Emergency calls in the french Samu system.

The French emergency medical system is public and medical. Nramed Samu, it is almost entirely managed by anesthesiologists specially trained for emerg ency medical assistance and advanced medical support. The system comprises a reception and dispatching center for emergency calls, directly connected to police and firemen, but assuring patient confidentiality. This fixed cen ter is managing mobile unities which are Medical Intensive Care Ambulances (MICA named Smur in France). The Samu's mission consists in performing urge nt individual medical assistance and also medical services for treatment of mass casualties. It is also to find adequate hospital units for the patien ts, to perform medical transport and to be a consultant for general practit ionners in emergency. (C) 2001 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.