title: Work-related Injuries Among Emergency Medical Technicians in Western Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are at serious risk for work-related injuries (WRIs) during work hours. Both EMTs and paramedics have higher WRI rates, according to the literature data. This study was designed to investigate causes and characteristics of WRIs involving EMTs and paramedics staffed in Western Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  All health care personnel staffed in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the city were interviewed face-to-face in their off-duty hours to inform them about the study. Excluded from the study were those who declined to participate in the study, those who were not on duty during the two-month study period, and those who had been working in the EMS for less than one year. The subjects were asked to answer multiple-choice questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 163 personnel (117 EMTs and 46 paramedics) comprised the study sample. Eighty-three personnel (50.9%) were female and mean age was 29.7 years (SD=8.4 years). The most common mechanisms of WRI, as reported by the personnel, were motor vehicle accidents (MVAs; 31.9%), needlestick injuries (16.0%), ocular exposure to bodily fluids (15.4%), and sharp injuries (9.8%), respectively. Needlestick injuries commonly occurred during intravenous line procedures (59.4%) and inside the cruising ambulance (n=20; 62.5%). Working inside the cruising ambulance was the most commonly accused cause of the WRI (41.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paramedic personnel and EMTs are under high risk of WRI. Motor vehicle accidents and needlestick injuries were the most common causes of WRI. Strict measures need to be taken to restructure the interior design to protect personnel from all kinds of WRIs. Yilmaz A , Serinken M , Dal O , Yaylacı S , Karcioglu O . Work-related injuries among emergency medical technicians in Western Turkey. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(5):505-508.
authors.affiliation: 1Pamukkale University Medical Faculty,Department of Emergency Medicine,Denizli,Turkey.
authors.forename: Atakan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: 1Pamukkale University Medical Faculty,Department of Emergency Medicine,Denizli,Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serinken
authors.affiliation: 2Acıbadem University Hospital,Department of Emergency Medicine,İstanbul,Turkey.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dal
authors.affiliation: 3Adnan Menderes University Medical Faculty,Department of Emergency Medicine,Aydın,Turkey.
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaylacı
authors.affiliation: 3Adnan Menderes University Medical Faculty,Department of Emergency Medicine,Aydın,Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karcioglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: EMS Emergency Medical Services; EMT emergency medical technician; MVA motor vehicle accident; WRI work-related injury; accident; ambulance; paramedic; work-related