@article{ref1,
title="Injury risks of EMS responders: evidence from the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System",
journal="BMJ open",
year="2015",
author="Taylor, Jennifer A. and Davis, Andrea L. and Barnes, Brittany and Lacovara, Alicia V. and Patel, Reema",
volume="5",
number="6",
pages="e007562-e007562",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: We analysed near-miss and injury events reported to the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System (NFFNMRS) to investigate the workplace hazards and safety concerns of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responders in the USA. <br><br>METHODS: We reviewed 769 'non-fire emergency event' reports from the NFFNMRS using a mixed methods approach. We identified 185 emergency medical calls and analysed their narrative text fields. We assigned Mechanism of Near-Miss/Injury and Nature of Injury codes and then tabulated frequencies (quantitative). We coded major themes regarding work hazards and safety concerns reported by the EMS responders (qualitative). <br><br>RESULTS: Of the 185 emergency medical calls, the most commonly identified Mechanisms of Near-Miss/Injury to EMS responders was Assaults, followed by Struck-by Motor Vehicle, and Motor Vehicle Collision. The most commonly identified weapon used in an assault was a firearm. We identified 5 major domains of workplace hazards and safety concerns: Assaults by Patients, Risks from Motor Vehicles, Personal Protective Equipment, Relationships between Emergency Responders, and Policies, Procedures and Practices. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Narrative text from the NFFNMRS is a rich source of data that can be analysed quantitatively and qualitatively to provide insight into near-misses and injuries sustained by EMS responders. Near-miss reporting systems are critical components for occupational hazard surveillance.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2044-6055",
doi="10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007562",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007562"
}