Fitness of function and education of pre-hospital emergency technicians in dealing with trauma patients

Pre- hospital cares (PHC) of trauma emergency patients have special characteristics and diagnostic and therapeutical measures carried out before the patients’ arrival to hospital play a considerable role in reducing the mortality and improving their outcomes. The present study was an attempt to evaluate the accuracy of pre- hospital EMS technician performance in Tehran dealing with trauma patients.

In a cross sectional study, from September 2010 to September 2011, on the traumatic patients transferred by Pre- hospital emergency medical services (EMS), 500 patients were selected using simple achievable sampling method. The study was conducted by checking the mission form, interviewing the pre- hospital technicians and examining the patient to determine the necessary measures done before the arrival to emergency department using checklist. Data was analyzed using paired T-test and Chi-square test in SPSS 18 software.

The mean time interval of contact with Pre- hospital EMS up to the arrival of them to the place of incidence was 9.48 ± 7.71 min (minimum 1 and maximum 100) and the mean time interval of patient’s transfer from the incident scene to the hospital was 35.99 ±18.53 min (minimum 5 and maximum 137). Technician’s adverse course of actions regarding the cervical spine immobilization (10.3%), spinal cord immobilization (16.6%), organ fracture immobilization (14%), IV (9.9%) and bleeding control (33.6%) were observed.

Pre- hospital technicians have a desirable diagnosis and performance in establishing IV line, cervical spine immobilization, spinal cord immobilization, organ fracture immobilization and bleeding control. Moreover, they are weak regarding the diagnosis and support of oxygenation and removal of foreign body.