7 Common Emergency Medical Worker Injuries
In the Central Valley and anywhere, first responders are the first line of defense when it comes to emergency response. Three major branches of first responders include firefighters, police officers, and EMTs, with each being an incredible part of public safety.
We’ll focus on the third branch by discussing some common EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) injuries related to the first responder industry. EMTs represent just over 60,000 EMTs and 20,000 paramedics throughout the state of California.
As a part of their daily duties, they deal with a wide variety of emergencies, but along with that comes a variety of workplace injuries. According to NIOSH or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, between 2008 and 2020, an average of 21,292 Emergency Medical Workers were injured each year while on the job.
Common types of EMT injuries
1. RSIs and musculoskeletal injuries from patient handling
Often the work done by first responders can be highly repetitive, doing the same activity over and over throughout a shift. One of the biggest risks comes from the need to lift patients. Regardless of the size of a patient, lifting them can lead to severe musculoskeletal injuries for first responders that can leave a worker unable to work for an extended period of time.
2. Violence from patients
One of the leading factors when it comes to workplace injuries for first responders is the unfortunate risk of a patient becoming violent. Many patients may not agree they need help or can become disoriented from the specific illness they are being treated for. This can cause them to become violent and due to their direct proximity with the patient, they are the first in line on a patient's war path.
3. Transportation incidents
Transporting patients can be a risky part of the job as well; whether it’s in the hospital or in an ambulance, a first responder can get severely injured. If an ambulance gets into an accident while a patient is being tended to or worked on while in the back, the employee has very little protection from being thrown around the back of the ambulance and with all the equipment, it can lead to a potentially fatal injury.
4. Mental Health
EMS workers have an incredibly stressful job from dealing with long hours, uncomfortable conditions, and the constant presence of death. This can lead to stress and other psychological issues. When you’re not in the right headspace to take on life-or-death situations, it can affect the work being done and lead to other issues, both physical and mental, down the road.
5. Exposure to harmful substances, illnesses, fumes, or other toxic materials
The risk for respiratory issues and illnesses in the workplace is incredibly high for EMTs. They are often repeatedly exposed to chemicals that can be hazardous if inhaled on a regular basis, especially if they come into contact with the skin, eyes, or mouth. Likewise, they are in the constant vicinity of patients who are experiencing potentially deadly diseases. Even if the proper steps are taken, EMTs can still contract these same potentially fatal diseases.
6. Handling dangerous equipment
The amount of equipment in a medical facility ranges from the very small, such as a flashlight, to the incredibly large, such as an MRI machine or an X-ray machine, that takes up a large portion of room. Most of this equipment, if not all, is powered by electricity and if equipment gets wet, is not grounded properly, or has not been maintained correctly, it can lead to shock or even fatal electrocution.
Likewise, if not dealt with in a serious and proper way, it can lead to serious injuries for both EMTs and patients.
7. Slips, trips, and falls
A medical facility has a lot of moving parts with each focusing on the tasks they need to accomplish. Often, these various parts can overlap in catastrophic ways whether it be someone slipping on a recently washed floor, tripping over items that shouldn’t be in their path, or even falling off a piece of equipment. Each of these unsafe conditions can lead to significant injuries.
Despite these first responder injuries being possible every time an emergency medical worker starts their shift, there are steps emergency responders and employers can take to keep everyone on the job safe and healthy.
How to limit these common injuries
1. Commit to proper safety training
Proper training done on a frequent schedule is a key way to prevent injuries from happening in the workplace. If everyone knows how to be safe when working with each piece of equipment they’ll be operating, they’ll be less likely to mishandle it and therefore less likely to cause an accident to occur. The same goes for anyone working in the proximity of said equipment because they need to be aware of how to act when that equipment is in use as well.
One of the best and most effective safety precautions is simply washing your hands regularly and between each activity. Likewise, undergoing frequent and proper training procedures for dealing with patients in any and all possible scenarios will lead to a higher safety standard for all parties involved.
2. Wear necessary protective equipment at all times
Wearing proper safety equipment is essential to limiting the possibility of a workplace injury. Some of the helpful ways you can stay safe are by wearing a mask to lower the impact of airborne illnesses, putting on gloves for added protection against unsafe liquids/contaminants, wearing the proper scrubs or clothing that will not restrict your movement, and by getting a proper pair of comfortable, non-slip shoes.
All of these will help keep you safe from the various hazards you may face on a daily basis as a first responder.
3. Be aware of your surroundings at all times
One of the biggest aspects of workplace injuries is not being cognizant of the things happening around you. While it is important to focus on your job, it is also important to be aware of what others around you are doing in case something they do leads to an accident of some kind. It is very easy for a distraction to lead to a workplace accident, so keeping your eyes and ears peeled for any potential mishap is crucial to keeping all employees safe.
4. Properly labeling and storing all chemicals, needles, handheld equipment, and movable items
If chemicals are not put away in their proper place when not in use or are mislabeled, that miscommunication can cause a severe injury to occur. The same can be said for the maintenance and disposal of needles because when done improperly, it can get a lot of people sick or even lead to death. This procedure goes for any type of equipment whether big or small and any easily movable item.
When stored and labeled in the correct fashion, these items can lead to a functional, efficient workplace that is less prone to any accidents that would occur otherwise. Safer EMTs lead to better healthcare for patients and the overall well being of a medical facility.
5. Safely stretch and stay limber so muscles don’t get too tense
Stretching can be a great way to keep your body from becoming stiff and rigid. Because of the repetitive nature of an EMTs job, relieving some of the cumulative tension that might arise over the course of the day and multiple shifts with stretching can prevent long-term injuries to that part of the body. Always stretch or loosen up in a place that is safe and in a way that will not put you, any other worker, or the patients in harm's way.
6. Get a good night's sleep so you are alert at all times
Proper sleep habits can really make the difference between performing at your best and executing your job in a way that may harm others or yourself while in the workplace. The CDC suggests getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep and creating a positive, consistent nightly routine that eliminates caffeine and electronic devices before bedtime. This may be impossible for first responders while working multiple shifts back-to-back, but taking manageable steps towards improving your sleep habits can make a huge difference for both you and your patients.
7. Drink plenty of water and take breaks when necessary
It is super important to stay hydrated because if you are not, it can lead to a variety of conditions that can exacerbate the chances of a workplace injury. These include dizziness, fatigue, irritability, confusion, and many more.
Being a first responder is also a very stressful job, so if you ever feel any of these conditions coming on, pause what you’re doing and take the necessary steps to feel well again. If you’re not healthy as a first responder, it is much harder to keep the patients healthy.
8. Make sure all equipment is up to date and safe
If anything seems unsafe for whatever reason when it comes to the equipment that is being used, let your employer know so they can take the necessary steps to fix the issue. Constantly maintaining and updating the equipment used in the workplace is a vital way of making sure the equipment is not outdated and working in a way that will not add to workplace injuries.
EMTs and all first responders put themselves and their safety on the line every time they are in the line of duty. The very nature of their job can be life and death, and they help keep us safe and healthy when in the most dire of situations. Hopefully these tips can help limit injuries. Thank you for your dedication and making sure we all stay safe.
Cole, Fisher, Cole, O’Keefe + Mahoney is Central California’s leading workers’ compensation and social security disability law firm. With over 30 years of successful experience, we are committed to securing maximum benefits for our clients in the Fresno, California area. Schedule a free consultation today.