• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-55
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for improving the response capacity of 119 EMS systems by analyzing the effects of particulate matter on cardio-cerebrovascular and respiratory symptoms in the pre-hospital stage. Methods: We examined 46,389 patients who transferred to the hospital with complaints of cardiopulmonary arrest and cardio-cerebrovascular and respiratory symptoms by 119 ambulances in Incheon from 2016 to 2018. Results: The probability of 119 emergency dispatch for patients with cardiopulmonary arrest increased 2.8-4.0% from the day of symptom onset until two days before hospital presentation as particulate matter 10㎛ or less in diameter(PM₁₀) increased by 10㎍/㎥ (OR=1.028; 95% CI=1.014-1.041, p=0.000, lag 0), (OR=1.040; 95% CI=1.024-1.056, p=0.000, lag 1), (OR=1.032; 95% CI=1.016-1.049, p=0.000, lag 2). Meanwhile, emergency dispatch increased 3.6-6.1% for PM_2.5 in creased by 10㎍/㎥ (OR=1.046; 95% CI=1.024-1.068, p=0.000, lag 0), (OR=1.061; 95% CI=1.035-1.088, p=.000, lag 1), and (OR=1.036; 95% CI=1.010-1.063, p=0.006, lag 2). Conclusion: Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who respond to 119 calls should rapidly and accurately evaluate patients and provide professional emergency care by identifying the characteristics of the vulnerable groups relative to particulate matter size. To prevent the occurrence and exacerbation of symptoms caused by particulate matter, EMTs should be prepared and equipped with a response system for high particulate matter in the EMS system.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.31-44
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of emergency medical services(EMS) is to save human lives and assure the completeness of the body in emergency situations. Those who have been qualified on medical practice to perform such treatment as there is the risk of human life and possibility of major physical and mental injuries that could result from the urgency of time and invasiveness inflicted upon the body. In the emergency medical activities, 119 emergency medical technicians mainly perform the task but they are not able to perform such task independently and they are mandatory to receive medical direction. The purpose of this study is to examine the recognition and request for medical direction by 119 emergency medical technicians in order to provide basic information on the development of medical direction program suitable to the characteristics of EMS as well as for the studies on EMS for the sake of efficient operation of pre-hospital EMS. Method : Questionnaire via e-mail was conducted during July 1-31, 2010 for 675 participants who are emergency medical technicians, nurses and other emergency crews in Gyeongbuk. The effective 171 responses were used for the final analysis. In regards to the emergency medical technicians' scope of responsibilities defined in Attached Form 14, Enforcement regulations of EMS, t-test analysis was conducted by using the means and standard deviation of the level of request for medical direction on the scope of responsibilities of Level 1 & Level 2 emergency medical technicians as the scale of medical direction request. The general characteristics, experience result, the reason for necessity, emergency medical technicians & medical director request level, medical direction method, the place of work of the medical director, feedback content and improvement plan request level were analyzed through frequency and percentage. The level of experience in medical direction and necessity were analyzed through ${\chi}^2$ test. Results : In regards to the medical direction experience per qualification, the experience was the highest with 53.3% for Level 1 emergency medical technicians and 80.3% responded that experience was helpful. As for the recognition on the necessity of medical direction, 71.3% responded as "necessary" and it turned out to be the highest of 76.9% in nurses. As for the reason for responding "necessary", the reason for reducing the risk and side-effects from EMS for patients was the largest(75.4%), and the reason of EMS delay due to the request of medical direction was the highest(71.4%) for the reason for responding "not necessary". In regards to the request level of the task scope of emergency medical technicians, injection of certain amount of solution during a state of shock was the highest($3.10{\pm}.96$) for Level 1 emergency rescuers, and the endotracheal intubation was the highest($3.12{\pm}1.03$) for nurses, and the sublingual administration of nitroglycerine(NTG) during chest pain was the highest($2.62{\pm}1.02$) for Level 2 emergency medical technicians, and regulation of heartbeat using AED was the highest($2.76{\pm}.99$) for other emergency crews. For the revitalization of medical direction, the improvement in the capability of EMS(78.9%) was requested from emergency crew, and the ability to evaluate the medical state of patient was the highest(80.1%) in the level of request for medical director. The prehospital and direct medical direction was the highest(60.8%) for medical direction method, and the emergency medical facility was the highest(52.0%) for the placement of medical director, and the evaluation of appropriateness of EMS was the highest(66.1%) for the feedback content, and the reinforcement of emergency crew(emergency medical technicians) personnel was the highest(69.0%) for the improvement plan. Conclusion : The medical direction is an important policy in the prehospital EMS activity because 119 emergency medical technicians agreed the necessity of medical direction and over 80% of those who experienced medical direction said it was helpful. In addition, the simulation training program using algorithm and case study through feedback are necessary in order to enhance the technical capability of ambulance teams on the item of professional EMS with high level of request in the task scope of emergency medical technicians, and recognition of medical direction is the essence of the EMS field. In regards to revitalizing medical direction, the improvement of the task performance capability of 119 emergency medical technicians and medical directors, reinforcement of emergency medical activity personnel, assurance of trust between emergency medical technicians and the emergency physician, and search for professional operation plan of medical direction center are needed to expand the direct medical direction method for possible treatment beforehand through the participation by medical director even at the step in which emergency situation report is received.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.274-284
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• 2009

Purpose: This study surveyed how victims with acute traumatic hand injuries received pre-hospital care and how satisfied they were with that care. Method: A total of 100 adults were interviewed using a questionnaire at one microsurgical clinic in Korea. Results: Only 12 patients (12.0%) were transported by the ambulance and the others by private or company's vehicles. Only 9 patients (9.0 %) were able to get appropriate first response from the EMTs or industrial health providers at the scene of the accidents. The mean time required for transportation from the scene of the accident to the operation room of the microsurgical clinic was $372.65{\pm}719.17$ minutes. Most of the patients were satisfied with the pre-hospital care provided by the EMT or industrial health providers but dissatisfied with that provided by lay persons. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there is a lack in the first response provided at the scene and the activation of EMS (Emergency Medical System) for acute hand injury. It is necessary to educate the public about the appropriate first response and rapid transportation to the appropriate microsurgical clinic.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 2018

A 59-year-old man with no specific medical or family history complained of chest pain and became unconscious. A member of his family, who was a witness, called 119 and gave him dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, followed by defibrillation using an automated external defibrillator placed in his apartment. Afterward, he was given two sessions of defibrillation by the 119 emergency squad, then transferred to an emergency medical center with the return of spontaneous circulation. The patient was discharged with cerebral performance category (CPC) 1 15 days later. While dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation is at its beginning stage in South Korea, this case seems to demonstrate its effectiveness. Moreover, this case suggests it can be particularly useful for helping untrained witnesses use an automated external defibrillator, which may have important implications in regions in which there are delayed responses of the 119 emergency squad to the site. It is also important to develop a plan for improving witness access to and quantitative supply of the South Korean public access defibrillation (PAD) program.