[10 years of emergency medical care at the traumatology center of the university clinic in Essen].

10 years of experience with emergency treatment at a University Center sufficiently proved the necessity of an emergency physician at the site of the accident. Because of its inefficiency, the separate and individual displacement of the doctor and the emergency vehicle to the site of the accident has been abandoned in 1976. The professional qualifications of the emergency team are as important as the technical equipment. Specific attention has to be paid to the education of nursing -, ambulance personnel and doctors belonging to the team. Very early and efficient shock therapy is essential in polytrauma victims. Intubation, artificial ventilation, fluid administration (electrolyte-solution) are of utmost importance for their survival and to reduce the frequency of major complications.