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Review of Accidents/Injuries Among Emergency Medical Services Workers in Baltimore, Maryland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Robyn R.M. Gershon ,
David Vlahov ,
Gabor Kelen ,
Bruce Conrad  and
Larry Murphy
Robyn R.M. Gershon*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Health Science, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
David Vlahov
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
Gabor Kelen
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Bruce Conrad
Affiliation:
The Baltimore County Fire Department, EMS Division, Baltimore, Maryland
Larry Murphy
Affiliation:
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio
*
Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Hygiene and Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Abstract

Objectives:

To characterize the types of occupational exposures and injuries reported by emergency medical service (EMS) workers.

Methods:

A blinded review of accidents/exposures among EMS workers employed by a Baltimore County fire department was conducted. Medical records for 1992 were reviewed.

Results:

Two hundred and twenty-six reports were filed by EMS workers (n = 197) employed by a large, urban fire department in 1992. The most commonly reported injuries were sprains (23%), strains (20%), and exposure to blood and body fluids (15%). The body site most commonly injured was the back (20%) followed by the respiratory system (10%). Most incidents were treated at the employee health clinic, and 13% of the incidents resulted in a hospital visit. Fifteen percent of the injuries resulted in more than seven lost work days. Most incidents were caused by stretcher mishaps, especially during transport of heavy patients. Walkway impediments (e.g., icy steps, wet leaves, broken and uneven pathways) also played an important role in creating slipping and tripping hazards.

Conclusion:

These results suggest a variety of prevention strategies aimed at reducing accidents and exposures among EMS workers.

Keywords

accidentsemergency medical servicesexposurefire departmentmedical recordsoccupational injurieswork-days lost
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , March 1995 , pp. 14 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1995

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