The idea is that your car beats the ambulance. But the question is not "who reaches the hospital door first?" — it is "when does treatment start?" And that answer flips the equation.

In short — what to do

  1. Treatment starts at your door: oxygen, cardiac monitoring, IV access and drugs — before the vehicle moves.
  2. The crew pre-alerts the hospital, so the stroke or trauma team is ready before you arrive — minutes that equal heart muscle or brain cells.
  3. They go straight through the ambulance entrance — no queue, no parking, no reception.
  4. If the patient deteriorates on the way, you are behind the wheel and can do nothing — the crew can.
  5. The dispatcher guides you by phone from the moment you call until they arrive.

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Treatment starts at your door — and the crew pre-alerts the hospital before you arrive
Treatment starts at your door — and the crew pre-alerts the hospital before you arrive
The full details

Why the ambulance wins even when it looks slower

  • Treatment starts at your door: oxygen, cardiac monitoring, IV access and drugs — before the vehicle moves.
  • The crew pre-alerts the hospital, so the stroke or trauma team is ready before you arrive — minutes that equal heart muscle or brain cells.
  • They go straight through the ambulance entrance — no queue, no parking, no reception.
  • If the patient deteriorates on the way, you are behind the wheel and can do nothing — the crew can.
  • The dispatcher guides you by phone from the moment you call until they arrive.

Never transport these by private car

  • Suspected chest pain — collapsing at the wheel kills two people instead of one.
  • Signs of stroke — time is the treatment, and the hospital must be ready.
  • Severe breathing difficulty, or blue discolouration.
  • Loss of consciousness, or an ongoing seizure.
  • Bleeding that will not stop with pressure, or a neck or spine injury.

And when is the car reasonable?

Clearly minor complaints: a small cut, a twisted ankle, fever in an active child. The practical rule: if the question "should I call an ambulance?" is in your head — call. The question itself is the answer.

And don’t forget what actually saves minutes: someone at the gate to meet the crew, a clear corridor, and a bag with the patient’s medicines and reports.

This content is for general health education only and is not medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, call 998.

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