Awareness of Temporary Field Emergency Medical Centers Operated by Paramedics on a First-Come-First-Served Basis in a Mass Casualty Disaster

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the need for the operation of temporary field emergency medical centers (TFEMC) by paramedics on a first-come-first-served basis at disaster sites where mass casualties occurred. The survey was conducted on 119 emergency doctors and paramedics from five fire departments under the Ulsan City Fire Department. More than 77.9% of the paramedics surveyed had been dispatched for the handling of many casualties at least once, but only 31.5% of them had experienced the establishment and operation of TFEMC. Awareness of triage showed a significant difference according to work career (F = 3.455, p = .009) and assigned work (F = 3.955, p = .004). Awareness of the disaster medical response system was significantly different according to rank (F = 5.299, p = .002), work career (F = 5.575, p = .000), age (F = 3.420, p = .018), and assigned work (F = 3.114, p = .016). There was no statistically significant difference in the awareness regarding TFEMCs. Most of the paramedics answered that they had not received mass casualty-focused education and that they needed related professional education. Therefore, for the efficient operation of TFEMCs managed by paramedics on a first-come-first-served basis, it is necessary to develop and implement various related professional training courses that combine theoretical training and field practice regarding the operation of TFEMCs, thus providing many paramedics an opportunity for education.