• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.735-742
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• 2010

This paper reviewed the diving standards for underwater work in hostile environment and analyzed applied Navy diving technique, diving equipments and procedure for rescue operation of Navy ship Cheonan's missing crew occurred near Bak Ryung Do in March 2010. The operation was done beyond the international standards and safety practice, and by considering the nature of the mission, urgency and effectiveness as well as the detailed facts such as duration and depth of the dive, type of work to be performed, environmental conditions, time constraints of early rescue operation, it is analyzed that using air scuba diving system was adequate.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.308-326
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• 2013

Mobility Model has drawn more and more attentions since its critical role in Mobile Wireless Networks performance evaluation. This paper analyzes the mobility patterns in the catastrophe rescue scenario, and proposes the Random Waypoint with Base Point mobility model to model these characteristics. We mathematically analyze the speed and spatial stationary distributions of the nodes and derive explicit expressions for the one dimensional case. In order to keep the stationary distribution through the entire simulation procedure, we provide strategies to initialize the speed, location and destination of the nodes at the beginning of the simulation. The simulation results verify the derivations and the proposed methods in this paper. This work gives a deep understanding of the properties of the Random Waypoint with Base Point mobility model and such understanding is necessary to avoid misinterpretation of the simulation results. The conclusions are of practical value for performance analysis of mobile wireless networks, especially for the catastrophe rescue scenario.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.161-164
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• 2014

Obesity is a significant problem affecting United States (US) firefighters. While body mass index (BMI) is widely used to diagnose obesity, its use for this occupational group has raised concerns about validity. We examined rates and types of misclassification of BMI-based obesity status compared to body fat percentage (BF%) and waist circumference (WC). Male career firefighters (N = 994) from 20 US departments completed all three body composition assessments. Mean BMI, BF%, and WC were $29kg/m^2$, 23%, and 97 cm, respectively. Approximately 33% and 15% of BF%- and WC-defined obese participants were misclassified as non-obese (false negatives) using BMI, while 8% and 9% of non-obese participants defined by BF% and WC standards were identified as obese (false positives) using BMI. When stratified by race/ethnicity, Pacific Islanders showed high rates of false positive misclassification. Precision in obesity classification would be improved by using WC along with BMI to determine firefighters' weight status.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2022

Background: Problem drinking is a perennial concern in the US fire service. A large literature has documented the importance of addressing alcohol norms in intervention research. The purpose of this study was to explore alcohol norms in a national cohort of firefighters (FFs) to inform intervention development in this occupational group. Methods: Data were from a national online survey of career and volunteer FFs (N = 674). Participants were recruited through national fire service listservs and a database of FFs who had agreed to be contacted for research. Results: When asked about "acceptable" levels of alcohol consumption, FFs on average suggested levels which exceeded public health guidelines. Further, approximately half of career and volunteer FFs believed that, at least under some circumstances, drinking until intoxicated was normative. When asked how long should elapse between a FFs last drink and reporting for duty, the average suggested lag was 11.2 hours (sd = 4.6). However, among male volunteer FFs who reported heavy drinking, the average was 6.68 hours (sd = 4.77). Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of heavy and binge drinking in the fire service, it is not surprising that the alcohol norms found in this study were consistent with a culture of drinking. Participants' reports of alcohol use among their peers were consistent with the actual prevalence of problem drinking. Thus, education and prevention efforts in this occupation should focus on changing norms about alcohol use, including linking heavy drinking to other health and safety issues they face.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.59-65
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• 2009

To investigate a posttraumatic stress, social support and work burden and to identify high risk group and related factors which were exerted influence on posttraumatic stress of firefighters. Data were gathered from total 264 firefighters consisting of 85 fire distinguishers & rescue workers, 96 emergency medical personnel and 83 in ambulance & fire truck drivers in C province and were analyzed 22 items by IES-R, 20 work burden items by Choi(2000), 8 social support items by Oh(2006) using SPSSWIN 14.0 program. Posttraumatic stress of general characteristics by work was showed significant difference in age, marriage status, education, position, office duration, mobilization frequency and experience of traumatic events. Posttraumatic stress were showed significant difference in 3 groups and fire distinguishers & rescue workers is the highest group. Posttraumatic stress was correlated with work burden(r=.317, p<0.01) for fire distinguishers & rescue workers, social support(r=-.331, p<0.01) and work burden(r=.522 p<0.001) for emergency medical personnel and work burden(r=.454, p<0.01) for ambulance & fire truck drivers. The high risk groups are fire distinguishers & rescue workers(60%), emergency medical personnel(55.2%)and ambulance & fire truck drivers(45.8%). Related factors are the experience seeing victim's danger for fire distinguishers & rescue workers(odds ratio=1.216, 95% confidence interval:1.068-1.383), and are work burden(odds ratio=1.100, 95% confidence interval:1.043-1.159) and office duration(odds ratio=1.010, 95% confidence interval 1.001-1.018) for emergency medical personnel, and are the experience seeing victim's danger(odds ratio=1.178, 95% confidence interval:1.010-1.373), age(odds ratio=1.129, 95%confidence interval:1.020-1.249), work burden(odds ratio=1.103, 95% confidence interval:1.034-1.177) for ambulance & fire truck drivers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.584-593
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• 2017

This study provides basic data needed to improve the working environment of the first class emergency medical technicians, in order to decrease their job stress and increase their job satisfaction. Job stress and satisfaction were compared and analysed in emergency medical technicians who were working for 119 rescue and hospitals at the time when twenty-one years had passed after the initial training of emergency medical technicians in order to identify differences between 119 rescue and hospitals, and their advantages and disadvantages. The subjects of the study were 182 first-class emergency medical technicians who were working in twenty-eight 119 rescue centers and fourteen national and local emergency medical centers in Gwangju, Jeollanamdo and Jeollabukdo. The study subjects were interviewed by questionnaire. For statistical analysis, SPSS/WIN 20.0 was used, and the results were analysed with chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, and ANCOVA testing. There was no significant difference in job stress between the subjects working in 119 rescue centers (2.92) and those working in hospitals(3.01). The satisfaction score of fire-fighting workers was 2.98 and that of hospital workers was 2.54. Hospital workers' satisfaction was significantly lower (p<0.001). The score of hospital workers' pay satisfaction was the lowest($2.07{\pm}0.62$). The job stress decreased and job satisfaction increased with decreasing monthly average number of patients(p<0.001), increasing monthly income(p=0.047), and more frequent holidays they had(p<0.001), the less. For less job stress and higher job satisfaction, welfare conditions both at 119 rescue and hospitals should be improved. 119 rescue centers should develop violence prevention measures and offer resting places for emergency medical technicians. Hospitals should pay more attention to the yearly pay increase rate and stability in employment types.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.19 no.2 s.58
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• pp.45-62
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• 2005

This thesis has defined the legal status of 119 rescue who plays a major role in the Korean prehospital emergency medical system and reviewed the various issues that may occur depending on work related legal liabilities. As a result, the purpose of this study was to represent the countermeasures for legal protection of 119 rescue required for the quality improvement of prehospital emergency medical system and as well as the countermeasures for risk management prepared for its related lawsuits. The legal liabilities of 119 rescue officers can be divided largely into public law liabilities and civil and criminal liabilities. In order to decrease the incidences of legal problems and provide the legal protection to rescue officers, the liability of supervising physician should be emphasized when the emergency medical practice is performed by a rescue officer under their supervision by consolidating medical control and the rescue officer should have legal liability on his emergency medical practice. itself Also, the emergency medical service guideline for 119 rescue officers should be prepared and their works should be performed according to such a guideline and procedures. In addition, the accurate legal documentation on emergency medical system from on-site to ER and related mobilization should be framed and preserved. Moreover, it is required to enact a new law such as the Good Samaritan Act or the Rescue Officers Protection Act.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2225-2233
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• 2013

This study was designed to identify the extent of incident shock who are in high risk of post traumatic shock stress, and analyze the related factors that affect the extent of incident shock. The subjects are 415 rescue workers from Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters, who are in high frequency of fire outbreaks and rescue mobilization. With a reliability of Cronbach's ${\alpha}$=.975, the results show invasion, avoidance, sleep disorder and emotional paralysis, dissociative symptom, hyper arousal as foremost causes respectively. Moreover, the results imply that the extent of incident shock was higher in people with more age or being married. Also, from the occupational perspective, the number of years as fire fighters, as rescue workers, mobilization and experiences at work in proportion to incident shocks has risen exponentially. It is notable that the groups who alleviate stress by consuming liquors had higher extent of incident shock. In conclusion, to deal with groups in high risk, management system and prevention care programs for incident shocks need to be introduced immediately and put into effect.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.284-290
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• 2020

Background: Prevalence rates of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among firefighters are remarkably high and substantially higher than similar occupational groups and the general U.S. population. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of fire service personnel regarding cancer and its associations with tobacco and SLT use. Methods: This descriptive study used a qualitative approach. Key informant interviews were conducted in 39 career firefighters and fire service administration from across the U.S. Discussion were recorded, transcribed verbatim and transferred to NVivo software for narrative analysis. Topics explored included cancer perceptions, attitudes and beliefs, and cultural factors related to SLT use behaviors. Results: Major themes that emerged among fire service personnel included concerns about cancer and its risk factors including firefighting tasks, such as fire overhaul operations, and from their lifestyle behaviors, such as alcohol and tobacco use. Firefighters also suggested a number of reasons for their increased SLT use, such as fire department tobacco-free policy and fire service culture. Conclusion: The current study provides a rich foundation for future research, prevention, and intervention efforts for the fire service and research communities regarding tobacco and SLT use and cancer risk. Additional research on firefighters' cancer beliefs deserves future research in order to improve messaging about the risks of cancer due to firefighting.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2015

Obesity and fitness have been identified as key health concerns among USA firefighters yet little is known about the current habits related to exercise and diet. In particular, high-intensity training (HIT) has gained increasing popularity among this population but limited quantitative data are available about how often it is used and the relationship between HIT and other outcomes. Using survey methodology, the current study evaluated self-reported HIT and diet practice among 625 male firefighters. Almost one-third (32.3%) of participants reported engaging in HIT. Body composition, as measured by waist circumference and percentage body fat, was significantly related to HIT training, with HIT participants being approximately half as likely to be classified as obese using body fat [odds ratio (OR) = 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.34-0.78] or waist circumference (OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.37-0.98). Those who engaged in HIT were more than twice as likely as those who did not (OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.42-3.55) to meet fitness recommendations. Findings highlight directions for future prevention and intervention efforts.