The Struggles of EMS series 2

In series one of the struggles of EMS I dived into my first real experience of EMS here in the UAE(You can find that article *here*.) The main concern covered in series 1 was the complications involved when lifting a patient. Especially when the patient is double your size.

In this series, however, I will dive a little deeper into the complications involved when lifting patients regardless of their size.

Did you know that EMS workers have a high chance of injury even when lifting patients who are half their weight?

I can almost hear you thinking, "impossible," but it's true. Due to the repetitive nature of their jobs, EMS staff often sustain stress/strain-related injuries in their neck and back.

It has been reported that an average of 22,000 career and volunteer EMS staff are treated in an emergency room for work-related injuries per year! The rate of injury is over four times higher among career EMS personnel than the rate for other workers.[1]

As noted in the above graph one of the highest causes of injury in EMS workers is body motion. This means that EMS personnel are hurting themselves due to the repetitive nature of their jobs as well as awkward postures or strained physical effort used in attempts to help patients.

According to EMS 1 [1] Most personnel with body motion injuries were transferring, carrying or lifting a patient at the time of their injury. Nearly half of those performing patient handling indicated that the patient was heavy, overweight or obese.

Example body motion injuries described by EMS providers:

An EMS provider and her partner were loading a patient onto a stretcher when the hydraulics on the stretcher broke and the stretcher collapsed. She caught the weight of the 350 pound patient and 100 pound stretcher. She held it for 5 minutes while waiting for assistance.

--

On a 9-1-1 call to a patient's home, the EMS provider and his partner were bringing the patient down the steps in a stair chair. The provider was at the bottom of the chair. The patient shifted her balance in the stair chair and the provider had to compensate.

--

A provider was helping carry a patient on a backboard from the patient’s house to the ambulance. The patient’s house was very narrow and required a lot of bending and twisting to get him out.

If you would like to read the rest of the article please read reference 1 listed in my below reference list.

HOW CAN INJURIES TO EMS PROVIDERS BE PREVENTED?

It is the responsibility of both the employer and the employee to ensure injury prevention is a priority. The organization as a whole should try to maintain a work culture that promotes safety and honestly in reporting near misses.[2]

Employers can also focus on equipment and training that ensures the safety of their employees.

With devices such as the Camel and Elk inflatable Lifting Cushions, your employee's backs will be protected while they are lifting patients to safety. The Elk, with Cushions strong enough to hold a person weighing up to 450kg is a great aid to EMS. Compact when deflated it fits easily into an ambulance with its mounting board. It is also light and easy to maneuver.

The Elk can also be slid under a stretcher to help in lifting a patient into an emergency vehicle.

ELK Lifting Cushion

The ELK is an emergency lifting cushion designed to provide a safe, dignified lift and is recognized for reducing the risk of injury to carers.

Used in a range of settings, the ELK is used by trusted ambulance services across the globe as well as by hospitals, telecare response teams and care homes. Its ease of use means it is also ideal for families who care for a loved one with a propensity to fall but want to remain living independently at home.

Benefits of the ELK

The ELK is an innovative piece of manual handling equipment, designed for single-handed care. The fallen person can be quickly and safely lifted from the floor while reducing the risk of injury to both the carer and the individual. Ideal for anyone who has fallen in a confined space, the person who has fallen can shuffle onto the cushion - or be rolled on from the recovery position - and then assisted to sit upright. With the touch of a button, the Elk inflates allowing the person to settle in a raised seated position ready to stand within minutes.

Who can use it?

The ELK lifting cushion is ideal for a home setting because it can be used to lift people who have fallen in confined spaces such as bathrooms, hallways and dining rooms. Its ease of use means it is suitable for those not professionally medically trained in the role of carer such as a family member supporting a loved one with a health condition that affects their likelihood of falling.

This includes:

• People with neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, Alzheimer’s and dementia and Huntington's disease
• Individuals with physical disabilities such as limited mobility or amputees
• The elderly – 30% of adults over 65 will fall at least once a year. This rises to 50% in the over 80s.
• Plus Size or bariatric patients who face daily mobility challenges and will often find it difficult to get back on their feet when they fall – even though they are uninjured.

Special features

• The ELK is particularly compact and lightweight (weighing only 3.6 kgs/8 lbs)
• One size fits all - The ELK can lift the most fragile person up to plus size individuals weighing 450kg (70 stone).
• Its unique design means it can be used inside or outside and is particularly effective in small confined spaces such as the bedroom, bathroom or hallway where alternative lifting devices may not be suitable. 

Ref 1 : 5 causes of high injury rate in EMS providers

Ref 2 : NHTSA (2013). Strategy for a National EMS Culture of Safety.

Ref 3: Mangar Health