seatbelts are definitely important, but another issue at hand is the lack of a certified trauma unit in the area. EMTs are only meant to stabilize a patient until they can be transported to a trauma unit and currently patients have to be lifeflighted to the nearest one - pensacola- which for many crash victims is simply too late.
Bay Medical Center and Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center are currently going through the review process for Level 2 Trauma Center status. IMO, BMC will be certified before the end of the year.
BTW....no disrespect, but the EMS units in this area are all Advance Life Support with excellent Paramedics (not EMTs) on them. They are as capable as any physician in airway management, cardiac monitoring/interpretation and fluid replacement. What they do lack is the capability of surgical intervention.
Final note.....(being picky) The primary helicopters in the FWB-PCB area are Air Methods Florida (Gulflight and Air Heart) not lifeflight (Baptist/Pensacola). They are located at Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville and the DeFuniak Springs Airport....