• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2017

Purpose: This study investigated the use of infection management and the frequency of emergency equipment sterilization by emergency rescue crews to provide basic guidelines and suggestions for infection control. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 160 emergency medical technician rescue crews in J area from May 7 to May 22 in 2015. The questionnaire consisted of 95 items, including the general characteristics of the subjects (8 items), the use of emergency equipment (33 items), the frequency of facility sterilization (33 items), infection control (12 items), vaccination (4 items), and the use of personal protective equipment (5 items). Results: In all, 97.3% of respondents were aware of the "Guidelines of Infection management for Rescue Operators' and 90.9% received training on infection control. A total of 72.7% and 47.3% of rescue centers were equipped with disinfection facilities and laundry rooms, respectively. The average frequency of sterilization was $3.17{\pm}0.75$, which significantly differed for teams with more clinical experience (p=.050) and teams with three members (p=.030). The average score for individual protective equipment supplies was $1.95{\pm}0.66$. Conclusion: For proper infection management of emergency equipment, our results suggest that the number of crew members should be increased for each ambulance, protective equipment and rescue products should be supplied, and the number of facilities for sterilization and laundry at rescue centers should be doubled.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.91-105
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to describe the current status of 119 EMT to violence experiences in Korea. Method : The number of 119 EMT in this study 2522. Self-administering questionnaire data were collected from April 27 to March 8 in 2009. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 14.0 program. Real number, percentage, mean and standard deviation were calculated. Pearson correlation coefficient was analyzed. Result : 119 EMTs experienced 95.32%-verbal insults, 61.54%-violence aggression, 60.51%- potential violence, 38.70%-physical assault. Within 30 days from the most recent period of violence experienced verbal insults and violence aggression-51.07%, potential violence and physical assault-48.41%. The patients(50.59%) and the patients and patient's carers(38.26%) proved to be violent offender. The main reason of violent act was drug or alcohol addiction(56.15%). Recent exposure to violence was 34.82% by 7 point reward of stress level. 5-point scale showed the average of experiences of violence. Response average of emotional reactions was 2.66 points and that of physical reaction was 2.18 points. Social reaction was 2.06 points. Conclusion : This study was based on the violence experience of 119 EMT. It is necessary to prevent the violence from emergency scene. So we proposed the preventive measure against violence as well as critical incident stress debriefing(CISD). Policy for CISD and stress management will be implemented in the near future in Korea.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.109-115
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• 2022

During emergencies, the time from symptom onset to definitive treatment determines the final outcome. Therefore, the emergency medical service (EMS) system in Korea, aims to transfer patients requiring emergency care to appropriate medical facilities within 30 minutes. This is in an attempt to improve the chances of survival and reduce sequelae. We attempted to locate areas vulnerable to prehospital transportation and identify hot spots with high demand for emergency medical helicopters in Jeju, by using a grid-based geospatial analysis. This retrospective cross-sectional observational study employed EMS data of 119 ambulance run sheets spanning from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2018 in Jeju. The location data of emergency patients was superimposed on the spatial analysis frame using the geographic information system (GIS). Subsequently, the locations of long-distance transfer and delayed transfers to the hospital were analyzed, to identify hot spots where the demand for helicopter emergency services would be high. Of the total analysis targets, 42.2% (20,288 people) took more than 30 minutes from reporting to 119 dispatchers to hospital transfer. As the transfer time interval increased, the patient occurrence time increased in the city of Jeju, increased in Seogwipo, and the ratio of patients/guardians to select a transfer hospital rose with significant differences. This study identified the characteristics related to time delays in prehospital transfer of emergency patients in Jeju, and the areas vulnerable to prehospital emergency care were derived and visualized through spatial analysis using the GIS.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.124-132
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• 2016

Medical oversight (MO) means the advice and direction provided by a physician to rescue workers who provide medical care or carry patients at the scene of an emergency. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utilization of MO and related factors among some 119 rescue workers in Gwangju. A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 153 rescue workers in these 119 safety centers. The data were analyzed by SAS version 9.3. Overall 82.4% of the subjects utilized MO during the past month. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the married subjects (OR = 3.87, 95% CI = 1.22~12.27), level 1 emergency medical technicians (OR = 2.87, 95% CI = 1.02~8.09), and subjects who treated cardiovascular emergency patients (OR = 9.19, 95% CI = 1.87~45.08) had significantly higher odds ratios for the utilization of MO. The experience of MO accounted for 82%. The development of strategies and education plans taking these results into consideration will help to improve the utilization of MO.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.39-53
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• 2005

This study examines need and qualification of safety education teachers with elementary school students and aims to provide data for improving safety education of elementary school As a result of study, it was found that on need of safety education teacher at elementary school, 'very needed' showed the highest response and students who answered 'the first class emergency medical technician' on qualification of safety education teacher showed the highest safety consciousness and low rate of safety accidents. Therefore, for improving safety education at elementary school, adoption of optional course at college or university to learn qualification and functions necessary for being special teacher and institutional support by the ministry of education that employment after passing elementary school teacher appointment examination are needed.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.50-66
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• 2007

An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a well-trained emergency responder to provide emergency medical services to the critically ill and injured patient. In various situations, EMT may destroy potential physical evidences associated with the crime scene or determination of real cause of death. This study was aimed to evaluate the educational need of forensic medicine in Korean EMT. Questionnaires were administered to 592 EMTs during March 2007. The response rate was 60.3%(357 EMTs). In questionnaires there were 13 questions regarding the general characteristics, 16 questions about roles of EMTs related with forensic circumstances, 9 questions about the education related to forensic medicine. Questionnaires rated on a 4-point Likert scale or 5-point Likert scale. Most of 119 rescue EMTs had experienced with situations related to crime or unexpected sudden death. EMTs had arrived to the scenes earlier than police and complained of some difficulties related with deficit of forensic knowledge. EMTs wanted to receive continuous educations about forensic medicine. In order to reduce dissatisfaction with EMTs roles and to improve crime scene preservations, Emergency Medical Services policies should provide regular educational curriculum by forensic pathologists and promote legal responsibilities for 119 rescue EMTs.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of job stress, self-efficacy and empowerment of 119 Emergency medical technicians in Jeollanam-do. Methods: This study used the data collected from 346 respondents working for first aid in a fire station. To answer research questions, this study employed frequency analysis, reliability test, F (t)-test, ANOVA, Scheffe' post-hoc test, and multiple-regression analysis. Results: In terms of demographic characteristics, marital status and age had significant impact on job stress, but sex and education did not. In terms of job characteristics, first placement, rank, and tenure made significant difference on job stress, whereas certificate, department, and area did not. These results address that general characteristics, self-efficacy and job stress are critical variables on empowerment. Conclusion: From the research findings, it is concluded that fire fighters' job stress can be reduced if professional development programs are given to them, which is likely to provide better public services such as first aids and welfare, as well as to increase job satisfaction.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.399-407
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• 2018

Objective: Regionalization is one of the principal subjects for the advancement of rural emergency medical service systems in South Korea. This study shows the characteristics of interhospital transfer and status of the incidence of three major emergency disorders (acute myocardial infarction [AMI], acute stroke, and severe trauma) in one local province. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted for patients with three major emergency disorders who visited emergency medical facilities in one local province from January 2013 to December 2015, on the basis of the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) data. Results: The incidence of three major emergency disorders had increased annually. Patients with each of these disorders tended to choose distinguishing methods of visiting emergency medical facilities. AMI patients tended to visited emergency medical facilities using private cars or on foot, while severe trauma patients usually visited by 119 ambulance, and acute stroke patients used 119 ambulance and private car in similar amounts. Overall, 65% of AMI patients were treated in intraregional medical facilities, but about 70% of acute stoke and severe trauma patients were transferred outside of the region. Conclusion: Because each of these disorders has an individual characteristic, it is difficult to expect a solution for the problems associated with emergency disorders just by assuring the availability of medical resources. Based on regionalization, a policy to provide the optimal treatment for those emergency disorders should be developed by planning public medical service systems based on the individual characteristics of emergency disorders, the standardized transfer plans of emergency patients and the assurance for mobilization and sharing of confined medical resources.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.80-86
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• 2014

Based on 2009 Korea Health Panel, this study investigated socio-economic and clinical characteristics associated with emergency medical transport use, and analyzed a simple predictive model of emergency medical transport use. Analysis results were summarized as follows: First, emergency medical transports such as 119 ambulance were more used than private cars, taxis, or walk-in. Second, between a user group and a non-user group of emergency medical transports, there were statistically significant differences in age, the level of education, family composition, house type, household income, the relationship with the head of household, insurance types, the presence of handicap, the presence of chronic disease, reasons to emergency medical service use, and treatment after emergency medical service completed. Third, age, household income, the presence of handicap, reasons to emergency medical service use, and treatment after emergency medical service completed were statistically significant predictors associated with emergency medical transports use. To improve emergency medical service system, the characteristics and predictors associated with emergency medical transports are more concerned.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.33-47
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• 2006

This research is devoted to increase resuscitation rate of emergency patients, expanding CPR to a pan-national campaigning, revaluating popularity and suitability of the education about the existing CPR(Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation) education expansion of 119 EMS. Questionnaire was carried from seven hundred fifty eight residental and students in kyuggi fist area(Southern suwon, Middle suwon, Osan, Young-in) from July 20 to July 30, 2006. The institutional support for CPR education and special eduction institution are not prepared, 52.44% of those have CPR education, according to questionnaire. 39.9% of the educated is from 119 EMS and it is big outcome, 119 EMS efforts in the vortex of poor surroundings. But, 69.76% of the uneducated said they had not chance of CPR education and 19.63% said that the reason is no special eduction institution and information for CPR education. They say that CPR education was carried for only applicants in 119 EMS, without systematic and institutional support, special eduction institution. So, we have to expand the infrastructure, institute CPR education for systematic propagation of CPR education. And we need to make plan constructive public relations, intensify maintaining of CPR educated.