EMS responders to pandemic influenza

EMS responders to pandemic influenza (Red Crescent) in Saudi Arabia

Emergency service providers and agencies alike participate in life-saving activities every day. Workers in these agencies provide assistance in daily emergency situations, transporting and treating patients in various situations. Their input in the medical process is incontrovertible as they ensure the welfare of the patient.

The healthcare sector is exposed to varying infections despite the availability of multiple disinfection procedures. Contamination remains a significant issue to the EMS responders as ambulances become a constant source of various pathogenic bacteria as a result of transporting patients from emergency scenes to the medical facilities. The transportation procedure creates a situation where the paramedics as well as the patient are exposed to the pathogens, a majority of which may be infectious (Reed, et al., 1993). Although there are various safeguards and disposable equipment which reduce the risk to the medical staff, the transportation process remains susceptible to contamination from blood and infectious substance. The result of these infections on the EMS in Saudi Arabia specifically is significant, as estimated 35 to 45 medical providers have been infected .

The ambulance service managed by the Red Crescent is the source of focus for this project for its lack of policy and guidelines on the pre-hospital process. Precautions such as disinfection and sterilization are not accompanied by corresponding infection control procedures. Currently in the Kingdom, there are over 5, 000 EMS staff using approximately 1,400 ambulances, and they are all at risk (Reed, et al., 1993). To ensure effective control of possible infections, a significantly holistic approach is required; one which is evidence-based and also cost-effective. Comment by Steve Parrillo: Comment by Microsoft Office User:

Problem Statement

Inadequate policies and interventions or personal failures of the emergency medical services team are a facilitator for infections among the healthcare workers. Comment by Steve Parrillo: Comment by Microsoft Office User:

Description of the Problem

The requirement for disaster medicine is more crucial than ever before with diseases such as MERS affecting areas deemed disaster-prone. Medical workers and emergency service providers at large require the evidence as a stepping stone to new decisions and measures involving medical care for health workers. EMS in Saudi Arabia has faced its fair share of challenges, with a number of its employees contracting the deadly virus MERS. EMS plans to use this information in creating effective influenza plans which will enhance its existing operational protocols. Comment by Microsoft Office User: Comment by Steve Parrillo: Comment by Microsoft Office User:

In particular, influenza plans will require thorough assessment carried out, which will benefit all parties involved. According to Costa et al. (2015), interventions should be prioritized before travel to ensure that volunteers and medical professionals going on a mission abroad are adequately considered in regards to their health. The assessment will use observation as the tool. Information will be derived by working with the EMS employees and observing them to assess their response to the issues of workplace infections. The study will get permission from the Red Crescent to speak to its employees on how the gap can be bridged. The study once carried out will be useful to both the authority and the employees. The employees will have proper medical care, while the authority will benefit from the job security provided by the employees. The organizational structures will also support the humanitarian aspect while securing the fair decisions in the daily operations of the workers. Comment by Microsoft Office User: Comment by Microsoft Office User: Comment by Microsoft Office User: Comment by Steve Parrillo: Comment by Steve Parrillo:

Literature Review

The importance of adequate policy guidelines in preventing infection of healthcare workers is inarguable, with benefits such as better individual health. Costa et al. (2015) focused on reviewing existing information on the delivering interventions before the workers were deployed to their missions. They aimed to understand the benefits of the intervention. Majority of the identified results contended that workplace health is crucial to the success of the lifesaving efforts of the employees. Just as in the case of the EMS from Red Crescent, the policies did not place emphasis on the workplace assessments. The study discovered that the workers were exposed to high-risk infections which included TB, influenza, HIV, and other hazardous infections (Costa, et al. 2015). These infections depended on the region, but the results are a clear indication that the pre-mission assessment policy should be mandatory. The importance of having a clear policy by authorities is clear in this study. Comment by Steve Parrillo: