Emergency Medical Services: A Naturalistic Posture Evaluation While Providing Patient Care during Patient Transport

摘要

Emergency medical service workers are a high-risk group, and while some of this risk is inherent in thetype of work that they perform, much of it may be avoidable. This study examines medical professionalsadministering patient care during patient transportation to highlight previously overlooked safety issues inan ambulance. EMS workers were observed over the course of 3 months using video data collected duringall patient transports. Visual data reduction recorded the medic back angles, seated/standing posture, andwhether or not the medic was providing patient care during all patient transports. Analysis of the datashowed that EMS workers display intermediate (between 20° and 60°) and severe (larger than 60°) backangles while standing compared to sitting, and are standing and displaying potentially harmful postureswhile providing patient care. These findings indicate that there is a relationship between the EMS worker’sability to adequately provide patient care and his inability to do so from a neutral seated posture in anambulance layout that is currently used in many ambulances used throughout the world.