Every day, the citizens of the Baltimore-Metropolitan area utilize Emergency Medical Service. Whether it is a medical emergency, traumatic injury, or as simple as a patient assist, EMS providers respond to emergencies 365 days a year, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The call volume is forever growing, increasing the fatigue of EMS providers. For example, one of the biggest suburban fire departments located in Baltimore is the Baltimore County Fire Department. In 2010, Baltimore County’s EMS providers answered 86,840 EMS incidents. This past year, 2014, EMS providers responded to 91,521 EMS incidents (ARMACOST, 2014). Within four years, the call volume has increased by 5,000 EMS incidents. This is the one of the main contributors to an arising issue: EMS provider fatigue.
…show more content…
Providers work lengthy shift work. Some department works 12 hour shifts while others work 24 hour shifts. Many providers work overnight, causing sleep patterns to become disturbed. Along with lack of sleep, many providers have little down time in between calls, miss meals, have prolonged wait times to use the rest room. There are several factors that contribute to EMS provider fatigue that is not only harmful to providers, but the patient’s they treat and citizens on the
Providers work lengthy shift work. Some department works 12 hour shifts while others work 24 hour shifts. Many providers work overnight, causing sleep patterns to become disturbed. Along with lack of sleep, many providers have little down time in between calls, miss meals, have prolonged wait times to use the rest room. There are several factors that contribute to EMS provider fatigue that is not only harmful to providers, but the patient’s they treat and citizens on the