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AMONG the many critical areas in health care, the appalling amount of disability and loss of life from sudden catastrophic illness and accidents is one of the most visible. From highway accidents alone, if the current trend continues, the nation will experience its two millionth traffic fatality by 1976. This figure almost equals the total population of the American colonies when they achieved their independence, 200 years ago. Each year there are about 55,000 traffic deaths and 2 million highway injuries, one-tenth of which result in permanent disability. The toll from nonhighway accidents is no less alarming-more than 64,000 deaths each year plus 9.3 million nonfatal injuries, a quarter of a million of which are permanently disabling (1, 2). Some studies indicate that as many as 15 million children sustain significant accidental injuries each year, and about 16,000 die (3). Currently, accidents kill more people in the productive age groups up to 39 years than any other single factor and are the fourth largest cause of death after that age. The costs of accidental death, disability, and property damage are estimated at about $29.5 billion a year (2). A distressing fact about this carnage is that studies have demonstrated that 15 to 20 percent of accidental highway deaths could be avoided if prompt, effective care were available at the scene of the emergency, on the way to the hospital, and in the hospital (4, 5). The situation with regard to sudden medical emergencies is no less disconcerting. These emergencies include coronary occlusions, cerebrovascular strokes, diabetic crises, precipitous miscarriages or deliveries, and various other sudden critical events. The American Heart Association estimates that approximately 10 to 20 percent of the 275,000 prehospital coronary deaths could be prevented if proper care were administered at the scene and en route to a medical facility (6). Huntley (7) has estimated that prompt and proper emergency care for victims of the following illnesses and accidents could save about 60,000 lives annually.