Emergency Care and Medicine

Background: Emergency medical services (EMS) are essential in providing timely medical attention and transportation to people in need during times of crisis. Effective EMS operations are crucial for delivering prompt and effective healthcare. However, the landscape of EMS operations is constantly evolving, posing a number of challenges that require rigorous research and innovative solutions. Objectives: To highlight the key challenges facing EMS departments in their daily operations and discuss potential solutions. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted. Relevant studies were identified by searching electronic databases, such as PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Results: The main challenges facing EMS departments include an increasing demand for services, limited resources, aging infrastructure, technological advancements, and regulatory compliance. Operational-level solutions that can be used to address these challenges include investing in technology, cross-training personnel, developing contingency plans, and partnering with other organizations. Conclusion: EMS departments today face a variety of challenges. However, there are a number of approaches that can be taken to address these challenges. By investing in technology, cross-training personnel, developing contingency plans, and partnering with other organizations, EMS departments can improve their operations and provide the best possible care to patients. Full article

Injury is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. First aid is the immediate assistance provided to a suddenly injured or sick person until professional help arrives or that person has recovered. Many lives would be saved if proper first aid was provided early. In the Middle East, there are limited studies that explore knowledge and practices towards first aid needed during RTA. The aim of this study is to investigate the knowledge and attitude towards first aid among drivers in Sharjah. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire written in Arabic and the English language. Participants were 18 years or older holding a driving license in the city of Sharjah. Paramedics and certified participants with a certification from authorized organizations were excluded. A non-proportional convenient sampling method was used. A total of 343 participants completed the questionnaires. The majority of the study participants were less than 40 years old, and (56.76%) were males. Most participants (94.2%) indicated that they know the term ‘First Aid’. However, (49.7%) of the participants knew the number to call for an ambulance, and (52.43%) of the participants indicated that the victim should be moved to the hospital without an ambulance. With regard to attitude, (34.86%) were not willing to provide first aid in the case of RTA. The main reason was lack of knowledge, followed by fear of legal consequences. Most participants (83.78%) were willing to participate in first aid classes to improve their knowledge and attitude. Most participants are aware of the basic terms of first aid; however, they are not willing to provide first aid in cases of RTA due to lack of knowledge and fear of legal consequences. Based on these findings, we recommend providing first aid classes to new drivers so that they can obtain certification. Full article