• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2014

Objective : Helicopter ambulance transport (HAT) is a highly resource-intensive facility that is a well-established part of the trauma transport system in many developed countries. Here, we review the benefit of HAT for neurosurgical patients in Korea. Methods : This retrospective study followed neurotrauma patients who were transferred by HAT to a single emergency trauma center over a period of 2 years. The clinical benefits of HAT were measured according to the necessity of emergency surgical intervention and the differences in the time taken to transport patients by ground ambulance transport (GAT) and HAT. Results : Ninety-nine patients were transferred to a single university hospital using HAT, of whom 32 were taken to the neurosurgery department. Of these 32 patients, 10 (31.3%) needed neurosurgical intervention, 14 (43.8%) needed non-neurosurgical intervention, 3 (9.4%) required both, and 11 (34.4%) did not require any intervention. The transfer time was faster using HAT than the estimated time needed for GAT, although for a relatively close distance (<50 km) without ground obstacles (mountain or sea) HAT did not improve transfer time. The cost comparison showed that HAT was more expensive than GAT (3,292,000 vs. 84,000 KRW, p<0.001). Conclusion : In this Korean-based study, we found that HAT has a clinical benefit for neurotrauma cases involving a transfer from a distant site or an isolated area. A more precise triage for using HAT should be considered to prevent overuse of this expensive transport method.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2016

Ambulances are an important element of pre-hospital emergency medical services, and also an important space for improving the work efficiency of paramedics. Paramedics use the interior environment to maximize the capabilities of the space, but ambulances need to be improved to help with the responsibilities of paramedics. A Seamless space was constructed in accordance with the placement of first-aid emergency medical equipment and drugs, and a patient room was loaded in the interior space of an ambulance. This study was to improve the treatment space of an ambulance to improve the efficiency of work by paramedics The new design provides safety and efficiency for emergency medical services through planning of interior storage suitable for the duties of paramedics and through identification and analysis of the problems in the environment.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2016

Background: Previous research has shown that paramedics are exposed to risks in the form of injuries to the musculoskeletal system. In addition, there are studies showing that they are also at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and psychiatric diseases, which can partly be explained by their constant exposure to stress. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the use of shoulder straps decreases physical effort in the form of decreased heart rate and cortisol concentration. Methods: A stretcher with a dummy was carried by 20 participants for 400 m on two occasions, one with and one without the shoulder straps. Heart rate was monitored continuously and cortisol samples were taken at intervals of 0 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and 60 minutes. Each participant was her or his own control. Results: A significant decrease in heart rate and cortisol concentration was seen when shoulder straps were used. The median values for men (with shoulder straps) at 0 minutes was 78 bpm/21.1 nmol/L (heart rate/cortisol concentration), at 15 minutes was 85 bpm/16.9 nmol/L, and at 60 minutes was 76 bpm/15.7 nmol/L; for men without shoulder straps, these values were 78 bpm/21.9 nmol/L, 93 bpm/21.9 nmol/L, and 73 bpm/20.5 nmol/L. For women, the values were 85 bpm/23.3 nmol/L, 92 bpm/20.8 nmol/L, and 70 bpm/18.4 nmol/L and 84 bpm/32.4 nmol/L, 100 bpm/32.5 nmol/L, and 75 bpm/25.2 nmol/L, respectively. Conclusion: The use of shoulder straps decreases measurable physical stress and should therefore be implemented when heavy equipment or a stretcher needs to be carried. An easy way to ensure that staff use these or similar lifting aids is to provide them with personalized, well-adapted shoulder straps. Another better option would be to routinely sewn these straps into the staff's personal alarm jackets so they are always in place and ready to be used.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.227-233
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of chest compression by conducting comparison research between mechanical chest compressor(LUCAS) and manuale cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) in a out-of-hospital environment and suggest effective advanced cardiac life support using mechanical chest compressors. For this, a out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was simulated with a team of 3 ambulance workers, and manuale CPR and CPR using LUCAS were performed on site and during transport in an ambulance. The research results are as follows: the comparison of manuale CPR between on site and in an ambulance revealed that on-site manuale CPR showed significant differences in the average compression depth, compression rate, and relaxation rate. Second, the comparison between manuale CPR and LUCAS in an ambulance showed significant differences in the average compression depth, compression rate, the number of compression per minute.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2019

Purpose: The study aims to provide basic data to enhance the health of paramedics responsible for patient transport and treatment by analyzing the exposure level of paramedics to electromagnetic waves generated by electric devices used in ambulances. Methods: The study measured electromagnetic waves in ambulances in N region from July to December 2018. ME3030B produced by German Gigahertz Solutions was used to measure these waves and the maximum value was selected by moving it slowly in various directions. Each measurement part was selected and the mean value was calculated by repeatedly measuring at 10-minute intervals three times in total: $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, and $3^{rd}$ phase. Results: Among the electrical devices installed in the patient room of the ambulance measured at distances of 1 cm or 30 cm, results showed a high level of electric waves at the inverter ($26.25{\pm}39V/m$) and high level of electromagnetic waves ($564.00{\pm}31.75nT$) at the ozone sterilizer. According to measurements toward the front near the driver's seat, results indicated high levels of electric waves ($3.67{\pm}1.15V/m$) and electromagnetic waves ($450.00{\pm}19.52nT$) at the black box hard drive. Conclusion: Electromagnetic waves within the ambulance were stable and not beyond the range that might impact human health. However, in the case of the black box hard drive ($3.67{\pm}1.15V/m$, $450.00{\pm}19.52nT$) located under the passenger seat, it may have a direct effect on the human body and, thus it is necessary to move it to a storage area further away from the paramedics to minimized the impact.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2021

Purpose: Despite the fact that emergency medical centers (ED) are used by emergency patients, more than 50% of non-emergency patients have been reported to be admitted in EDs, of which more than 10% of them used the 119 ambulance. Therefore, this study investigated whether there was a change in the severity of patients visiting EDs during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who visited the ED through the 119 ambulance in 2019 (13,735) and 2020 (11,015). Patient data were analyzed using the medical information system. Results: There was an increase in non-emergency patients at the emergency departments (KTAS levels 4-5) in 2020 with a rate of 58.0% (6,393), as compared to the 2019 data with a rate of 44.9% (6,169). However, the 2020 median length of stay in the emergency department was 188 minutes (IQR: 0-5,909minutes) (p=.000), which was decreased as compared to the 2019 median length of stay of 231 minutes (IQR: 5-6,211minutes) (p=.003). Conclusion: Providing emergency ambulance guidelines for selecting proper hospitals and educating patients to refrain from using the ED for non-emergency patients should be taken into consideration to prevent overcrowding and construct a more effective emergency medical system (EMS).

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2020

This study suggested a method to increase the quality of chest compressions in patients with cardiac arrest during transport. When providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a cardiac arrest patient in the pre-hospital phase, the quality of chest compressions should be improved by using a three-point fixed belt to the ambulance. Because the quality of the chest compression was increased when the 119 paramedic wears a 3-point fixed belt in addition to the chest compression method. Also, paramedics are less likely to be at risk. Therefore, if a 3-point fixed belt is worn in an ambulance during transport, 119 paramedics will be able to secure safety and provide high-quality chest compressions to cardiac arrest patients.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.73-86
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide the basic data for the ergonomic design of first-aid activity space(FAS) for a future ambulance suitable for the performance of 119 EMT. Methods: Questionnaire was filled out by the 124 EMT in 119 centers. The questionnaire consisted of 3 sub factors including the satisfaction and compatibility of the FAS. The satisfaction and compatibility was analyzed based on characteristics of the subjects. Results: The satisfaction rate of the FAS within the ambulance was an average of 2.23, and the compatibility category got an overall average score of 2.26. The lowest ranked criteria in the satisfaction and compatibility factor was the functionality of storage space showing 1.93 and 1.88, respectively. The best position of the paramedic seat was the top side of the patient, near the head, which is suitable for patient assessment and treatment. Conclusion: During patient transportation of 119 EMTs, for efficient work process, a layout design of the FAS should be based on ergonomics that satisfied the performance function.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.395-401
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• 2013

In a situation of crisis, an ambulance is dispatched according to the given emergency management information system(EMIS). However, the problem of past EMIS is that they did not concentrate on the reliable communication between the ambulance and medical specialists, thereby causing some needless casualties. This paper presents HEMIS, a highly-reliable emergency management information system, to solve such flaws. The effects showed that HEMIS was superior in data packet size, data safety and quality of service(QoS) to that of typical EMIS. Therefore, HEMIS is expected to increase the quality of medical service in ambulances, thereby decreasing casualties of patients carried in ambulances.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2010

Records of 255 patients was analyzed statistically according to the contents of the record form. T patients' records were collected through the visit of emergency department in one hospital by the 119 Emergency Medical Services system from January 1 to February 8, 2009. In conclusion, the total entry was the investigation of 119 ambulance run report in 62.1% of subjects. The highest record of receiving hospital item was 100.0% and the lowest record of medical control item was 0.4% of subjects. Increasing the entry of 119 ambulance run report in efficient emergency medical information delivery media needed to suggest that increasing the number of specialists on the staff, medical staffs have an active interest and feedback, rule to item arrangement of prehospital ambulance run report, continuous education in the importance of record.