The scientific world of emergency medicine has recently been enriched by the publication of this excellent journal, which is the joint product of the World Association of Emergency Medical Service Physicians, the Acute Care Foundation and the National Association of EMS Directors. The support of these eminent societies should in itself guarantee the quality of this publication, but it is mainly the high level of its contents that makes this quarterly an indispensable tool for all surgeons, medical personnel and other health care workers involved in emergencies, burn therapy, disaster medicine or resuscitation. A brief listin -of the Table of Contents of the current issue c~se in point; it includes, among others, articles on: Study and pre-trial review in emergency medical services research; Patient distribution in an urban-rural EMS system; Retention of basic trauma life support skills; Medical responses to terrorist incidents; Response to a major aircraft incident; the Armenia earthquake; Soviet-American conference on emergency medical care; relevant abstracts and much valuable information in the field of emergencies.

One important feature is that all articles are anonymously peer reviewed before acceptance, thus ensuring their high worth and relevance. Another is the self-instruction teaching method, and yet another is the provision of readymade abstract cards. The able editor is Professor M. Birnbaum, and members of the MBC will be pleased to note that their President is on the Editorial Board. Subscription is US$ 75, which is excellent value, considering that it also covers annual membership in the World Association for Emergency and Disaster Medicine. We wholeheartedly recommend this.

Le monde scientifique de la médecine d'urgence s'est enrichi grâce à la publication de cet excellent journal, produit conjointement par l'Association Mondiale des Médecins des Services Médicaux d'Urgence, la Fondation des Soins Aigus, et l'Association Nationale des Directeurs des SMU. L'appui de ces sociétés éminentes est une garantie suffisante de la qualité de la publication mais c'est principalement le haut niveau du contenu qui fait de ce journal trimestriel un outil indispensable pour tous les chirurgiens, les équipes médicales et les autres opérateurs des soins sanitaires intéressés à la médecine d'urgence, à la thérapie des brûlures, à la médecine de catastrophe ou à la réanimation. Le contenu de l'édition courante en est la démonstration: il y a, entre les autres, des articles sur: L'étude et l'analyse pré-épreuve dans les recherches des services médicaux d'urgence; la distribution des patients chez un système SMU urbain-rura~; la conservation des techniques fondamentales des supports de la vie en cas de traumatisme-, les réponses médicales aux actions terroristes; la réponse à un grave accident d'avion; le tremblement de terre en Arménie; la Conférence russoaméricaine sur les soins médicaux d'urgence; des résumés pertinents et beaucoup d'informations pour tout ce qui concerne les urgences.

Un aspect important est que tous les articles sont révisés anonymement par des collègues experts avant d'être acceptés. Il est ainsi possible d'en garantir la valeur et la pertinence. Un autre aspect important est la méthode de l'enseignement autodidacte, et encore un autre c'est la fourniture de fiches particulières préparées pour les résumés. L'éditeur très capable est le Professeur M. Birnbaum, et les membres de I'MBC seront contents de savoir que leur Président participe au Conseil éditorial.
L'abonnement est US$ 75, un prix très raisonnable si l'on considère qu'il comprend l'appartenance à la Société mondiale pour la médecine d'urgence et de catastrophe. Nous vous le recommandons chaleureusement.

In the wake of the immensely successful and truly international meeting of WAEDM in Hong Kong, and of the less happy events of the Chinese and San Francisco earthquakes, it is becoming more important that all who share a feeling for and have some expertise in emergency and disaster management should pool their resources for more energetic and fruitful response.
One way of doing this would be to strengthen the already well established WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR EMERGENCY AND DISASTER MEDICINE. An expression of this has already materialised in the excellent new journal "Prehospital and Disaster Medicine", and the other expression has been the increased membership worldwide.
We invite you to join what is undoubtedly the prime organisation in this field in the world.
Membership dues have been fixed at US$ 75 per annum, which includes your receiving the Journal quarterly. Anyone involved in emergency administration, disaster planning, prehospital service, emergency nursing, EMS and related subjects will be most welcome and will greatly benefit.
Kindly make your cheque or money order payable to:

THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR EMERGENCY AND DISASTER MEDICINE
and send it to the address below:
S. William A. Gunn, MD, MS, FRCSC, ..Secretary/Treasurer, WAEDM,
"La Panetière"
1261 Bogis Bossey, Switzerland.
WAEDM looks forward to having you as member and to sharing with you the common endeavour against disasters.