WASHINGTON — For the first time, researchers reported the frequency and type of on-the-job injuries experienced by EMS providers. Audrey Reichard, an epidemiologist for the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, shared the results of a four-year research effort during an EMS Focus webinar. The NIOSH research sought to understand, count and categorize EMS provider injuries which are treated in the emergency department.
EMS agencies have a dual challenge to increase the size of the workforce and to better retain the existing workforce. Employers are encouraged to apply Reichard’s findings to improve injury prevention efforts. For example, eyes were the top body site for exposure incidents treated in emergency departments. Reichard reported only 10 percent of EMS providers who had an exposure injury were wearing eye protection at the time of injury and the use of a face mask was so low the number was unreportable.
The study relied on an emergency department surveillance system data set and involved follow-up phone interviews with 572 EMS providers. National estimates of injury rates were made from four years of data, collected from 2010 to 2014, and the follow-up phone interviews.
Top causes of EMS provider injuries
Reichard found that an average of 22,300 emergency departments treated EMS injuries per year. The majority of those injured were male.
Three-quarters of EMS providers injured were full-time, career providers with less than 10 years of experience.
Sprains and strains were the most commonly treated injuries. Exposure incidents, wounds and musculoskeletal injuries were the next most frequently emergency department treated injuries. The trunk and neck were the site of injury for nearly one-third of cases.
Body motion, including awkward posture and repetitive movement, were the most common event at the time of injury. Researchers calculated a body motion injury rate of 2.6 injuries/100 full-time EMS providers. Half of providers with body motion injuries missed one or more days of work.
Exposures to needlesticks and bloodborne pathogens were the second most common type of injury. Half of the EMS providers injured were 18-29 years old. Exposures were highest from needlesticks and being spat on by patients. Blood and respiratory secretions were the most common type of exposure. Though more than 80 percent of respondents were wearing gloves at the time of injury, only 10 percent had donned eye protection.
Reichard also described injuries resulting from slips, trips and falls, ambulance collisions and violence.
Memorable quotes from Reichard on EMS injury research
Here are memorable quotes on the NIOSH study of EMS workforce injuries and illnesses.
“You can’t prevent what you don’t know or understand. The first step is understanding the injuries happening to EMS providers.”
“The workers most often injured were younger, less experienced, full-time workers.”
“Half of the respondents injured while lifting reported a patient who was heavy or overweight.”
“Violence was the least common type of injury incident, but we suspect violence against EMS providers was under-reported because many providers believe attacks are part of the job.”
Key takeaways on EMS line of duty injuries
The results of the NIOSH study have been accepted for publication in an academic EMS journal. NIOSH is also developing a fact sheet for EMS employers. Waiting for those materials should not delay EMS leaders and field providers from applying these top takeaways.
1. Report injuries and violent encounters
Reichard only studied injuries treated in the emergency department. There is currently no way to estimate or study injuries that don’t require emergency department treatment. Reichard also echoed the belief of many EMS leaders that violent encounters are significantly under-reported.
2. Violence against a provider is never acceptable
Being violently attacked and assaulted by a patient or bystander is never to be brushed off as “part of the job.” All violent encounters need to be reported and handled following an organization’s standard operating procedure. That procedure should include, but not be limited to, management taking violent incidents seriously, reporting assailants to local law enforcement, providing EMS providers access to immediate injury assessment and treatment and explaining resources available for care of traumatic stress.
3. Tailor injury prevention messages to workforce cohorts
Overall, less experienced, full-time and younger EMS providers were found to be injured most often. But body motion injuries were most common in EMS providers over the age of 40. EMS leaders, health and wellness educators, occupational therapists and infection control officers should apply the findings of this research to develop specific training programs for different EMS workforce cohorts.
Learn more about EMS on-duty-injuries and prevention
Reichard was one of three presenters in the EMS Focus webinar. Mike Szczygiel described the purpose and efforts of the National EMS Safety Council. Bryan McRay, Director of Safety for Richmond Ambulance Authority, discussed implementing an EMS culture of safety and what it looks like in the Richmond Ambulance Authority. The webinar is archived on EMS.gov, where other resources are also available for EMS leaders and field providers.
In addition, learn more about injury and violence prevention from these EMS1 articles.
- Eye safety is important on every EMS response
- Why EMS providers should never tolerate being attacked
- Being assaulted is not part of the job
- Escaping Violent Encounters video training series
- Importance of wearing proper protective eyewear and facial protection
- 5 EMS safety tips to prevent carfentanil exposure
- Why every EMS agency needs a stronger safety culture
- Why EMS needs more protection on roadway incidents
- Is your ambulance partner safe at home?
- EMS use of red lights and sirens is a dangerous sacred cow
- Exhausted paramedics: 7 recommendations to reduce impacts of fatigue
- EMS body armor: What providers need to know
