A pilot project to assess the usefulness of rural volunteer Emergency Medical Coordinators (EMC's) was initiated in 36 rural Georgian towns of less than 2,000 population. An EMC program was established in those 36 rural towns that had no physician or ambulance service, to provide a rapid response to accidental injuries in order to maintain life while professional help was on the way. Selected for the program by their communities according to certain criteria, the EMC's possessed two common traits--the realization that their town needed a "first responder" and the dedication to become an EMC. After EMC candidates had studied an assigned text and workbook, they attended class sessions in Atlanta for 40 hours of formal training. Large group presentations were reviewed and expanded in small group practice sessions. Trained EMC's have taken refresher classes and have maintained knowledge and skills by being observers in ambulances and hospital emergency rooms. As a result, volunteers have been praised for their lifesaving ability and 11 have received lifesaving certificates. While data collection has not been completed, it has been concluded that EMC's have been a viable alternative to the lack of health care manpower in rural areas and have been seen as an important element in rural development, with an expected high impact on the delivery of emergency medical services through the effective use of existing manpower resources. (AN)