What injuries do paramedics deal with?
What Injuries & Illnesses Do EMS Providers Most Commonly Treat?
- Traumatic injury. 21.4%
- Abdominal pain / problems. 12.3%
- Respiratory distress. 12.2%
- Chest pain / discomfort. 10.1%
- Behavioral / psychiatric disorder. 7.8%
- Loss of consciousness / fainting. 7.7%
- Altered level of consciousness. 6.9%
- Seizure. 4.7%
What is the most common cause of workplace injuries of the EMS workforce?
Actions that caused the most injuries were body motion – excessive physical effort, awkward posture or repetitive movement – and exposure to harmful substances (6,000 workers per year apiece), followed by slips, trips and falls (4,000); motor vehicle-related incidents (2,000); and violence/assaults (2,000).
What kind of injuries can an EMR suffer by poor body mechanics?
Body motion
EMS personnel were most commonly treated in EDs for body motion injuries as a result of excessive physical effort, awkward posture or repetitive movement. Many of these injuries were back and neck sprains and strains.
What does a paramedic do on scene?
When paramedics arrive at the scene of an emergency their role is to assess. They assess the nature of the patient’s injuries and if possible try to find out about any preexisting medical conditions the patient has.
How risky is being a paramedic?
Ambulance workers—including paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)—work very dangerous jobs. They handle combative patients, have physically-demanding responsibilities, and are exposed to harmful substances every day.
What are the common injuries or conditions that EMS is used for?
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
| Number of injuriesa | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|
| Sprains & strains | 5,700 | 32 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 3,200b | 18 |
| Puncture and laceration | 2,400 | 13 |
| Body part affected | ||
What causes the greatest hazard for EMS personnel?
When coping mechanisms can no longer buffer job stressors, the likely result is: Burnout. Which of the following causes the greatest hazard for EMS personnel? MVC (Motor Vehicle Collisions).
What do you think the three leading causes of lawsuits against EMS providers are?
The three leading causes are ambulance crashes, bad outcomes after patient refusal, and injury to patients (e.g. dropped or tipped stretcher).
What are the three most common types of back injury for EMS?
Strains and sprains are typically from lifting, repetitive motion, or turning and twisting. Three general factors put EMS providers at risk for back injury: force, awkward positions and repetition. Force is the amount of physical effort required to perform a task or maintain control of equipment.
What kind of patient injuries can occur due to improper lifting moving of a patient?
Muscle Strains and Ligament Sprains – An acute strain or sprain can be caused by a single instance of improper lifting or by overstressing weak back muscles. A chronic strain or sprain condition usually results from overuse involving prolonged, repetitive movement of the muscles and tendons.
What hazards are paramedics exposed to?
Paramedics risk infections from blood-borne pathogens from the Hepatitis B and C viruses, and the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS. Paramedics are also at risk from the splashing of blood or bodily fluids, especially if they don’t wear protective eye goggles and face masks.