Employee Health and Safety

Resource Page

Guidance for On-the-Job Injuries

This is a reminder that injuries occurring on the job are to be reported immediately to the Training Officer.  There have been several recent cases where personnel have not reported injuries and have sought medical help before reporting the injury.  Under Florida Law, we are NOT required to cover medical care provided outside the network, when the injury has not been reported or when has not been approved by the Liberty Ambulance Service Health and Safety Officer.  Any care not covered is the responsiblity of the employee.

Cold Weather is Coming

Cold weather will be here before you know it and now id the time to start to prepare for safely heating your home and protecting your family.  Here are a few  suggestions from te CDC publication "Extreme Cold, A Prevention Guide to Prevent Health and Safety".  

1.  Make sure you have a working smoke detector

2.  Make sure you have a working Carbon Monoxide detector

3.   Have your furnace or heaters inspected, especially the flues and chimneys.

4.  Winterize your car, have the coolant tested and replaced if necessary  Have an emergency kit available, blankets, booster cable, flashlight, first aid kit,.

5.  If you have a fireplace, have the chimney serviced.

6.  At home, keep space heaters 3 feet away from flammable items.

7.  Aviod using extension cords on space heaters.

8.  Keep an ABC fire extinquisher at home.

Hot Weather Best Practices      

It is August, and the weather is getting hot.  These are the dog days of summer and the time when heat related illness is at its peak.  You will likely be treating some sort of heat related illnesses during the months of August and September, but need to keep an eye on yourself and your partner when running call in this serious heat.

Heat exhaustion is when the body begins to have problems managing the rise in body temperature.  The body is sweating, cool and the person will be dizzy and nauseated.  The best treatment is placing the person in the shade or an air-conditioned room and letting them rest and drink cool water or sports drink.

Heat Stroke occurs when the body's ability to keep itself cool has been overwhelmed.  The skin is hot and dry, lips are dry and patient is confused, groggy or unconscious.  This person needs immediate cooling with water and fanning.  Call for an ALS unit to transport to the ED.

Prevention

The best prevention for heat related emergencies is to wear lightweight and colored clothing and drink plenty of water. 1 quart per hour if you are running back to back calls. Drink water until your urine is almost clear.  Drink mostly water, but 1 oz of sports drinks for every 3 oz of water you drink is the ration recommended by the National Athletic Trainers Association.

Keeping yourself well hydrated and healthy is the best way to prevent getting "bear caught".

Back Safety

Back injuries are the number 1 cause of disability among EMS workers.  Poor body mechanics, long work days, and the "hero" mentality are only some of the causes for  the majority of debilitating back injuries.  Here are some tip to help you protect and save your back for years to come:

1.    Lift with your legs not your back.

        Back injuries can come from something as simple as bending over to pick up a 4X4 on the ground.  SQUAT DOWN rather than bending over.  Squat to pick up a patient, stretcher, piece of equipment, etc.  Bend your knees not your waist..  Look up when you stand up; this will keep your back straight.

2.    Warm up before you lift something or someone heavy.

        Cold muscles are more prone to injuries that those who have been warmed up and have good blood flow going to them. Stretch, your back a few times, lift your knees up to stretch the muscles of your lower back.  For more information  or a copy of "Back Basics", see your Safety Officer.

3.    Keep the object you are lifting close to your body.

        This distributes the weight more evenly on your already overworked back.

4.    Get help lifting heavy objects or patients.

        Don't try to lift a patient that is too heavy by yourself or with just you and your partner. If you are on a unit, call for help and wait until help arrives

    Should you get a simple back strain, here are some care tips.

1.  Apply ice to the painful area for 20 minutes several times per day for 48 hours.

2.  After 48 hours, Apply heat using heating pad on, low  or compresses for 20 minutes several times per day.

3.  Use pain relievers such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen for pain. If this does not control the pain, report to the Safety Officer for referral to the appropriate occupational medicine clinic.

        Click HERE for a Back Care handout.