The number of people with paramedic jobs in one crew can make a difference when it comes to patient care.
Primary results of a recent study from National Institute of Standards and Technology found that a crew consisting of at least two paramedics, one of whom was on an engine, was able to apply 12-lead EKGs sooner and make intubations faster.
The project involved documenting the tasks of two, three and four-person crews. Having more paramedics in a crew seems to be the best option, as the four-person crew performed their tasks much faster than the others.
Lori Moore-Merrell, assistant to Harold A. Schaitberger, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, told EMSResponder.com that the study used the basic concepts that NIST engineers followed while conducting the examination of crew size on the fire ground.
“The overall goal is to reduce injury and death by making better decisions about resource deployment in a risk-filled environment,” Moore-Merrell said.
The study came about after many jurisdictions have been considering placing an ALS provider on an engine that responds along with an ambulance, and analysts hope the study will help determine whether or not that would make a difference.
The study was released during the annual Congressional Fire Services Institute event and is being funded by an Assistance to Firefighters Grant.
The final results of the study are expected to be released soon after the data is analyzed by officials at the University of North Carolina, which helped complete the study along with EMS crews in Montgomery County, Md., and Fairfax County, Va. The final report will contain graphs, pictures and methodology.