Abstract

DIAZ-TAMAYO, ALEJANDRA MARÍA. Risks of the staff working in Pre-Hospital care: A challenge for the emergency services. Salud, Barranquilla [online]. 2021, vol.37, n.3, pp.853-866.  Epub May 19, 2022. ISSN 0120-5552.  https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.37.3.363.11.

In an international context, the Prehospital care or response to an emergency in the prehospital setting includes all medical and transport interventions performed on patients who have suffered medical or traumatic events in different scenarios outside the hospital setting. Those who perform prehospital work must face varied, complex, and uncontrolled situations and scenarios which involve the exposure to variability of risks that may be prevented if mitigation measures are taken in advance. The biological, biomechanical, psychosocial, and physical risks associated with physical and verbal violence, among others, expose these personnel to severe work accidents and occupational diseases, which represent serious consequences. Characterizing the prehospital work poses many challenges. Patient care, for example, varies with each call, and this in turn presents unique challenges depending on the clinical status, the need of each patient, and the setting where the event is taking place. Knowing in more detail the occupational risks of the staff working in prehospital care who, in fact, expose themselves to diverse situations, and designing strategies to improve their health and well-being, translates into more effective and efficient emergency medical care which contributes to improve quality and strengthen health systems in the prehospital setting.

Keywords : Occupational hazards; prehospital care; emergencies; occupational health.

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