• CELLMED
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.4.1-4.1
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• 2019

Noise pollution is present all places and affects health negatively. It feels more like that to the patients. When the patient in severe condition is being taken to the emergency room, we have to overcome the siren noise of ambulance. Patients are also more terrified by the sound of sirens. Instead of siren noise, why not use the sound of Buk (Korean drum) for patient, citizens, and social elements including animals and plants?

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.105-111
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• 2018

Based on the Statistical Yearbook of 119 Emergency Medical Services in 2017 (National Fire Agency, 2018) and Population Projection by Province: 2015~2045 (Statistics Korea, 2017), this study analyzed the effects of population changes, such as low fertility and aging on the use of ambulance services in the future. The population of Korea is expected to decline after peaking in 2031, but the number of elderly people aged over 70 is expected to continue to increase. The rates of emergency ambulance transport (REAT, the number of patients transferred per 1,000 inhabitants) are not changed significantly, compared to the recent trends, but the ambulance services for elderly over 70 years of age will increase exponentially. Therefore, the population changes due to low fertility and aging is accompanied by a quantitative and qualitative change in ambulance services, and from the long term perspectives, it is necessary to consider not only the effective response of ambulance services due to aging, but also the adjustment of existing jurisdictions due to population changes and the relocation of manpower and resources.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2016

Background: Previous research has shown that paramedics are exposed to risks in the form of injuries to the musculoskeletal system. In addition, there are studies showing that they are also at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and psychiatric diseases, which can partly be explained by their constant exposure to stress. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the use of shoulder straps decreases physical effort in the form of decreased heart rate and cortisol concentration. Methods: A stretcher with a dummy was carried by 20 participants for 400 m on two occasions, one with and one without the shoulder straps. Heart rate was monitored continuously and cortisol samples were taken at intervals of 0 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and 60 minutes. Each participant was her or his own control. Results: A significant decrease in heart rate and cortisol concentration was seen when shoulder straps were used. The median values for men (with shoulder straps) at 0 minutes was 78 bpm/21.1 nmol/L (heart rate/cortisol concentration), at 15 minutes was 85 bpm/16.9 nmol/L, and at 60 minutes was 76 bpm/15.7 nmol/L; for men without shoulder straps, these values were 78 bpm/21.9 nmol/L, 93 bpm/21.9 nmol/L, and 73 bpm/20.5 nmol/L. For women, the values were 85 bpm/23.3 nmol/L, 92 bpm/20.8 nmol/L, and 70 bpm/18.4 nmol/L and 84 bpm/32.4 nmol/L, 100 bpm/32.5 nmol/L, and 75 bpm/25.2 nmol/L, respectively. Conclusion: The use of shoulder straps decreases measurable physical stress and should therefore be implemented when heavy equipment or a stretcher needs to be carried. An easy way to ensure that staff use these or similar lifting aids is to provide them with personalized, well-adapted shoulder straps. Another better option would be to routinely sewn these straps into the staff's personal alarm jackets so they are always in place and ready to be used.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.125-134
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of video communication with medical staff located at a remote location, through a communication application connected to a long term evolution (LTE) mobile communication network in a moving ambulance. Methods: In this study, we recruited patients who were transferred by mobile intensive care unit ambulance from one hospital to another. In the moving ambulance, the information of the patient was transferred to a physician using the application in real time. Recorded video files were evaluated by emergency physicians with experience in video direct medical control. Results: A total of 18 patients were evaluated, and the average score was 5.9 out of a possible 9. It was expected that applying the use of the technology to actual clinical sites would enable the sites to provide assistance. Conclusion: In this study, we confirmed the possibility of benefiting from the clinical field when using the video-audio communication application which is connected to the remote location in real time through the current LTE mobile communication network in the ambulance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2015

This research proposed a design direction for the ambulance interior storage space based on the placement and access to the equipment to facilitate an emergency medical practice taking into account the safety and efficiency by the emergency medical technician ergonomic factors. Therefore, through a field survey for the current derivation of the storage space problem 'placement', 'enable', 'management' like these three items resulting clarity, accessibility, simplicity and functionality of the four functional elements by targeting ambulances in operation in this country. First, there is a need to improve standardized of cabinet sizes fit to loaded meet emergency equipment standards. Currently, the equipment designed to use a simple storage cabinet has had problems in the usability. Second, it must be located in the continuous exposure in progress to the user's traffic line. Third, the problem was the insufficient function of the cabinet to ensure the safety of patients by paramedics from the emergency rescue equipment and due to the leaning of the ambulance driving. Besides, it was pointed out that in addition to the proposed alternatives, including the agenda, states that safety belt replacement equipment, emergency personnel and patients with the handle of a guardian for the efficient use storage space within the 119 ambulance. However, in the present study suggest that there is a state proceeds mainly limited usability in the field, having been installed.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2016

Ambulances are an important element of pre-hospital emergency medical services, and also an important space for improving the work efficiency of paramedics. Paramedics use the interior environment to maximize the capabilities of the space, but ambulances need to be improved to help with the responsibilities of paramedics. A Seamless space was constructed in accordance with the placement of first-aid emergency medical equipment and drugs, and a patient room was loaded in the interior space of an ambulance. This study was to improve the treatment space of an ambulance to improve the efficiency of work by paramedics The new design provides safety and efficiency for emergency medical services through planning of interior storage suitable for the duties of paramedics and through identification and analysis of the problems in the environment.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2017

This study examined the soundness, vibration, and size of ambulances currently used in Korea as well as the comfort and convenience of ambulancesin Korea. The target vehicles were measured and investigated using the currently used freight type, van type, and Benz ambulance. Currently, the ambulance standards in Korea have only formal production standards, and there is no regulation on safety for ambulances, space regulation for first aid, comfort, and convenience. Therefore, comparative experiments on the comfort and convenience were measured using noise and vibration measurement experiments, and research was conducted on the size and interior rearrangement of ambulances to investigate the areas that can improve the comfort and convenience. The noise measurementsshowed that the noise was large in the order of the van type, Benz type, and freight type. In the case of a speed of 40 km/h or more, the noise measurement result was 60 to 70 dB or more. In the case of vibration, the Benz type and van type ambulance were good, and the vibration of the freight type showed the worst result, highlighting the need for improvement. Lastly, it is not possible to increase the internal size of the structure of domestic ambulance. On the other hand, it is important that through ambulance relocation and the position of first aid personnel, it will be possible to use it more comfortably and conveniently.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2013

Hospitals in Korea are enforcing a quality control over 119Emergency Medical Services to increase the survival rate of Out of Hospital Cardiac arrest patients. This study is to analyze the factors that effect the survival rate of Out of hospital Cardiac arrest patients by comparing the results of before and after the quality control enforcement. Cardiac arrest patients can be assorted into pre-decision group and decision group. The study analyzed the survival factors which was based on the adequate use of 119 BLS and ACLS usage rates, response time of 119EMS, qualification of ambulance worker, number of EMS team members, and adequate use of AED according to ECG diagnosis. The analyzation was done over total 1,233 of Cardiac arrest patients from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011 After the enforcement of the quality control, the usage of Vital sign check and BLS showed a big difference. Especially, as the usage of ECG showed a significant difference, Shockable rhythm, which is the most important to Cardiac arrest patients, also showed a significant difference. After the enforcement of quality control, the performance of ACLS showed a significant difference in IV. The study showed 119 ambulance workers provided better service in Vital sign and BLS and ACLS after the enforcement of quality control. It is considered a 119 ambulance service effects the survival rate of Cardiac arrest patients. Therefore, it can increase the survival rate and it is necessary to continue a quality control.

• 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.11 no.2
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• pp.87-101
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• 2007

Health and disease related characteristics of 226 selected by systematic sampling from 452 personal emergency response system(PERS) beneficiaries and actual conditions of using PERS by them are as follows. Over 86% of PERS beneficiaries have not good health conditions and 70.7% of them have chronic diseases. On social supports family was highest as 52.2% and cases having social workers' assistance were 15.2%, but 53 as 23.7% had not visit or call from anyone and showed very low social supports. 86.2% was given PERS within 3years and 79.1% had it by the recommendation from related agencies and 4.0% was by their demand. On wearing it, 78.3% didn't bring it with them and 92% of them answered they were not sick and then it was found that they didn't use it because they had not special emergency. On satisfaction with paging system's operation, 81.3% answered they were satisfied with it, 48.8% used it for 'acute and emergency diseases' and 29.3% called ambulance for 'appointed medical treatment'. Time required for ambulance to arrive at the field was within 10 min. in 87.8% and after 10 min. in 12.2% and emergency service for beneficiaries by fire service was very good. On satisfaction with use of PERS, 85.4% were satisfied with it, 81.9% who requested repair or replacement of radio paging got it back after one or two days of their request and they answered they were satisfied with A/S. 45.5% answered they powered off it because 'they didn't use it' and 12.1% had 'economical reason of phone charge'.