Suicide Among the EMS Occupation in the United States

Introduction: Suicide claimed 47,173 lives in 2017 and is the second leading cause of death for individuals 15-34 years old. In 2017, rates of suicide in the United States (US) were double the rates of homicide. Despite significant research funding toward suicide prevention, rates of suicide have increased 38% from 2009 to 2017. Recent data suggests that emergency medical services (EMS) workers are at a higher risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts compared to the general public. The objective of this study was to determine the proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) of suicide among firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT) compared to the general US working population.Methods: We analyzed over five million adult decedent death records from the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance database for 26 states over a 10-year non-consecutive period including 1999, 2003–2004, and 2007–2013. Categorizing firefighters and EMTs by census industry and occupation code lists, we used the underlying cause of death to calculate the PMRs compared to the general US decedent population with a recorded occupation.Results: Overall, 298 firefighter and 84 EMT suicides were identified in our study. Firefighters died in significantly greater proportion from suicide compared to the US.working population with a PMR of 172 (95% confidence interval [CI], 153-193, P<0.01). EMTs also died from suicide in greater proportion with an elevated PMR of 124 (95% CI, 99-153), but this did not reach statistical significance. Among all subgroups, firefighters ages 65-90 were found to have the highest PMR of 234 (95% CI, 186-290), P<0.01) while the highest among EMTs was in the age group 18-64 with a PMR of 126 (95% CI, 100-156, P<0.05).Conclusion: In this multi-state study, we found that firefighters and EMTs had significantly higher proportionate mortality ratios for suicide compared to the general US working population. Firefighters ages 65-90 had a PMR more than double that of the general working population. Development of a more robust database is needed to identify EMS workers at greatest risk of suicide during their career and lifetime

Suicide Among the EMS Occupation in the United States

Introduction: Suicide claimed 47,173 lives in 2017 and is the second leading cause of death for individuals 15-34 years old. In 2017, rates of suicide in the United States (US) were double the rates of homicide. Despite significant research funding toward suicide prevention, rates of suicide have increased 38% from 2009 to 2017. Recent data suggests that emergency medical services (EMS) workers are at a higher risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts compared to the general public. The objective of this study was to determine the proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) of suicide among firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT) compared to the general US working population.Methods: We analyzed over five million adult decedent death records from the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance database for 26 states over a 10-year non-consecutive period including 1999, 2003–2004, and 2007–2013. Categorizing firefighters and EMTs by census industry and occupation code lists, we used the underlying cause of death to calculate the PMRs compared to the general US decedent population with a recorded occupation.Results: Overall, 298 firefighter and 84 EMT suicides were identified in our study. Firefighters died in significantly greater proportion from suicide compared to the US.working population with a PMR of 172 (95% confidence interval [CI], 153-193, P<0.01). EMTs also died from suicide in greater proportion with an elevated PMR of 124 (95% CI, 99-153), but this did not reach statistical significance. Among all subgroups, firefighters ages 65-90 were found to have the highest PMR of 234 (95% CI, 186-290), P<0.01) while the highest among EMTs was in the age group 18-64 with a PMR of 126 (95% CI, 100-156, P<0.05).Conclusion: In this multi-state study, we found that firefighters and EMTs had significantly higher proportionate mortality ratios for suicide compared to the general US working population. Firefighters ages 65-90 had a PMR more than double that of the general working population. Development of a more robust database is needed to identify EMS workers at greatest risk of suicide during their career and lifetime

The Impact of Prehospital Transport Interval on Survival in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Implications for Regionalization of Post-Resuscitation Care

Objective: There is growing evidence that therapeutic hypothermia and other post-resuscitation care improves outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Thus, transporting patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) to specialized facilities may increase survival rates. However, it is unknown whether prolonging transport to reach a designated facility would be detrimental. Methods: Data from OHCA patients treated in EMS systems that cover approximately 70% of Arizona\u27s population were evaluated (October 2004-December 2006). We analyzed the association between transport interval (depart scene to ED arrival) and survival to hospital discharge in adult, non-traumatic OHCA patients and in the subgroup who achieved ROSC and remained comatose. Results: 1846 OHCA occurred prior to EMS arrival. Complete transport interval data were available for 1177 (63.8%) patients (study group). 253 patients (21.5%) achieved ROSC and remained comatose making them theoretically eligible for transport to specialized care. Overall, 70 patients (5.9%) survived and 43 (17.0%) comatose ROSC patients survived. Mean transport interval for the study group was 6.9 min (95% CI: 6.7, 7.1). Logistic regression revealed factors that were independently associated with survival: witnessed arrest, bystander CPR, method of CPR, initial rhythm of ventricular fibrillation, and shorter EMS response time interval. There was no significant association between transport interval and outcome in either the overall study group (OR = 1.2; 0.77, 1.8) or in the comatose, ROSC subgroup (OR 0.94; 0.51, 1.8). Conclusion: Survival was not significantly impacted by transport interval. This suggests that a modest increase in transport interval from bypassing the closest hospital en route to specialized care is safe and warrants further investigation

Association between Prehospital CPR Quality and End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Levels in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

<p><b>Introduction:</b> International Guidelines recommend measurement of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂) to enhance cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality and optimize blood flow during CPR. Numerous factors impact EtCO₂ (e.g., ventilation, metabolism, cardiac output), yet few clinical studies have correlated CPR quality and EtCO₂ during actual out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitations. The purpose of this study was to describe the association between EtCO₂ and CPR quality variables during OHCA. <b>Methods:</b> This is an observational study of prospectively collected CPR quality and capnography data from two EMS agencies participating in a statewide resuscitation quality improvement program. CPR quality and capnography data from adult (≥18 years) cardiac resuscitation attempts (10/2008–06/2013) were collected and analyzed on a minute-by-minute basis using RescueNet™ Code Review. Linear mixed effect models were used to evaluate the association between (log-transformed) EtCO₂ level and CPR variables: chest compression (CC) depth, CC rate, CC release velocity (CCRV), ventilation rate. <b>Results:</b> Among the 1217 adult OHCA cases of presumed cardiac etiology, 925 (76.0%) had a monitor-defibrillator file with CPR quality data, of which 296 (32.0%) cases had >1 minute of capnography data during CPR. After capnography quality review, 66 of these cases (22.3%) were excluded due to uninterpretable capnography, resulting in a final study sample of 230 subjects (mean age 68 years; 69.1% male), with a total of 1581 minutes of data. After adjustment for other CPR variables, a 10 mm increase in CC depth was associated with a 4.0% increase in EtCO₂ (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), a 10 compression/minute increase in CC rate with a 1.7% increase in EtCO₂ (<i>p</i> = 0.02), a 10 mm/second increase in CCRV with a 2.8% increase in EtCO₂ (<i>p</i> = 0.03), and a 10 breath/minute increase in ventilation rate with a 17.4% decrease in EtCO₂ (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). <b>Conclusion:</b> When controlling for known CPR quality variables, increases in CC depth, CC rate and CCRV were each associated with a statistically significant but clinically modest increase in EtCO₂. Given the small effect sizes, the clinical utility of using EtCO₂ to guide CPR performance is unclear. Further research is needed to determine the practicality and impact of using real-time EtCO₂ to guide CPR delivery in the prehospital environment.</p

Use of a Simulation-based Advanced Resuscitation Training Curriculum: Impact on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality and Patient Outcomes

Background: Despite a continued focus on improved cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality, survival remains low from in-hospital cardiac arrest. Advanced Resuscitation Training has been shown to improve survival to hospital discharge and survival with good neurological outcome following in-hospital cardiac arrest at its home institution. We sought to determine if Advanced Resuscitation Training implementation would improve patient outcomes and cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality at our institution. Methods: This was a prospective, before–after study of adult in-hospital cardiac arrest victims who had cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed. During phase 1, standard institution cardiopulmonary resuscitation training was provided. During phase 2, providers received the same quantity of training, but with emphasis on Advanced Resuscitation Training principles. Primary outcomes were return of spontaneous circulation, survival to hospital discharge, and neurologically favorable survival. Secondary outcomes were cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality parameters. Results: A total of 156 adult in-hospital cardiac arrests occurred during the study period. Rates of return of spontaneous circulation improved from 58.1 to 86.3% with an adjusted odds ratios of 5.31 (95% CI: 2.23–14.35, P \u3c 0.001). Survival to discharge increased from 26.7 to 41.2%, adjusted odds ratios 2.17 (95% CI: 1.02–4.67, P \u3c 0.05). Survival with a good neurological outcome increased from 24.8 to 35.3%, but was not statistically significant. Target chest compression rate increased from 30.4% of patients in P1 to 65.6% in P2, adjusted odds ratios 4.27 (95% CI: 1.72–11.12, P = 0.002), and target depth increased from 23.2% in P1 to 46.9% in P2, adjusted odds ratios 2.92 (95% CI: 1.16–7.54, P = 0.024). Conclusions: After Advanced Resuscitation Training implementation, there were significant improvements in cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality and rates of return of spontaneous circulation and survival to discharge