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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

William E. Brown, MS, RN, NREMT-P¹, Jonathan R. Studnek, BS, NREMT-P¹, and Roger Levine, PhD². (1) National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, 6610 Busch Blvd, columbus, OH 43229, 614-888-4484, jons@nremt.org, (2) American Institutes for Research, 1070 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304

Objectives: A prospective study of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) was conducted to determine if relationships exist between shift work and the job performance, family life, personal health and safety of EMTs.

Methods: Data for this analysis was collected as part of a national survey of EMTs. This study classified EMTs by the length of their shift at their main Emergency Medical Services (EMS) job. EMTs working 24-hour shifts were compared with those working shorter shifts, with respect to Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores and sleepiness-related difficulties operating emergency vehicles, remembering treatment protocols, and effects on their personal relationships. T-tests were used to determine statistical significance of observed differences.

Results: Though data collection is ongoing, 1,564 of 6,011 surveys (26.02%) have been returned and analyzed. EMTs indicating that they work 24-hour shifts had significantly higher ESS scores than those not working 24-hour shifts (p=.03). EMTs working 24 hour shifts were more likely to report having difficulty driving emergency vehicles long distances (12.4% vs. 6.2%, p=.007) and to report having difficulty remembering treatment protocols because they were sleepy or tired (13.3% vs. 7.1%, p=0.006). Nearly one-quarter (23.3%) of the EMTs working 24-hour shifts reported that being sleepy affected their relationship with family, friends or work colleagues compared to 17.2% of those not working 24 hours (p=0.04).

Conclusions: EMTs working 24-hour shifts are significantly more likely to report problems related to sleepiness, including difficulty driving emergency vehicles long distances, and remembering treatment protocols.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Recognize the relationships between extended shift hours and the work life of Emergency Medical Technicians.
• Describe how the relationships between shift hours and work life may also impact the personal life of EMTs.
• Identify other potential public safety hazards related to exposure to extended shift hours.

Keywords: Occupational Safety, EMS/Trauma

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered