• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the current state of emergency care for patients with anaphylaxis and to identify problems and areas for improvement in prehospital care. Methods: This study was conducted using 119 emergency running sheets and medical records of 109 patients diagnosed with anaphylaxis. Questionnaires were also given to emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and emergency physicians. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Prehospital emergency care included oxygen administration in 64.2%, an intravenous line in 15.6%, and medication injection in 11.0%. The most commonly administered medications were antihistamines in 66.7% and epinephrine in 8.3%. Of EMTs surveyed, 47.0% suggested an epinephrine injection and using direct medical control, while 53.8% of the emergency physicians suggested an epinephrine injection and using indirect medical control. Most emergency physicians 88.8% responded that epinephrine could be administered by EMTs. Conclusion: The data support epinephrine injection of patients with anaphylaxis by EMTs, but a larger sample size of EMTs is required. Education about the treatment of anaphylaxis should be improved for EMTs. The scope of paramedic responsibilities should also be redefined.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2117-2124
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• 2012

This is the study of actual condition and improvement on emergency medical treatment by 119 emergency medical service personnel. The subjects in this study were 299 emergency medical service personnel. Data were collected from May 1 to August 31 of 2010, and analyzed by SPSS 12.0 program. The major area of study of them were study of emergency medical services 41.5%, study of nursing 10.0%, fire fighting related studies 15.4%, health related studies 1.0%, and others 32.1%. The certificate of them were 1st class emergency medical technician(EMT) 38.1%, 2nd class EMT 33.8%, nurse 9.4%, first aid education 14.0%, and others 4.7%. Frequency of Prehospital emergency care, oxygen supply(274), splint apply(229), spinal immobilization(229), external bleeding control(223), medication(7), intravenous(4). Professionally trained EMT makes possible to secure high quality emergency medical treatment in the prehospital phase. Therefore, it is essential for the quality improvement of prehospital emergency care that well trained EMT ride on the ambulance together and take the responsibility for the treatment and transferring of emergency patients. In order to improve the proficiency of 119 emergency medical services personnel, it is also necessary to provide continuous job training programs for the prehospital emergency medical treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.391-398
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to analyze and compare the classifications of a prehospital triage system and an in-hospital triage system. Methods: The records of patients transferred from the '119' emergency service for 5 months (from January 1 to May 31, 2016) were collected and records of first aid activities were assessed. We examined cases classified as four (urgent, semi-urgent, potentially urgent, and non-urgent) of five stages, excluding death. In the hospital, data were collected from medical records and classifications made using the five Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) stages (1, resuscitation; 2, emergency; 3, urgent; 4, less urgent; and 5, non-urgent) were analyzed. Results: The number of patients enrolled in the study was 3,457. Of them, 2,301 were discharged after treatment and 1,156 were hospitalized. According to the prehospital triage classification, 726 of the 3,457 cases were urgent, 593 were semi-urgent, 1,944 were potentially urgent, and 194 were non-urgent. The results of the in-hospital triage were as follows: 114 KTAS 1 (3.3%), 491 KTAS 2 (14.2%), 1,345 KTAS 3 (38.9%), 1,227 KTAS 4 (35.5%), and 280 KTAS 5 (8.1%). The odds ratio trend for hospitalization showed a larger decrease according to in-hospital staging (95% CI, 0.32-0.39) than according to prehospital staging (95% CI, 0.50-0.60). The odds ratio trend for intensive care unit (ICU) admission also showed a larger decrease according to in-hospital staging (95% CI, 0.16-0.22) than according to prehospital staging (95% CI, 0.37-0.48). Conclusion: We found little correspondence in classifications made according to the KTAS and prehospital triage systems. However, the tendencies toward decreases in the hospitalization and ICU admission rates were similar.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2008

From January, 2004 to July, 2007, 97 patients were diagnosed with Acute coronary syndrome(ACS) in Emergency Medical Center in Jecheon City in Korea. Among 97 patients, the prehospital assessment rates were as follows ; blood pressure check(27.80%, pulse rate check(33.0%), respiration check(23.7%). In hospital emergency care, oxygen supply was 52.6%, absolute bed rest was 12.4%, electrocardiogram(EKG) check was 4.1%, and nitroglycerin and intravenous fluid therapy was 0%. Therefore, ACS patients have not received sufficient prehospital cares till now. In order to improve the proficiency of the first aid emergency medical technicians(EMTs), it is necessary to provide the continuing On-the-job training(OJT) programs for prehospital emergency care.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.707-712
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• 2013

In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the delay from symptom onset to hospital arrival has a critical effect on morbidity and mortality. This study examined to find out the determinants of the prehospital delay in patients with AMI. The study sample consisted of 597 patients hospitalized with AMI between Jan and Dec 2009. Demographic, medical history, and clinical data were abstracted from the hospital medical records of patients with confirmed AMI, the prehospital delay was categorized as less than or greater than 6 hours. Older age, low socioeconomic status(medical aid), and low use of Emergency medical system were associated with delays in seeking emergency care for Acute myocardial infarction. Education programs to improve patient knowledge of acute coronary syndrome symptoms and promote patient responsiveness with regard to seeking medical care should be used to reduce the prehospital delay time, especially in the low socioeconomic group.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.301-313
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to provide foundational data for reeducation concerning prehospital emergency care in order to improve the performance of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) working at 119 fire safety centers. Methods: Data were collected using a mail-in questionnaire developed by researchers from 288 subjects, who were EMTs working at 119 fire safety centers and local units in the Gwangju Metropolitan City and South Jeolla Province, from March 1, 2009 to April 31, 2009. Results: The mean score for EMTs' knowledge on drug intoxication was7.04 out of a total of 10 points. The mean score for EMT's attitude of emergency treatment performance on drug intoxication was 2.96 out of a total of 4 points. The level of EMT's knowledge is relatively high regarding prehospital care for drug intoxication. The EMT's attitude of performances demonstrated an understanding of the patients' conditions. However EMTs did not actively explain the prognosis and medical conditions for their patients. Conclusions: This research will contribute to making plans for reeducating emergency crew working at 119 fire centers so that can they have a more active attitude towards prehospital emergency medical care.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.67-84
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to present the basic data for qualitative improvement of emergency care for emergency patient by paramedic in fire station by understanding the level of awareness and practice in prehospital and transfer step, and understanding the level of emergency care and improvement of clinical knowledge through hospital clinical training. Methods: The researchers explained the objective for 143 persons who completed hospital clinical training from June 2nd, 2006 to October 23rd, 2009 among paramedic in fire station. The questionnaire in this research consisted of 80 questions. In the reliability for the awareness of emergency patient assessment, cronbach's $\alpha$ was 0.95, and in the reliability for emergency care fulfillment, cronbach's $\alpha$ was 0.93. reliability for clinical knowledge improvement is cronbach's $\alpha=.95$, and reliability for emergency care fulfillment is cronbach's $\alpha=.82$. Collected data was analyzed through SPSS 18.0 statistics program for frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation, Paired t-test, t-test, Correlation Coefficient, and internal consistency reliability was analyzed by cronbach's $\alpha$. Results: 1) The paramedic awareness and practice difference for emergency patient is statistically signification for general patient assessment(t=14.159, p=.000), trauma patient assessment(t=11.288, p=.000), internal medicine patient assessment(t=10.898, p=.000), and it shows the level of practice is lower than the level of awareness. 2) The paramedic difference between the level of awareness and practice according to whether or not they have clinical career is not signification on awareness(t=3.119, p=.125), and is high on practice(t=3.119, p=.002). 3) The correlation between paramedic awareness and the level of practice shows positive correlation(r=.61, p=.000). The higher the awareness of emergency patient assessment is, the higher the level of practice is. 4) The difference between paramedic clinical knowledge improvement and the level of emergency care practice is statistically significant(t=3.351, p=.001). 5) 89.6%(128 persons) of paramedic replied hospital clinical training experiences are helpful for field activity. 92.3%(133 persons) replied they apply well for clinical knowledge learned during hospital clinical training and emergency care skills in the field. Conclusion: Paramedic in fire station must evaluate the patient's initial assessment and activate the transfer system to the emergency department. It is necessary to develop and implement the effective education program continuously. The education program should systemize currently operated hospital clinical training. emergency disease and symptoms emergency care method, and practice mainly skill education should be progressed. In the prehospital and transfer management, high quality of medical assessment is required to the emergency medical service system. Medical direction from the doctors can feedback the paramedic continuously and continuing education must be provided to the paramedic in fire station.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.1540-1546
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• 2010

In order to report characteristics of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patient in whom 119 rescuers used prehospital care by Paramedic's Reports. 1,016 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were transferred to hospitals by 119 rescuers between January 1st and December 31st, 2008. Prehospital reports of 983 cardiac arrest patients by 119 were analyzed. Shockable rhythm with AED use was 20.3%(VF 18.4%, VT 1.9%), then 66.5% of shockable cardiac arrest patients was resuscitated by AED. Bystander basic life support was 14.8%. There were significant differences in the recurrent survival rates between shockable rhythm and non-shockable rhythm(13.0% vs 2.0%,7.4%, p=0.000). There was also significant differences in the recurrent survival rates between adequacy rate of AED(21.6% vs 2.4%, p=0.000). But there was no significant differences in the recurrent survival rates between done bystander CPR and none(9.0% vs 5.5%, p=0.10). The performance of bystander CPR and usage of AED, and appropriate CPR done by 119 rescuers were unsatisfactory by paramedic's reports. To improve the adequacy of Basic life Support and to increase the performance on Advanced Life Suppport, we must challenge to develop the emergency medical systems.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2020

Purpose: Effective time management, as well as life-saving care, are important in maximizing the prognosis of patients who have sustained major traumas. This study evaluated the appropriateness of emergency medical system (EMS) provider's essential care and how this care impacted on-scene time in patients with major traumas. Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed the EMS major trauma documents, classified according to the physiological criteria (Glasgow coma scale <14, systolic blood pressure <90mmHg, Respiration rate <10 or >29) in Daejeon, from January, 2015 to December, 2018. Results: Of the 707 major trauma cases, the mean on-scene time was 7.75±4.64 minutes. According to EMS guidelines, essential care accuracy was 67.5% for basic airway, 36.4% for advanced airway, 91.2% for cervical collar, 81.5% for supplemental oxygen, 47.0% for positive pressure ventilation, 19.9% for intravenous access and fluid administration, and 96.0% for external hemorrhage control. Factors affecting on-scene time were positive pressure ventilation (p<.004), and intravenous access and fluid administration (p<.002). Conclusion: Adherence to guidelines was low during advanced airway procedures, positive pressure ventilation, intravenous access, and fluid administration. In addition, the on-scene time was prolonged when the practitioner provided positive pressure ventilation, intravenous access, and fluid administration; however, these durations did not exceed the recommended 10 minutes.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.21-31
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• 2011

This study aimed at evaluating and developing 119 emergency medical technicians' prehospital care for non-traumatic cardiac arrest. Total 322 EMT in Chungnam province and Daejeon city filled out the self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS 18.0 for descriptive statistics. Among the 322 EMT, 309 (97%) and 169(53%) always or almost performed CPR and AED for nontraumatic cardiac arrest patient, respectively. Among the advanced EMT and nurse, IV were sometimes or not performed at 94.7% and medication including epinephrine which commonly used for survival of cardiac arrest were treated just at 9.3 % (14 person). The reason they did not perform each procedure for airway management, AED or IV was lack of manpower, limit of time or joggle of ambulance and legal restrictions. In conclusion, to increase survival rate of non-traumatic cardiac arrest in out-of-hospital, it is necessary to increase manpower, legal protection of EMS, establishment of standard operating procedure, practice for improvement technique and use of medication for ACLS.