• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.53-62
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate duty-related incidental stress, coping method, and stress factors in 133 new firefighters. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was administrated to 133 new firefighters between April and May 2010. It consisted of 33 and 62 items concerning duty-related incident stress and coping methods, respectively. Data were analyzed by using the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Results: New firefighters experienced the most stress when inappropriately dispatched. Duty-related incidental stress correlated with active (r = .420, p < .001) and passive coping (r = .450, p < .001). Also active coping statistically correlated with passive coping (r = .890, p < .001). Influencing factors of duty-related incidental stress were passive coping (t = 2.12, p < .05), experience of having a co-worker in a dangerous situation (t = 3.30, p < .001), having less than 6 months of work experience (t = 2.30, p < .05), and experience of having oneself in a dangerous situation (t = 2.05, p < .05). Conclusion: New firefighters need to be provided with training on active coping to prevent posttraumatic stress disorders and, social support immediately after an inappropriate and stressful dispatch.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.54-63
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• 2015

Volunteer fire department is a private firefighting organization which is set up in Seoul, metropolitan cities, city/eup/myeon to assist firefighting service. It actively participates in prevention and aid of various disasters as well as in fire prevention/extinguishment to protect people's lives and property and to promote regional development. In short, it is a nonpaid, voluntary, private service organization; it is composed of residents in the area who have spirit of service and sacrifice, wish to join, and work in their own occupation while assisting firefighting work. Yet, voluntary fire department of such nobility and sincerity has not been vitalized, and accordingly, studies regarding this issue have been conducted in firefighting organizations and academia. Therefore, purposes of this research are 1) to analyze issues of current situation through looking at basic training for new volunteer firefighter, unification of power to appoint and dismiss captain and crews of the volunteer fire department, volunteer fire firefighters with a few good people, and vitalization of female volunteer firefighters; and 2) to propose vitalization measures based on the findings above.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.123-128
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• 2014

This study investigated a posttraumatic stress, social support, and work burden and identified related factors which exerted influence on posttraumatic stress of new firefighters. Data were gathered from total of 144 new firefighters. Also, 22 PTS items, 20 work burden items, and 8 social support items were analyzed by SPSSWIN 21.0 program. Posttraumatic stress according to general characteristics showed significant difference in gender(t=-2.57, p=0.01), experience of self danger(t=3.06, p=0.00), experience of rescuee danger(t=2.41, p=0.02), and experience of colleague danger(t=3.43, p=0.00). High risk group of PTS was 20.1%. Posttraumatic stress, social support, and work burden showed significant difference in the high and low risk group. Posttraumatic stress was correlated with work burden(r=0.34, p=0.00), social support(r=-0.29,p=0.00). Factors influencing PTS were Experience of colleague danger(${\beta}$=1.274, 95% CI=0.08-0.96), social support(${\beta}$=-0.090, 95% CI=0.85-0.98) and work burden(${\beta}$=0.057, 95% CI=1.02-1.10). We need to reduce the work burden caused by influencing variable of traumatic stress and create more preventive discipline of traumatic stress for the new firefighters to improve the social support at work or home. Also, posttraumatic stress has to be managed consistently with support by changing the social attitudes and we need to seek the new system that anybody can get a consultation of a specialist.