The duties of fire officials extend beyond physical tasks to include significant psychological and social responsibilities aimed at protecting human life and property. However, repeated emergency dispatches, hazardous field responses, and long working hours can lead to job stress and exhaustion, ultimately reducing job performance and organizational efficiency. This study investigated the duties and performance levels of fire officials by analyzing data from a nationwide survey conducted from January 1 to May 31, 2025. The questionnaire consisted of eight items on general characteristics and nine items related to job stress. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0, and reliability testing indicated strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .835). The average job performance score among participants was 2.75 out of 5. Significant differences in job performance were observed based on years of service, rank, and employment route (p < 0.01). These findings aim to contribute to enhancing the job efficiency of fire officials and improving national safety by identifying key aspects of their duties and examining variations across demographic and professional characteristics.

This study employed a descriptive survey to examine the job performance of firefighters. Participants were 270 active firefighters who voluntarily agreed to participate after being informed of the study's purpose. Of the questionnaire's 17 items, 8 were on general characteristics and 9 were on work cooperation. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0, and all items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Reliability analysis revealed a Cronbach's α of .831, exceeding the acceptable criterion of .60 and indicating satisfactory internal consistency. The main findings revealed that the overall level of firefighters' job performance averaged 2.49 out of 5 points. Significant differences were identified based on general characteristics such as years of service, job position, rank, and employment pathway. Although the study sample was limited to firefighters from a specific region, potentially restricting the generalizability of the results, it contributes meaningfully by determining the current status of firefighters' job performance and highlighting areas requiring additional support. Future research should expand the sample and examine these factors more comprehensively.

This study aimed to examine health-related university students' awareness of and attitudes toward do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders and to identify differences according to academic year and department, as well as factors influencing DNR attitudes. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 183 health-related university students in the Gyeongnam region using a structured questionnaire consisting of items on general characteristics, awareness of DNR, attitudes toward DNR, and the perceived need for DNR education. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0, including descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis. The results indicated that the participants generally exhibited neutral to moderately positive attitudes toward DNR orders. Significant differences in DNR attitudes were observed according to academic year and department (p < .05), with students majoring in emergency medical services demonstrating more positive attitudes than those in other departments. In addition, higher awareness of DNR was significantly associated with more positive attitudes (p < .05). The perceived need for DNR education was also identified as a significant factor influencing DNR attitudes. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that academic year and perceived need for DNR education were significant predictors of attitudes toward DNR. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of DNR and end-of-life care education for health-related university students. It suggests that educational programs should be systematically developed and tailored according to students' academic characteristics and disciplinary backgrounds. Future studies should include larger and more diverse samples and adopt qualitative approaches to gain a deeper understanding of the formation and changes in attitudes toward DNR. These findings provide fundamental data for improving bioethics education in healthcare.

This study aimed to examine the level of knowledge regarding contact-transmitted infections among college students in healthcare-related majors and to identify differences according to general characteristics as well as factors influencing such knowledge. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. Data were collected from 183 healthcare-related college students in the Gyeongnam region using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 29.0 with frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Duncan's post-hoc test, and multiple linear regression. The mean knowledge score was 3.14 out of 5, indicating a moderate level. The highest score was observed for awareness of transmission risk (M=3.38), whereas the lowest score was found for knowledge of reporting procedures during clinical practice (M=2.77). Significant differences in knowledge were observed according to age (p<.01). However, no significant differences were found according to gender, major, academic year, religion, presence of healthcare professionals in the family, or experience of death. The regression model was not statistically significant (F=0.588, adjusted R² =-0.016), and no significant predictors were identified. These findings suggest that knowledge of contact-transmitted infections is not sufficiently explained by general characteristics alone. Therefore, infection control education should be strengthened by incorporating practical, case-based, and procedure-oriented training, particularly focusing on reporting systems in clinical settings.

Hypertension among adults in Korea is steadily increasing, yet limited research has explored the contributing risk factors in this population. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with hypertension in Korean adults, with a particular focus on informing prevention strategies. This study utilizes the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, specifically examining blood heavy metal levels and dietary habits. The analysis included 8,025 adults aged 30 years and older. Significant associations were observed between hypertension and dietary intake of fish, shellfish, and meat, whereas no significant associations were found with grain and vegetable consumption. Regarding serological indicators, all variables-including blood glucose, HDL triglycerides, and total cholesterol-showed significant associations with hypertension. Among the heavy metal indicators, only blood cadmium levels were statistically significantly associated with hypertension; mercury and lead showed no significant effects. These findings suggest that hypertension in Korean adults is influenced by both dietary and environmental factors. Given the role of hypertension in increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and in reducing life expectancy, this study underscores the importance of improving dietary habits and promoting regular physical activity as key strategies for hypertension prevention.

Fire ladders are essential access equipment for firefighting and rescue operations; however, instability and overturning at the ladder base during use remain critical safety concerns. In conventional firefighting practice, one or two firefighters are often required to manually stabilize the ladder, which constrains manpower allocation and may delay critical response activities. This study provides an academic analysis of a fire ladder steel plate support structure designed to secure ladder stability without manual assistance. The analytical framework of this study is based on a patented device (Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0105771, 2024), which features a steel plate support with integrated fixing members that simultaneously secure both ladder rails. The structure comprises a rectangular steel plate that weighs between 15 and 40 kg and has a surface area of 1500-2500 cm², onto which steel fixing components are welded. This configuration enables the lateral, longitudinal, and torsional forces acting on the ladder to be distributed across the entire plate rather than being concentrated at individual contact points. Structural analysis indicates that the proposed support system effectively mitigates the localized load concentration and torsional instability commonly observed in conventional individual rail-mounted fixing devices. The combined effect of bilateral rail fixation and the self-weight of the steel plate enhances ground-contact stability and significantly reduces overturning moments during ladder ascent and descent. Consequently, the system enables safe ladder installation and operation by a single firefighter without auxiliary manual support. By academically reinterpreting a patent-based ladder stabilization structure, this study highlights its technical significance in enhancing fire ladder safety and manpower efficiency in firefighting operations. The findings provide foundational insights for future experimental validation, field performance evaluation, and the development of safety design guidelines for firefighting equipment.

Firefighters engaged in fire suppression and rescue operations are continuously exposed to complex hazards, including high temperatures, toxic gases, oxygen deficiency, limited visibility, and the risk of structural collapse. In particular, during indoor fires and operations in confined spaces, firefighters rely entirely on self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs), and the accurate awareness of remaining air supply and remaining usable time becomes a critical factor directly linked to survival. However, conventional SCBA-based safety-management systems are primarily designed around auditory alarms triggered by air-pressure reduction, which present structural limitations in high-noise environments and fail to comprehensively reflect surrounding environmental hazards. Against this background, this study analyzes a patent titled "Smart Firefighting Information Provision Apparatus and Method" (Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0145578), with the aim of systematically organizing the configuration and operational principles of the proposed system and examining its structural characteristics. The analyzed technology is centered on a wearable information-provision device designed to integrate remaining air supply of the SCBA, estimated remaining usable time, environmental hazard factors, and evacuation decision information through a head-up display (HUD)-based visual interface. In addition, the patented technology includes an information-provision workflow that processes environmental data collected from multiple sensors-such as temperature, radiant heat, and toxic-gas concentration-in a stepwise manner to assess hazard conditions and to calculate evacuation thresholds based on safety-related information. Furthermore, the system proposes an integrated architecture that links the wearable device with external servers and command centers, enabling the simultaneous consideration of individual-level safety management and organization-level situational awareness. As a patent-based structural analysis study without experimental validation or performance evaluation, this work aims not to empirically verify system effectiveness but to systematically interpret the design logic and operational characteristics of the proposed technology. The findings provide a foundation for future empirical research on HUD-based smart firefighting safety systems, the analysis of firefighter cognitive characteristics, and the development of intelligent firefighting support technologies.

This study aimed to examine the welfare status of fire suppression firefighters and identify differences according to general characteristics and influencing factors. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with 222 fire suppression firefighters in South Korea using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance with Duncan's post hoc test, and multiple linear regression analysis in SPSS version 29.0. The overall mean welfare score was 2.897 on a 5-point Likert scale, indicating a below-moderate level. Institutional welfare items related to sick leave, industrial accident compensation, and annual leave were rated relatively higher, whereas perceptions of retirement preparation and mental health support were lower. Welfare status differed significantly by route of entry into the fire service, and years of service was identified as a significant influencing factor, although the explanatory power of the regression model was limited. These findings suggest that current welfare systems are more focused on short-term and incident-based support than on long-term well-being. Targeted welfare strategies considering career stage and organizational background may improve firefighters' welfare perceptions. Furthermore, strengthening mental health support and retirement preparation programs is essential for sustainable workforce management.