Work related injuries sustained by emergency medical technicians and paramedics in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics take immediate care of patients who are injured or unhealthy and ensure their transportation to or from the hospital. Almost 10% of all European Union employees work in health and social care systems, and a considerable number of them work in hospitals. The same is the case in Saudi Arabia, where the health care system is well developed and vibrant. With such a large workforce working in an environment where they can face accidents and injuries, accidents do happen.  According to the International Labor Organization, there are 270 million occupational accidents causing 2 million deaths annually.  The study was conducted at King Fahd Military Complex, Dhahran and Red Crescent. The study was aimed to identify the nature, frequency and causes of work-related injuries among paramedical staff. The present is among the largest studies of WRIs in EMTs in Saudi Arabia. In this study, we found a very high rate of verbal and physical violence against healthcare personnel. Physical violence negatively affects levels of satisfaction in workers. Studies indicate that exposure to both chronic and critical incident stressors increases the risk of EMS personnel developing post-traumatic stress reactions. The risk of WRIs to paramedics and EMTs is obviously high. The most common injuries were verbal/ physical violence, needle stick injuries and motor vehicle accidents. The most common cause for these WRIs was carelessness on part of EMTs.