EMS A-Z Series by Jim Hoffman, Paramedic

Jim Hoffman covers a wide range of  EMS topics in his column EMS from A - Z.  About the columnist: Jim Hoffman, Paramedic, is a contributor to EMS Solutions.  EMS Solutions sells low cost online EMS and fire training resources, pocket field guides, customized guides and more.

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Being in the EMS for awhile I have seen many a co-worker and heard even more stories of providers becoming injured while working. The injuries sustained are usually back, shoulder or knees.

Most of these injuries are preventable with proper lifting procedures and
being aware of surroundings and individual capabilities. You all know the
drill of lift with your legs and not your back; don't lift more than you can
handle etc.

Unfortunately, in EMS the "e" part of the emergency can sometimes dictate
how much we are willing to risk. I myself have attempted to lift patients
that were too heavy or put myself in situations that were not the best for
lifting or moving a patient. Usually I did this because it was either take
the chance or watch the patient deteriorate or worse. Not smart.

Luckily, I was never injured seriously doing any of these feats of strength
and prowess. I should have been smarter. I should have learned and listened
to the countless seminars and articles that tell you to be safe and give
many scenarios as to why. So I guess when it comes to safety, enough just
cannot be said.

As providers we must put ourselves first, remember our families and our
partners. The patient and their family won't be helping you with your
physical therapy or your bills. They don't know the many nuances that we
have to consider on just about every call. We do and we should know better.

Beyond the common injuries, we should also look at the not so common safety
concerns facing us. Not just items such as BBP precautions, which should
certainly go without saying. But with a steady rise in accidents during EMS
operations, we owe it to ourselves to take the time and really be safe.

That means, seatbelts in the patient compartment, securing loose equipment
in the ambulance and driving with due regard for the patient you are
transporting. Take stock in the fact that using lights and sirens rarely
gets you to the hospital that much faster and it certainly isn't going to
make a difference to the stable patient you are transporting.

While in my opinion many ambulance accidents are avoidable, they do happen.
Taking the measures to minimize a potential injury during an accident will
allow you to walk away from the scene instead of being flown out on a
backboard. Think about the mechanisms of injury in any common motor vehicle
collision. It's no different in the back of an ambulance and most times is
even worse. Imagine if you are unrestrained with loose equipment. Both you
and the equipment can become a hazard to each other. Most times the
equipment will win.

It may seem like I am beating a dead horse with this article. But am I? Just
do a quick search on Google or Yahoo and see how many EMS providers have
been injured in the last year. I think you will find that horse isn't quite
dead yet.

While doing your search, look up some more safety articles and see the
latest information that is out there. From restraint systems that allow you
to move about the patient compartment to new ways to secure the equipment
and still use it fully.

Staying up to date on the latest safety techniques and ideas is just as
important as taking that CME on CVA's.

As EMS professionals we have to put ourselves first and the patients next
and at all times - Keep Safety in the Balance.