• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.5-22
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• 1969

The urban population of our country is rapidly increasing due to many factors of social structure, and sociologists are predicting that the increase rate of the urban population will be over 50% in 1980's. Above all, the population of the capital city of Seoul, is at present more than four millions. Such centring of people in cities, together with the improvement of the standards of living, caused rapid increase in the amount of fuel consumption, and this consumption of fuels became one of the primary sources of the air pollution in cities. Moreover, the heavy traffic, construction of many tall buildings, and the increasing number of new factories due to the industrial development-all these are contributing to make the matter of air pollution worse and worse in the Metropolitan, whose geographical location is quite unfavorable considered from the view point of air pollution. Most homes in Seoul use briquet as fuel, while oils are used in tall buildings. The CO, $SO_2$, and smoke that come from burning of these fuels are a great threat to the health of the urban population. With the purpose of examining the influence of air pollution upon the public health, written inquiries were made upon respiratory diseases, and the carboxyhemoglobin saturation in the blood was measured to determine whether the air pollution may affect the health of the urban population. Method of Health Examination (1) Investigation of Respiratory Diseases Patients' records were examined to figure out the monthly ambulance rate of respiratory patients to the total number of patients treated. On the other hand, by using the questionnaire form approved by the Medical Research Council's Committee on Research into Chronic Bronchitis, investigators interviewed the examinees and inquired into the respiratory symptoms. (2) Measuring of Carboxyhemoglobin Saturation From the ear lobe of the examinees, with the use of the melangeur for the white blood cell counting, blood was taken, and after diluting it ten times with 0.1% $Na{2}CO_{3}$, again diulting it 20 times with 0.5% $Na_{2}\;CO_{3}$, its absorbancy was measured. The following results are obtained from the investigation. (1) It was found out that 7.7% of the total patients under treatment were suffering from upper respiratory infection, acute or chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary emphysema and bronchiectasis. Of them all, patients with upper respiratory infection numbered the greatest with 4.8% and patients with acute or chronic bronchitis the next with 2.1%, and their monthly ambulance rate was high from December to February during the winter, and from April to May and from September to October during the changeable seasons. (2) The daily ambulance rate of respiratory patients, it was revealed, had a close connection with the concentration of $SO_2$ and CO in the air. (3) It was found out that men were more subject to respiratory disease than women, and both men and women were more liable to the diseases with the advancing of age. (4) People living at Choong-ku with the heavy traffic and in the industrial zones of Yeungdungpo had high frequency of respiratory symptoms. (5) Considered from the view point of occupations, high frequency was found among those without job, with jobs unknown, merchants and intdustrial workers, whose social status was rather low and traffic policemen who were always exposed to the exhaust gas of cars. As for women, the frequency was detected in the order of those from high to low, housewives who were exposed to briquet gas, women with jobs unknown, women without jobs, whose social status was low. (6) Ex-smokers rather than smokers, of both sexes, had higher frequency. As for men, heavy smokers had high frequency, while in women light smokers had rather high frequency which was presumed to be due to their average old age. (7) Men's average of carboxyhemoglobin saturation was 9.48%, while women's was 11.3%, higher than men's. (p<0.05). Age meant no difference in the case of men, but as for women, the saturation was remarkably high between the ages from 20 to 60. (8) No regional difference was detected in the carboxyhemoglobin saturation. (9) The carboxyhemoglobin saturation was found, in the case of men, in the order of office workers, traffic policemen, students, the unemployed, merchants and industrial workers, drivers; and as for women, the order was housewives, office workers, merchants and industrial workers. (10) No significant correlation was found between the carboxyhemoglobin saturation and the concentration of CO detected in kitchens, or between the carhoxyhemoglobin saturation and the passing of time after exposure to briquet gas. No difference of carboxyhemoglobin saturation was detected between smokers and non-smokers, and the degrees of smoking; only, significant negative correlation was found between the passing of time after smoking and the carboxyhemoglobin saturation. It is ture that air pollution causes or aggravates the respiratory diseases, increases the carboxyhemoglobin saturation in the blood, but what seems to be more hazardous to the health is the air polluted by the briquet gas in the kitchens and on-dol rooms rather than the atmospheric air pollution.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.96-103
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• 2015

This study investigates the socio-economic and clinical characteristics associated with emergency medical transport use by the elderly based on 2008~2011 Korea Health Panel data. A model of emergency medical transport use was analyzed, and the results indicate that use of 119 ambulances and private ambulances by the elderly accounted for 46.8% of all users, and 35.1% of their emergency room visits. Statistically significant factors associated with emergency medical transport use were gender (OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.51-3.17), relationship to household (OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.45-3.32), insurance type (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.10-1.82), handicap (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.14-1.83), reason for emergency department visits (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.20-1.97), and treatment after emergency medical service completed (OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 2.80-4.25). The increased elderly population in an aging society will lead to a surge in demand for emergency patient transport services, and emergency medical services that are tailored to the elderly need to be developed accordingly.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.81-88
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• 2014

This study identified the complaint ratio of musculoskeletal symptom by 119 EMTs and investigated the work risk extent through ergonomics evaluation about the patient transport works, which cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) to 119 EMTs. For this, the complaint ratio of musculoskeletal symptom utilized questionnaire tool based on KOSHA Code H-30-2008 and the risk extent about the patient transport work evaluated by using ergonomics evaluation tools such as OWAS, RULA and REBA. According to the study result, 60.9% of 119 EMTs experienced musculoskeletal symptom. Among them, the symptom on back was the most common (36.1%). The work, which mostly causes WMSDs, has been found as patient transport work (48.4%). Among the patient transport motion, loading/unloading of ambulance cot to/from ambulance and the lifting of patient by stretcher were OWAS risk-level 3 and RULA/REBA risk-level 3 to 4. Among the patient transport environment, carrying patient on stairway using emergency mini-stretcher, moving patient in vehicle using spine board and piggy-back carrying or cradle carrying patient on stairway or slope way were OWAS, RULA, REBA risk level 3 to 4. It is suggested that immediate improvement in work postures for these works should contribute to prevention against WMSDs to 119 EMTs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2360-2367
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to improve the paramedics skills to manage advanced airway by comparing speed and success rate between endotracheal intubation and laryngeal mask airway(LMA) insertion in a moving ambulance. Sixty subjects were randomly recruited and samely divided into control group and experimental group. And they were asked to join a practical experiment using dummy model. Data analysis was done by SPSS WIN 14.0 Version. As a result of this research, in terms of difference in speed according to patient's intubation posture, the speed of control group was indicated to be good in sniffing position(t=-4.038, p<.001). There was no difference in speed between two groups in neutral position. In the neutral posture given the endotracheal intubation, tooth fracture occurred in 16 people(53.3%). There was no difference in success rate between two groups. As for a change in self-confidence before and after experiment, the post self-confidence was indicated to have been enhanced in both groups. In conclusion, it is effective to use LMA in the traumatic patient who is unable to receive endotracheal intubation in sniffing position. It is very important for the paramedics to receive the continuous training of the airway management skills.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.379-385
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• 2002

Tele-medicine and emergency medical system are necessary for moving from an accidental point or far distance to a hospital and emergency treatment or home treatment before a hospital. Emergency treatment is extremely important in the case of death before arriving a hospital and deformed of disabled by medical treatment delay. A necessary element for this medical system is the emergency communication system. This system is on preparing for an ability of furnishing patient status to a corresponding health service by monitoring the patient at an ambulance of the accident place. This is the transportation of basic biological information of a patient to a medical center by wireless communication system and the corresponding hospital of medical center examine the patient by monitoring, then they can send emergency medical order to the patient for emergency treatment. The TRS is most efficient way of emergency medical communication system, which is currently used with popularity. In this paper studied simultaneously a way of detecting and transporting bio-logical signals, and monitoring of transporting data with communication of voice in the accident place of ambulance.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2006

The existing X-ray generators are either ones which are settled at fixed places or ones which are movable to sick rum. Movable generators can be very useful according to the circumstances of patients, but there remains a restraint that AC220[V] in the hospitals must be provided. When examining a first-aid patient who stays distant from the hospital or when grouping patients caused by disaster, the services of doctors at emergency centers should be very restrictive. Hence, this study developed a portable digital X-ray power supply unit that are utilizable at the accident spot or in a moving ambulance. By using the nit, the information of patients can be transmitted to the emergency center on the spot and thereby doctors can make a correct diagnosis. The properties of the unit are as follows: First, portable batteries(DCl2[V]) are utilized as electric source for the wit. Second PIC16F84A is utilized as control circuit in order to guarantee considerable reliance and to provide various functions. This portable digital X-ray power supply unit is expected to contribute to the emergency medical service system to be more advanced.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.138-147
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• 2016

As services for citizens' security and protection offered at the national and social levels become more widely recognized across society, the more frequent use of ambulances by patients with both minor and major injuries is being observed. However, the number of safety accidents during transport by ambulances, which are responsible for the prompt transport of patients, has been rising in tandem with the increase in their use. This is due not only to their inconspicuousness both on the road and in other environments where these vehicles are exposed, but also to the high chance of secondary accidents, putting the lives of both patients and emergency responders at risk. It is important to study and develop designs that guarantee protection against safety accidents, noting that ambulances are completely exposed and unprotected on the road on cloudy days and at night-time. In addition, by identifying colors and design motives that enhance the conspicuity of ambulances from a distance and increase their security, emergency responders and patients can be safely protected, the identity of the ambulances can be reinforced and modernized, and the sense oppression which can be visually imposed on patients in a psychologically unstable condition can be eased. Against this backdrop, this study presents the process involved in deriving the exteriors of ambulances in Korea, including their colors and patterns, by examining the established global best practices and identifying the need for more studies into colors, even unconventional ones, that improve their safety.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.130-137
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the circumstances surrounding collisions involving ambulances with an aim to improving the safe operation of emergency services. Collisions are relatively common within paramedic emergency services. We analyzed the time, injury site, and any other specific factors of 908 collisions occurring within four cities. Within our study 29.6% of paramedics have been involved in accidents while responding to an emergency call, with the main cause of the accident being signal violation (35.7%), and is the other party's negligence (22.2%). 92.1% of these accidents occurred while the emergency lights were being operated. XX% of accidents took place in the afternoon, while xx% took place within the hours of xx:xx and xx:xx, during which time there is generally lower levels of traffic, which can cause severe brain and neck damage of 14.4% but the other part is 62.1%. (Ed note; this is not clear at all. 14.4% of collisions resulted in severe head and neck injuries, while 23.5% of collisions resulted in no injury. According to the respondents, defensive driving (xx%), observance of traffic laws (xx%), safe driving habits (xx%)to paramedics were the most critical factors in evading collision. Signal passes were identified as the most common cause of collision (70.1%). Although the majority of collisions occurred while the emergency lights were operational, the damage can cause severe damage at the time of accident occurred.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.78-96
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to analyze the emergency health care utilization using status according to income class. The target was the 2011 data out Korea Health Panel's raw data. 2011 data composed of total 17,035 people from total 5,741 households. This study set total 1,101 adults over full-20-years old having used an emergency health care utilization as its analysis target. In order to find out the number of emergency health care utilization use according to income class and the influential factors on emergency health care utilization cost, this study conducted the multiple regression analysis. And in order to more accurately analyze the emergency health care utilization use status depending on the income class and the features of emergency health care utilization use status, this study developed Models. As the result, this study found following findings. First, as the income class was lower, the gender was male, the age was lower, and the user has spouse, the user was not a business owner or a paid worker, the user is a house owner, the emergency medical facility type was a clinic, the means of transportation was others rather than 119 ambulance, the reason visiting emergency medical facility was belonged to others rather than accidents or poisoning, then the number of emergency was increased. Second, as the user was in higher income class, received the health insurance benefits, the using medical facility was general hospital, used 119 ambulance more often, stay days in emergency was shorter, then health care utilization cost was increased. In this study investigating the data out of Korea Health Panel, it was found that while the number of emergency health care utilization use was increased in the lower income class, but the emergency health care utilization cost was increased for higher income class. It is considered that this finding was caused from the facts that lower income class was more often exposed to dangers for physical health, so the number of emergency health care utilization use was increased, but their health care utilization cost was decreased because of their economic burdens against various examinations and their difficulties to pay such costs, comparing to that of higher income class. Therefore, in order to solve unequal problem of emergency health care utilization use between lower and higher income classs, it is required to set suitable solutions like the disease prevention effort by facilitating national health check-up programs, the enhancement of public health services in quantity and quality, the emergency health care utilization securing policy at using medical facilities, the promotional, educational activities about emergency health care utilization delivery system, the enhanced accessibility of emergency health care utilizations and emergency medical facilities.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2013

Purpose : This study aimed to improve quality of prehospital emergency care for the insect bite patients by figuring out its current situations and problems. Methods : This study was conducted to 219 insect bite patients who were transferred to the hospital by 119 ambulance in D-City from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011. This study was a descriptive study by 119 run sheets. A total of 171 emergency medical technicians(EMTs) working in D-city and C-province completed the questionnaire. All of data were analyzed by SPSS 18.0. Results : Among the 219 patients, bee sting accounted for 62.6% and wasp sting accounted for 20.1%. Some patients complained of dizziness, headache, dyspnea, and disturbance of consciousness. The 119 EMTs initially treated the patients with oxygen supply to 57 patients (31.1%). Knowledge toward insect bite was statistically significant (p=.000) between advanced EMTs and basic EMTs. The obstacle to the prehospital care, many EMTs answered that the obstacle was due to the lack of 119 EMTs. Conclusion : It is necessary to differentiate the patients' symptoms and provide the better prehospital emergency care to verify the exact symptoms and signs.