Characteristics of Emergency Medical Technicians Involved in Ambulance Crashes

This study utilizes a [U.S.] national sample of emergency medical services (EMS) professionals to explore the hypothesis that demographic and work-related characteristics are associated with involvement in ambulance crashes. In 2004, a cohort of nationally registered EMS professionals was surveyed to determine ambulance crash involvement during a 12-month period. Involvement in an ambulance crash was the outcome variable of interest. Demographics such as age, community size, service type, call volume, time spent in an ambulance, and current sleep problems were analyzed as independent variables. A multivariate logistic regression model identified variables associated with involvement in an ambulance crash within the past year. Surveys were received from 1,775/5,565 (32.0%) participants; 1,297 (73.1%) met the inclusion criteria. A total of 111 (8.6%) of participants reported being involved in an ambulance crash within the past 12 months.When controlling for call volume and time in an ambulance, the odds of involvement in an ambulance crash within the past year were significantly higher for younger EMS professionals and those reporting sleep problems. Results from this analysis suggest age and sleep problems are associated with involvement in an ambulance crash. Future studies should investigate interventions to minimize the effects of these associations.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/1049023X
• Authors:
  • Studnek, Jonathan R
  • Fernandez, Antonio R
• Publication Date: 2008-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 432-437
• Serial:
  • Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: National Association of EMS Physicians
  • ISSN: 1049-023X
  • Serial URL: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PDM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ambulances; Crash causes; Crashes; Emergency medical technicians; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Human factors in crashes; Professional drivers
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01126273
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 13 2009 2:58PM