaging patients appropriately. Excessive time is being spent on pre-hospital stabilization. Delivery of patients to a casualty department is delayed.


CONCLUSIONS
At present the activities of paramedics are poorly supervised, and pre-hospital management by paramedics may be jeopardizing patient care.
Rouse
A
A
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority, Department of Public Health Medicine, Truro, England.
D000552:Ambulances; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014218:Triage / Q000592:standards*