AUSTRIAN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEMS - A CO MPARISON WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

The emergency medical systems (EMS) in Europe are of a high quality pa rtly due to the presence of an emergency doctor at the scene. In those countries without emergency doctors in the field, the emergency medic al technicians (EMT) are allowed by law to carry out medical intervent ions due to their special education including more than 2000 hrs of fi rst aid training (paramedics). The efficiency of the EMS is essentiall y improved by the presence of paramedics, especially in connection wit h the increasing frequency of cardiac arrests due to the high incidenc e of cardiovascular disorders. In the non-European states where the me an life expectancy is low (less-than-or-equal-to 70 a) bystander train ing is rarely introduced. The EMS in Austria is of European standard i n the structure of the rescue chain. Some links of this chain require correction and improvement: bystander training has not yet reached its optimal expanse; the profession of an EMT has to be urgently recogniz ed by law; the gaping difference between EMS in urban areas and rural areas has to be eliminated; the limited capacity of emergency admittan ce to hospitals is a weak link in the chain of survival.