As an emergency medical technician, you’ve been exposed to all kinds of hazardous environments and situations. You’ve had to pull up to life-threatening scenarios multiple times, and with aggressive or violent patients, you’ve sometimes been at risk yourself.
It’s normal for emergency medical technicians and paramedics to face a risk of injuries on the job. They are using needles and medical devices, handling patients at their most vulnerable when they’re confused and scared and also riding in a moving vehicle.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevent keep data on emergency medical service injuries. In 2020, it was reported that 16,900 EMS workers were injured and treated within US hospitals around the country. In the majority of cases, these workers were under the age of 35.
What were the most common workplace injuries EMS workers faced?
From 2020’s data, the most common injuries were sprains and strains. These injuries could be caused by getting into crashes during the drive, overexerting themselves when lifting or handling patients and violence.
Other common causes of injuries included:
- Slips, trips and falls with 1,600 cases
- Violence with 3,000 cases
- Transportation incidents with 2,500 cases
- Instrument, tool or equipment injuries with 1,800 cases
- Overexertion with 5,200 cases
These and other causes of injuries can leave workers badly hurt and in need of time off to recover. In some cases, they may have permanent injuries because of these hazards.
As an EMS worker, you may be able to seek workers’ compensation
Whether you’ve broken your ankle after a fall from the ambulance or you were attacked by a patient or their family members, you have a right to look into seeking compensation that can help you get the medical care you need.
Emergency medical technicians, paramedics and others working in these roles play an important role in helping people, but they sometimes need help, too. It’s reasonable to ask for compensation to support yourself as you recover from an injury that has led to your disability or significant time off work. Workers’ compensation may provide you with the coverage needed as you focus on your health.