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Post-crash care of victims is considered by the World Health Organisation to be the fifth pillar of the safe system approach to road safety. Timeliness and quality of transport of crash victims from the crash site to hospital door is crucial to medical outcomes. It is important that road controlling authorities (RCAs) and Road Policing work together with Emergency Services to provide the best possible outcomes for the available resources.

This report considers the roles of RCAs and Road Policing in facilitating transport of crash victims from the crash site to the hospital door. The report includes a literature and technology review, a crash analysis and estimates of the time from crash notification to hospital. Also considered are issues arising from a workshop of stakeholders and an online survey of front-line staff from Road Policing, St John and Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Recommendations for future strategies and actions relate to the place of post-crash care in road safety planning, crash location technology, agencies working together, the need for mobile networks, effective communications and traffic management including crash site management and emergency vehicle priority schemes. Recommendations are also made regarding information available in crash reports on post-crash care.

Companion report
A second report New Zealand trauma system review has also just been released. Prepared by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, this report is a review of New Zealand’s trauma system and will be used to inform the new national Road Safety Strategy. 

New Zealand trauma system review

Keywords: ambulance, crash, emergency, impact, post-crash, rescue, road, victim