• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.211-216
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• 2010

Fire service personnel and ambulance paramedics suffer musculoskeletal disorders as they lift and carry patients while performing Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The objective of the current study was performed to examine the association between working environment and musculoskeletal disorders of 119 paramedics and to analysis the EMS activities for them through basic survey (including task characteristics, risk factors, symptoms and illnesses). Observational job analysis of EMS activities indicated the squatting posture during first-aid performed on floor and the abrupt use of force during carrying heavy load including stretcher with patients on as hazard factors, and excessive low back twisting and bending during stairway transfer was observed. In addition, work-physiological assessment revealed various but rather high lumbar muscle usage rate among the study subjects, being 14.6~32.8% compared with Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) during patients transfer work. Resting heart rate showed 65/min, on the other hand, heart rate on mobilization indicated maximum 124~156/min. Therefore, the results of analysis to the EMS activities, rescuer activities and medical tasks were accompanied with high possibility of accident and musculoskeletal disorders. Also, EMS activities indicated high muscle fatigue and energy consumption, and accumulated muscle fatigue with during continued work.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.237-244
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to explore the satisfaction and needs of 119 paramedics with regard to continuing education and to develop and implement a continuing education program that can enhance their competence in accordance with the purpose of continuing education. The differences in satisfaction with continuing education according to general characteristics were significantly different depending on age, qualification, and clinical experience, and in terms of continuing education topic needs, 'Advanced Trauma Life Support' was the highest need among all groups, and additional desired continuing education topics were the management of mentally ill patients and various field case-based education, indicating a high preference for practical topics that are helpful in emergency patient care work. Therefore, it is believed that efforts should be made to improve the operation of continuing education from various angles, taking into account the general characteristics of continuing education recipients, and improving the quality of continuing education by reflecting the needs of continuing education recipients and selecting practical topics for continuing education.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.71-97
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the development and improvement direction of university education according to job type and investigate the types of knowledge required for employment after graduation for departments of emergency medical technology in preparation for the era of the fourth industrial revolution in a converged society. Methods: From June 3 to June 10, 2019, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 90 paramedics working in firefighting, hospitals, different industries, and emergency patient transportation. Data were analyzed using the software SPSS version 18.0. Results: For employment after graduation in departments of emergency medical technology, character and sincerity education should be strengthened. To prepare for the fourth industrial revolution, educational innovations such as improving the field practice system and devising a convergence curriculum are needed. Preparation for the fourth industrial revolution should be accomplished through the development of convergence subjects such as forensic science, information and communications technology, and safety engineering. Ninety percent of the study respondents indicated their need for convergence subjects. Conclusion: The demands of future society should be responded to flexibly by holding and conducting convergence subjects. Furthermore, preparations should be made in anticipation of a shortage of 120,000 college freshmen for the 2024-2025 school year by increasing the competitiveness of departments of emergency medical technology.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.385-390
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to study the need for psychological first aid for stress of fire officials. a 1:1 in-depth interview with 10 paramedics to solve the research problem. Through interviews, the policy on the need for psychological first aid to improve the mental health of firefighters was proposed as follows by analyzing the working environment of paramedics, post-traumatic stress experience, and psychological first aid experience. First, fire officials need to be assigned to the site to educate in advance about post-traumatic stress and the resulting physical symptoms before being exposed to traumatic events. Second, fire officials should provide psychological first aid at an appropriate time after exposure to trauma cases. Third, it is necessary to supplement the manpower and institutional devices that will specialize in mental health work. Fourth, for customized professional medical services and psychological support suitable for fire officials, it is necessary to link fire-fighting complex healing centers and national firefighting hospitals.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.201-209
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• 2023

This study investigated to provide basic data for infection control education on new infectious diseases by confirming the level of knowledge, training status, stress, and need for training on new infectious diseases for 119 emergency medical technicians (EMT). This data collection period was a total of 39 days from August 10 to September 18, 2022, and a total of 105 copies were collected. The analysis of this study used the SPSS 25.0 program. As a result of the study, among the 119 paramedics, the gender of the EMT was 54 men (51.4%) and 51 women (48.6%), with more men than women, with 47 people in their 20s (44.8%) and those in their 30s or older. There were 58 people (55.2%), most of whom were in their 30s or older. The highest total work experience was 3 to 5 years (37 people (35.2%)). In the pandemic situation, an attempt was made to check the education status of 119 paramedics on COVID-19 and the need for education on new infectious diseases. As a result of the study, the status of education on COVID-19 was insufficient. The demand for education on new infectious diseases was found to be high. Among 119 emergency responders who are frequently exposed to new infectious diseases, theoretical and practical training in personal protective equipment, stress, including theoretical training, is needed. A theoretical and practical education program on new infectious diseases and personal protective equipment should be developed as a subject for college students before becoming EMT.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.33-44
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• 2024

Chungbuk has various regional characteristics in terms of population composition by region, industrial facilities, and distribution of emergency medical institutions. However, there are no studies yet that have analyzed regional characteristic factors related to the occurrence characteristics of cardiac arrest patients. Therefore, this study provided basic data to establish a response system for OHCA patients suitable for the characteristics of the Chungcheongbuk-do region by analyzing the characteristics of OHCA patients and the transfer status of 119 paramedics in Chungcheongbuk-do. This study is a retrospective study that analyzed 1,188 cardiac arrest patients transferred by ambulance based on raw data from the survey on acute cardiac arrest in Chungbuk (2020). There are a total of 11 emergency medical institutions in Chungbuk-do, which are concentrated in city-level areas, so the transfer time of patients to hospitals in county-level areas was delayed. In the county-level area, the frequency of dispatch of special paramedics was relatively small, and the frequency of administration of cardiac arrest drugs to help resuscitate cardiac arrest patients was also low. In conclusion, efforts should be made to improve accessibility of emergency medical services (deployment of emergency vehicles in marginal areas, proper placement of emergency medical institutions, etc.), to promote prevention of traumatic cardiac arrest patients, and to expand the scope of work to strengthen the first aid expertise of paramedics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.4_2
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• pp.861-868
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• 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to health and safety worldwide, significantly adding to the work burden of fire officials. Fire officials experience high levels of physical and mental pressure in various situations, and such stress can lead to psychological exhaustion. The goal of this study is to investigate the level of psychological exhaustion among fire officials according to gender, age, and years of service and specific roles. In this study, a questionnaire survey was conducted on fire officials in various regions of Korea, and the degree of psychological exhaustion by position was analyzed. The results indicated a difference in the level of psychological exhaustion across different roles, such as fire suppression, rescue, and emergency services. In particular, paramedics exhibited higher levels of psychological exhaustion compared to those in rescue, fire suppression, and administrative roles. This study contributes to identifying specific measures to improve the mental health of fire officials and emphasizes the need for differentiated stress management and support programs tailored to each role. Based on the results, this research provides foundational data to address the mental health issues of fire officials and will contribute to future research and policy development.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.500-506
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• 2018

This study analyzed current prehospital emergency care for severe trauma patients administered by different number of 119 EMS (emergency medical services) teams. Out of 1,067 severe trauma patients transferred by 119 EMS teams in J province from January 1st to December 31st 2015, 438 were evaluated in this study. IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0 was used to analyze collected data. The number of patients with severe trauma during the period of study was higher in male with two and three ambulance crews of 119 EMS teams with 242 patients (70.6%) and 66 patients (69.5%) respectively. The percentage of transfers made to local emergency medical centers was highest in those two groups, being 44.0% (151 patients) and 49.5% (47 patients), respectively. Total time spent at the scene did not differ between ambulance crews of two and three, nor did the frequency of practicing advanced airway management and IV (intravenous) cannulation, or the success rate of IV cannulation (p=0.253, p=0.362, p=1.000). Overall, the results indicated that merely increasing the number of paramedics does not improve the quality of prehospital care for severe trauma patients. Measures such as securing professional paramedics, simplifying direct medical oversights, activating indirect medical oversights, and expanding the legally allowed work scope are required.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.220-228
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• 2022

Objective: glucometer is one of POCT(point-of-care testing) devices used by EMS. Accurate measurement value is important for patient decision making. Quality control is necessary for this, but most EMS are still using glucometer without quality control it. Therefore, management status and quality control status of glucometers used by 119 paramedics waswere investigated. Methods: 6 and 8 of glucometers and blood glucose test strips were submitted from 4 safety centers in 2010 and 8 safety centers in 2012, respectively. Glucometers submitted by local safety centers were analyzed in 2010 and 2012. The control glucometer, which was well managed at A University Hospital, was assumed to be accurate for at blood glucose measurement. Glucose values of various quality control materials control solutions were measured and analyzed using linear regression and Pearson's correlation test. Error rates were obtained via error tolerance range required by the 2011 ISO(International Organization for Standardization) guideline. For statistics, Excel and MedCalC programs were used. Results: mong 14 safety centers in the region, 4 centers(28.5%) in 2010 and 8 centers(57.1%) in 2012 submitted 6 and 8 glucometers. In the first evaluation in 2010, 2 out of 6(33.3%) glucometers were untestable due to error, and 45 out of 6(66.683.3%) blood glucose test strips' validity were expired. In the second evaluation in 2012, 1 out of 8(13.5%) glucometers were untestable due to lack of battery, and 2 out of 8(25%) blood glucose test strips' validity were expired. All correlation coefficients were above 0.989 in 2010 and above 0.997 in 2012. Error rates were generally high when using expired blood glucose test strips. Conclusion: Among 119 paramedics' guideline, quantity and operation status of POCT devices are well managed, but quality control is not. Therefore, it is necessary to add management status and quality control status of POCT devices to the EMS' field work guideline.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.145-162
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• 2021

Purpose: The 2018 General survey of emergency assistance was conducted to examine the working conditions and welfare, including educational direction, interests, and awareness of work, of the fire department emergency medical technicians (EMT). This would be used as basic data for future policy directions. Methods: Among the fire-fighting officers in 16 cities nationwide, emergency rescue workers engaged in first-aid activities were targeted. With prior consent, a survey was conducted through electronic documents. Of the total 1,227 people, responses from 1,151 were finally analyzed, excluding 76 who did not respond appropriately. Results: The working conditions and welfare of 119 firefighters were moderate, but in the fields of education and interest, the learning according to the regulations was high. In particular, satisfaction with the scope of work was found to be below average. However, it was positive that it will play a role as a social safety net in the future and will converge with cutting-edge science. Conclusion: Although this study was a total investigation of the EMT survey, conducting an EMT survey on all fire fighters in Korea is difficult. Further research is needed, particularly on first-class emergency medical personnel who play a major role in 119 paramedics.