Accident victims with serious injuries should be taken to the hospital by ambulance as soon as possible.
According to Ron Lichtveld in his doctoral thesis, it is not so important for ambulance personnel to make a diagnosis at the scene because injuries that have been overlooked seldom lead to a poorer outcome. He argues in favor of using time carefully by conducting only a limited number of examinations and carrying out essential procedures quickly and effectively. Optimal ambulance care for seriously injured accident victims is determined by well-trained ambulance personnel, with the emphasis on speed, methods used, and acting according to protocols.
Rob Lichtveld received his PhD from Utrecht University on January 25. The title of his thesis is, “Prehospitale zorg aan polytraumapatiënten in Nederland” (“Prehospital care for polytrauma patients in the Netherlands”).