EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WORKERS
Injury Data
To collect data on nonfatal injuries among EMS workers, NIOSH uses the occupational supplement to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS-Work)—a national probability-based sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. Prior to 2015, both injuries and illnesses were captured in NEISS-Work, although illnesses were estimated to represent less than 10% of all cases.
- EMS worker injuries treated in the participating hospitals are identified from admissions information and emergency department chart review by a records abstractor in each hospital.
- A workers’ compensation claim is not required for inclusion.
- National injury estimates are calculated by summing the statistical weights assigned to each case treated in one of the NEISS-Work hospitals.
Use the following tabs to view that year’s EMS worker injury data:
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury, the majority of workers were men. More than half of the injured EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 16,900 | (9,200, 24,700) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 9,900 | (4,900, 14,900) | 59 |
| Female | 7,000 | (3,800, 10,200) | 41 |
| Age group (in yrs) | |||
| <25 | 2,800 | (1,500, 4,000) | 16 |
| 25-34 | 7,000b | (2,700, 11,300) | 41 |
| 35-44 | 3,800b | (1,500, 6,100) | 22 |
| >44 | 3,300 | (1,800, 4,900) | 20 |
a Numbers do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the hand and upper trunk. The greatest portion of injuries involved overexertions and bodily reactions. The second most common injury event was violence. For all of the EMS injuries, the most common sources which directly produced the injury were the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 16,900 | (9,200, 24,700) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 4,000 | (1,900, 6,200) | 24 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 2,600 | (1,000, 4,100) | 15 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Leg, including foot | 3,200b | (1,000, 5,300) | 19 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 3,000 | (1,300, 4,700) | 18 |
| Arm | 2,200 | (1,000, 3,500) | 13 |
| Lower trunk | 2,200b | (700, 3,600) | 13 |
| Hand & finger | 1,900 | (1,000, 2,800) | 11 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction (7) | 5,200b | (2,000, 8,400) | 31 |
| Violence (1) | 3,000 | (1,300, 4,700) | 18 |
| Harmful exposures (5) | 2,500 | (1,300, 3,600) | 15 |
| Transportation incidents | 2,500b | (800, 4,300) | 15 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (6) | 2,100 | (1,100, 3,100) | 12 |
| Falls, slips, trips (4) | 1,600b | (500, 2,700) | 10 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 9,000 | (4,800, 13,300) | 53 |
| Vehicles (8) | 4,100 | (1,800, 6,300) | 24 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 1,800 | (800, 2,900) | 11 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 16,600 | (9,000, 24,300) | 98 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: More than one-third of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s upper trunk. Many sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and various other injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains but were not reportable in 2020.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total sprain and strain injuries | 4,000 | (1,900, 6,200) | 24 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower and upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 1,800 | (800, 2,700) | 44 |
| Lower extremity | 1,600b | (400, 2,800) | 40 |
| Eventb | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction | 2,300c | (800, 3,800) | 56 |
| Sourceb | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, and mineralsd | 2,300c | (800, 3,700) | 57 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
c This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance. Note: These data were updated on March 11, 2022 due to an analysis error.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury, the majority of workers were men. About half of the injured EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 17,500 | (9,600, 25,300) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 10,600 | (5,500, 15,600) | 61 |
| Female | 6,900 | (3,400, 10,300) | 39 |
| Age group (in yrs) | |||
| <25 | 1,900 | (900, 3,000) | 11 |
| 25-34 | 7,100 | (3,300, 11,000) | 41 |
| 35-44 | 4,500 | (2,000, 7,100) | 26 |
| >44 | 3,900 | (2,200, 5,600) | 22 |
a Numbers do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the hand and upper trunk. The greatest portion of injuries involved overexertions and bodily reactions. The second most common injury event was violence. For all of the EMS injuries, the most common sources which directly produced the injury were the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 17,500 | (9,600, 25,300) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 3,600b | (1,400, 5,800) | 21 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 3,400 | (1,300, 5,400) | 19 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Hand & finger | 3,000 | (1,700, 4,200) | 17 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 2,900b | (1,100, 4,700) | 17 |
| Lower trunk | 2,800 | (1,400, 4,300) | 16 |
| Leg, including foot | 2,400 | (1,000, 3,700) | 13 |
| Arm | 2,200b | (800, 3,600) | 13 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction (7) | 4,600 | (2,100, 7,100) | 27 |
| Violence (1) | 3,600 | (1,600, 5,500) | 20 |
| Harmful exposures (5) | 3,300 | (1,600, 4,900) | 19 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (6) | 2,700 | (1,200, 4,200) | 16 |
| Falls, slips, trips (4) | 2,000 | (900, 3,100) | 12 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 10,200 | (5,300, 15,000) | 58 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 2,000b | (600, 3,300) | 11 |
| Structures and surfaces (6) | 1,900b | (700, 3,100) | 11 |
| Vehicles (8) | 1,800 | (800, 2,900) | 11 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 17,000 | (9,000, 24,800) | 97 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: More than one-third of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s upper trunk. Many sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and various other injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains but were not reportable in 2019. Almost 50% of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with another person.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total sprain and strain injuries | 3,600c | (1,400, 5,800) | 21 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower and upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 2,300 | (1,000, 3,600) | 63 |
| Eventb | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction | 2,600c | (1,000, 4,100) | 70 |
| Sourceb | |||
| Person other than the worker (57) | 2,000c | (700, 3,300) | 56 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
c This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance. Note: These data were updated on March 11, 2022 due to an analysis error.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury, the majority of workers were men. More than half of the injured EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 19,800 | (9,600, 30,100) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 12,300 | (5,900, 18,800) | 62 |
| Female | 7,500 | (3,300, 11,700) | 38 |
| Age group (in yrs) | |||
| <25 | 2,700 | (1,200, 4,100) | 14 |
| 25-34 | 8,400b | (2,300, 14,600) | 43 |
| 35-44 | 5,300 | (2,700, 7,800) | 26 |
| >44 | 3,500 | (1,800, 5,100) | 17 |
a Numbers do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the upper trunk and leg. The greatest portion of injuries involved overexertions and bodily reactions. The second most common injury event was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., body fluids). For all of the EMS injuries, the most common sources which directly produced the injury were the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 19,800 | (9,600, 30,100) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 5,800b | (1,700, 9,800) | 29 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 2,300 | (1,100, 3,600) | 12 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 3,200b | (500, 5,900) | 16 |
| Leg, including foot | 3,200 | (1,500, 4,800) | 16 |
| Hand & finger | 2,900 | (1,600, 4,100) | 15 |
| Lower trunk | 2,700b | (1,100, 4,400) | 14 |
| Arm | 1,700b | (400, 3,000) | 9 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction (7) | 5,500b | (1,700, 9,200) | 28 |
| Harmful exposures (5) | 4,700 | (2,500, 6,900) | 23 |
| Violence (1) | 3,300b | (200, 6,400) | 17 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (6) | 2,600 | (1,500, 3,800) | 13 |
| Transportation incidents (2) | 2,200b | (700, 3,600) | 11 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 12,300b | (4,700, 19,900) | 62 |
| Vehicles (8) | 3,400 | (1,700, 5,200) | 17 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 19,500 | (9,200, 29,700) | 98 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk. Many sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and various other injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total sprain and strain injuries | 5,800b | (1,700, 9,800) | 29 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 1,600b | (600, 2,600) | 28 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction | 3,800b | (900, 6,600) | 65 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Person, plants, animals, and mineralsd | 3,700b | (600, 6,700) | 63 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury, the majority of workers were men. More than half of the injured EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries | 95% confidence interval | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21,200 | (12,800, 29,700) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 14,800 | (8,900, 20,600) | 70 |
| Female | 6,500 | (3,300, 9,600) | 30 |
| Age group (in yrs) | |||
| <25 | 3,700 | (1,800, 5,500) | 17 |
| 25-34 | 9,300 | (4,900, 13,600) | 44 |
| 35-44 | 4,500 | (2,600, 6,300) | 21 |
| >44 | 3,800 | (2,400, 5,200) | 18 |
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the hands and fingers and upper trunk. The greatest portion of injuries involved overexertions and bodily reactions. About 40% of the overexertion and bodily reaction events were specifically identified as overexertion during lifting. The second most common event related to injuries was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., body fluids). For all of the EMS injuries, the most common sources which directly produced the injury were the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21,200 | (12,800, 29,700) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 5,700 | (3,400, 8,100) | 27 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 2,700b | (900, 4,600) | 13 |
| Puncture and laceration | 1,600 | (700, 2,500) | 8 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Hand & finger | 4,100 | (2,500, 5,700) | 19 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 3,500 | (1,800, 5,200) | 17 |
| Lower trunk | 3,100 | (2,000, 4,300) | 15 |
| Leg, including foot | 3,100 | (1,700, 4,600) | 15 |
| Arm | 2,200b | (800, 3,500) | 10 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction (7) | 5,800 | (3,500, 8,100) | 27 |
| Harmful exposures (5) | 5,500 | (3,300, 6,200) | 26 |
| Violence (1) | 3,500b | (800, 5,800) | 17 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (6) | 2,200 | (1,100, 3,300) | 10 |
| Falls, slips, trips (4) | 1,700b | (700, 2,700) | 8 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 12,000 | (6,300, 17,700) | 57 |
| Vehicles (8) | 4,000 | (2,200, 5,800) | 19 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 2,300 | (1,200, 3,400) | 11 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 21,000 | (12,600, 29,600) | 99 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk. Many sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and various other injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. Almost 40% of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 5,800 | (3,500, 8,100) | 27 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 1,800 | (1,000, 2,600) | 32 |
| Lower extremity | 1,800 | (900, 2,700) | 32 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 1,400 | (600, 2,200) | 24 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction | 3,900 | (2,100, 5,700) | 69 |
| Sourceb | |||
| Patient (574) | 2,100 | (1,100, 3,200) | 37 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury, the majority of workers were men. Just over half of the injured EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21,900 | (13,900, 29,800) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 13,900 | (8,100, 19,700) | 64 |
| Female | 8,000 | (4,900, 11,000) | 36 |
| Age group (in yrs) | |||
| <25 | 3,000 | (1,500, 4,600) | 14 |
| 25-34 | 8,500 | (4,700, 12,200) | 39 |
| 35-44 | 5,600 | (3,100, 8,100) | 26 |
| >44 | 4,800 | (2,900, 6,700) | 22 |
a Percentages do not add to 100 because of rounding.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the upper trunk and hands and fingers. The greatest portion of injuries involved overexertions and bodily reactions. More than 40% of the overexertion and bodily reaction events were specifically identified as overexertion during lifting. The second most common event related to injuries was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., body fluids). For all of the EMS injuries, the most common sources which directly produced the injury were the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21,900 | (13,900, 29,800) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 7,500 | (4,800, 10,100) | 34 |
| Puncture and laceration | 2,400b | (500, 4,200) | 11 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 1,800 | (800, 2,800) | 8 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 4,500 | (2,100, 7,000) | 21 |
| Lower trunk | 3,900 | (1,900, 5,900) | 18 |
| Leg, including foot | 3,300 | (1,900, 4,800) | 15 |
| Hand & finger | 3,100 | (1,700, 4,400) | 14 |
| Arm | 2,200 | (1,000, 3,400) | 10 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction (7) | 8,000 | (4,900, 11,100) | 36 |
| Harmful exposures (5) | 4,200 | (2,500, 6,200) | 19 |
| Violence (1) | 3,500b | (1,200, 5,800) | 16 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (6) | 2,500 | (1,500, 3,500) | 11 |
| Falls, slips, trips (4) | 1,800b | (700, 3,000) | 8 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 13,500 | (7,900, 19,200) | 62 |
| Vehicles (8) | 2,600 | (1,400, 3,800) | 12 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 2,300 | (1,100, 3,500) | 11 |
| Structures & surfaces (6) | 1,400 | (700, 2,200) | 7 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 21,700 | (13,800, 29,600) | 99 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk. Many sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and various other injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. Almost 40% of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 7,500 | (4,800, 10,100) | 34 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 2,600 | (1,300, 3,900) | 35 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 2,500b | (1,000, 3,900) | 33 |
| Lower extremity | 1,800 | (1,000, 2,600) | 24 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction | 5,400 | (3,200, 7,600) | 72 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Patient (574) | 3,000 | (1,500, 4,500) | 40 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury, the majority of workers were men. Just over half of the injured EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 18,000 | (10,100, 25,900) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 11,900 | (6,200, 17,500) | 66 |
| Female | 6,100 | (3,400, 8,900) | 34 |
| Age group (in yrs) | |||
| <25 | 3,300 | (1,800, 4,800) | 18 |
| 25-34 | 6,400 | (2,600, 10,200) | 35 |
| 35-44 | 4,400 | (2,300, 6,500) | 24 |
| >44 | 3,900 | (2,400, 5,500) | 22 |
a Percentages do not add to 100 because of rounding.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the upper trunk and hands and fingers. The greatest portion of injuries involved overexertions and bodily reactions. More than 40% of the overexertion and bodily reaction events were specifically identified as overexertion during lifting. The second most common event related to injuries was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., body fluids). For all of the EMS injuries, the most common sources which directly produced the injury were the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 18,000 | (10,100, 25,900) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 5,700 | (2,900, 8,500) | 32 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 3,200b | (700, 5,600) | 18 |
| Puncture and laceration | 2,400 | (1,100, 3,700) | 13 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Hand & finger | 3,700 | (2,000, 5,500) | 21 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 3,300 | (1,600, 4,900) | 18 |
| Leg, including foot | 2,900 | (1,500, 4,400) | 16 |
| Lower trunk | 2,000 | (900, 3,000) | 11 |
| Arm | 2,000b | (400, 3,700) | 11 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction (7) | 5,700 | (3,000, 8,300) | 31 |
| Harmful exposures (5) | 3,600 | (2,100, 5,100) | 20 |
| Violence (1)b | 3,200b | (900, 5,400) | 18 |
| Falls, slips, trips (4) | 2,600 | (1,100, 4,200) | 15 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (6) | 2,000b | (800, 3,200) | 11 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 11,500 | (6,400, 16,600) | 64 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 2,100b | (900, 3,300) | 12 |
| Structures & surfaces (6) | 1,900 | (900, 2,800) | 10 |
| Vehicles (8) | 1,800 | (700, 3,000) | 10 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 17,800 | (10,000, 25,700) | 99 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk. Many sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and various other injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. Almost 40% of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuriesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 5,700 | (2,900, 8,500) | 32 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 1,600b | (400, 2,900) | 29 |
| Lower extremity | 1,500 | (700, 2,300) | 26 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction | 4,000 | (2,000, 5,900) | 69 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Patient (574) | 2,200b | (800, 3,700) | 39 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries and illnesses that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury or illness, the majority of workers were men. Just over half of the injured/ill EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21,300 | (11,600, 31,000) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 14,700 | (7,600, 21,800) | 69 |
| Female | 6,600 | (3,700, 9,500) | 31 |
| Age group (in yrs) | |||
| <25 | 3,200 | (1,600, 4,700) | 15 |
| 25-34 | 8,200 | (3,900, 12,500) | 39 |
| 35-44 | 5,900 | (3,200, 8,600) | 28 |
| >44 | 4,100 | (1,900, 6,200) | 19 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries and illnesses, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the upper and lower trunk, and hands and fingers. The greatest portion of injuries/illnesses involved overexertions and bodily reactions. About half of the overexertion and bodily reaction events were specifically identified as overexertion during lifting. The second most common event related to injuries and illnesses was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., body fluids). For all of the EMS injuries and illnesses, the most common sources which directly produced the injury or illness were the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21,300 | (11,600, 31,000) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 7,100 | (3,800, 10,500) | 34 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 3,000 | (1,400, 4,700) | 14 |
| Puncture and laceration | 1,800 | (900, 2,600) | 8 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 5,000 | (2,600, 7,400) | 24 |
| Hand & finger | 3,800 | (1,700, 5,900) | 18 |
| Lower trunk | 3,200b | (1,100, 5,300) | 15 |
| Leg, including foot | 3,100 | (1,600, 4,500) | 14 |
| Arm | 2,400b | (800, 4,000) | 11 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction (7) | 7,400 | (3,300, 11,600) | 35 |
| Harmful exposures (5) | 4,000 | (2,500, 5,500) | 19 |
| Falls, slips, trips (4) | 3,400 | (1,800, 5,000) | 16 |
| Violence (1)b | 2,600b | (500, 4,600) | 12 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (6) | 2,400b | (900, 3,800) | 11 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 12,300 | (6,500, 18,100) | 58 |
| Structures & surfaces (6) | 3,000 | (1,300, 4,700) | 14 |
| Vehicles (8) | 2,900 | (1,600, 4,300) | 14 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 2,200b | (500, 3,900) | 10 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 21,100 | (11,400, 30,800) | 99 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk. Many sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and various other injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. More than half of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 7,100 | (3,800, 10,500) | 34 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 2,800 | (1,400, 4,200) | 39 |
| Lower trunk | 1,900b | (600, 3,300) | 27 |
| Lower extremity | 1,700 | (800, 2,700) | 24 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction | 4,800 | (2,500, 7,000) | 67 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Patient (574) | 3,700 | (1,800, 5,500) | 51 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries and illnesses that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury or illness, the majority of workers were men. Among men and women, just over half of the injured/ill EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 20,200 | (12,200, 28,300) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 13,900 | (8,200, 19,700) | 69 |
| Female | 6,300 | (3,600, 9,000) | 31 |
| Age group (in yrs) | |||
| <25 | 3,600 | (1,700, 5,400) | 18 |
| 25-34 | 7,600 | (4,300, 10,900) | 38 |
| 35-44 | 4,800 | (2,800, 6,700) | 24 |
| >44 | 4,300 | (2,300, 6,300) | 21 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries and illnesses, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the upper and lower trunk and hands and fingers. The greatest portion of injuries/illnesses involved overexertion and bodily reactions. More than half of the overexertion and bodily reaction events were specifically identified as overexertion during lifting. The second most common event related to injuries and illnesses was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., blood). Among all of the injuries and illnesses, the most common sources which directly produced the injury or illness involved the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 20,200 | (12,200, 28,300) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 6,800 | (4,200, 9,400) | 34 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 2,700b | (1,000, 4,300) | 13 |
| Puncture and laceration | 1,900 | (1,000, 2,800) | 9 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 3,900 | (2,200, 5,600) | 19 |
| Hand & finger | 3,900 | (1,900, 5,800) | 19 |
| Lower trunk | 3,600 | (1,900, 5,200) | 18 |
| Leg, including foot | 2,300 | (1,300, 3,400) | 12 |
| Arm | 1,700 | (800, 2,500) | 8 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction (7) | 6,500 | (3,800, 9,100) | 32 |
| Harmful exposures (5) | 4,000 | (1,900, 6,100) | 20 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (6) | 3,100 | (1,300, 4,900) | 15 |
| Falls, slips, trips (4) | 2,200 | (1,300, 3,100) | 11 |
| Transportation incidents (2) | 2,200 | (1,200, 3,300) | 11 |
| Violence (1) | 2,100b | (800, 3,300) | 10 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 10,700 | (6,300, 15,100) | 53 |
| Vehicles (8) | 3,000 | (1,700, 4,300) | 15 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 2,700 | (1,500, 3,900) | 13 |
| Structures & surfaces (6) | 2,100 | (1,000, 3,200) | 10 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 20,000 | (12,200, 27,700) | 99 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. Use this number with caution as the higher variance indicates it is less stable than other reported estimates.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk. Many sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and other kinds of injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. More than one-third of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 6,800 | (4,200, 9,400) | 34 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 2,300 | (1,000, 3,600) | 34 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 2,200 | (1,300, 3,100) | 33 |
| Eventb | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction | 4,500 | (2,600, 6,400) | 66 |
| Sourceb | |||
| Patient (574) | 2,600 | (1,500, 3,800) | 39 |
a Numbers and percentages do not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries and illnesses that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury or illness, the majority of workers were men. Among men and women, just over half of the injured/ill EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries/illnesses | 95% confidence interval | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 24,200 | (12,800, 35,600) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 15,900 | (7,700, 24,100) | 66 |
| Female | 8,300 | (4,400, 12,200) | 34 |
| Age group (in yrs) | |||
| <25 | 5,600a | (2,000, 9,200) | 23 |
| 25-34 | 7,700 | (3,600, 11,700) | 32 |
| 35-44 | 5,800 | (2,900, 8,800) | 24 |
| >44 | 5,100 | (2,800, 7,400) | 21 |
a This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries and illnesses, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the lower and upper trunk. The greatest portion of injuries/illnesses involved bodily reactions and exertion. Almost half of the overexertion and bodily reaction events were specifically identified as overexertion during lifting. The second most common event related to injuries and illnesses was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., blood). Among all of the injuries and illnesses, the most common sources which directly produced the injury or illness involved the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 24,200 | (12,800, 35,600) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 8,800 | (3,900, 13,700) | 37 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 4,000b | (1,400, 6,500) | 13 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 4,900b | (1,300, 8,700) | 20 |
| Lower trunk | 4,000 | (2,100, 5,900) | 17 |
| Leg, including foot | 3,600 | (1,700, 5,600) | 15 |
| Hand & finger | 3,500 | (1,800, 5,300) | 15 |
| Arm | 2,200b | (500, 3,800) | 9 |
| Eventc | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction (7) | 8,100 | (3,500, 12,800) | 34 |
| Harmful exposures (5) | 5,400b | (1,900, 8,800) | 22 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (6) | 3,000 | (1,500, 4,500) | 12 |
| Falls, slips, trips (4) | 2,900 | (1,200, 4,500) | 12 |
| Violence (1) | 2,400b | (400, 4,500) | 10 |
| Transportation incidents (2) | 2,300b | (600, 4,000) | 9 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 12,500 | (6,500, 18,500) | 52 |
| Vehicles (8) | 4,000b | (1,500, 6,500) | 17 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 2,600b | (700, 4,500) | 11 |
| Structures & surfaces (6) | 2,500 | (1,200, 3,900) | 11 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 23,800 | (12,600, 35,100) | 99 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk. Most sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and other kinds of injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. One-third of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 8,800 | (3,900, 13,700) | 100 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 2,400 | (1,300, 3,500) | 27 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 3,900b | (1,200, 6,600) | 44 |
| Event | |||
| Overexertion & bodily reaction | 6,100b | (2,300, 9,900) | 69 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Patient (574) | 2,900b | (1,000, 4,700) | 32 |
| Stretchers, backboards, wheeled cots, stair chairs (755) | 1,900b | (200, 3,600) | 21 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 2.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries and illnesses that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury or illness, the majority of workers were men. Among men and women, just over half of the injured/ill EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries/illnesses | 95% confidence interval | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 27,800 | (15,200, 40,500) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 17,900 | (9,700, 26,000) | 64 |
| Female | 9,900 | (5,200, 14,700) | 36 |
| Age group (in yrs)a | |||
| <25 | 4,600 | (2,000, 7,300) | 17 |
| 25-34 | 10,100 | (5,200, 15,000) | 36 |
| 35-44 | 7,200b | (2,400, 11,900) | 26 |
| >44 | 6,000 | (2,700, 9,200) | 21 |
a The numbers may not sum to the total due to rounding.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries and illnesses, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the lower and upper trunk. The greatest portion of injuries/illnesses involved bodily reactions and exertion. The bodily reactions and exertions frequently resulted from a single incident of free bodily motion which imposed stress or strain on some part of the body or from excessive physical effort. The second most common event related to injuries and illnesses was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., blood). Among all of the injuries and illnesses, the most common sources which directly produced the injury or illness involved the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 27,800 | (15,200, 40,500) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 11,300 | (4,800, 17,800) | 41 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 4,100 | (1,800, 6,400) | 15 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 5,800 | (2,400, 9,300) | 21 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 5,700 | (2,800, 8,600) | 20 |
| Hand & finger | 3,200 | (1,600, 4,900) | 12 |
| Arm | 3,000 | (1,500, 4,600) | 11 |
| Leg, including foot | 2,800b | (700, 4,900) | 10 |
| Eventc | |||
| Bodily reaction & exertion (2) | 10,500 | (4,200, 16,900) | 38 |
| Harmful exposures (3) | 6,400 | (3,000, 9,800) | 23 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (0) | 3,000 | (1,400, 4,600) | 11 |
| Falls (1) | 2,800 | (1,700, 4,000) | 10 |
| Transportation incidents (4) | 2,400 | (1,100, 3,600) | 9 |
| Assaults & violent acts (6) | 2,100b | (500, 3,700) | 7 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 14,200 | (6,500, 22,000) | 51 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 3,700 | (1,700, 5,700) | 13 |
| Vehicles (8) | 3,500 | (1,800, 5,200) | 13 |
| Structures & surfaces (6) | 2,500 | (1,300, 3,800) | 9 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 27,100 | (14,700, 39,600) | 98 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 1.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk, although lower extremity sprains or strains were also common. Most sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and other kinds of injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. Almost half of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11,300 | (4,800, 17,800) | 100 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 4,000b | (1,300, 6,600) | 35 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 3,900 | (1,600, 6,200) | 34 |
| Lower extremity | 1,900b | (300, 3,400) | 17 |
| Event | |||
| Bodily reaction & exertion | 8,400 | (3,300, 13,500) | 74 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Healthcare patient or resident of a healthcare facility (573) | 5,200b | (1,600, 8,800) | 46 |
| Bodily motions/position of injured worker (562) | 1,700 | (800, 2,700) | 15 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 1.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries and illnesses that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1:Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury or illness, the majority of workers were men. Among men and women, the majority of injured/ill EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries/illnesses | 95% confidence interval | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 23,500 | (12,700, 34,200) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 16,000 | (8,900, 23,000) | 68 |
| Female | 7,500 | (3,600, 11,400) | 32 |
| Age group (in yrs)a | |||
| <25 | 4,500 | (1,900, 7,000) | 19 |
| 25-34 | 8,700 | (3,800, 13,600) | 37 |
| 35-44 | 6,200 | (2,900, 9,500) | 26 |
| >44 | 4,100 | (2,300, 5,900) | 18 |
a The numbers may not sum to the total due to rounding.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries and illnesses, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the trunk, hand, or leg. The greatest portion of injuries/illnesses involved bodily reactions and exertion. The bodily reactions and exertions frequently resulted from a single incident of free bodily motion which imposed stress or strain on some part of the body or from excessive physical effort. The second most common event related to injuries and illnesses was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., blood). Among all of the injuries and illnesses, the most common sources which directly produced the injury or illness involved the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 23,500 | (12,700, 34,200) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 9,800 | (5,100, 14,400) | 42 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 3,800b | (1,000, 6,600) | 16 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 4,800 | (2,300, 7,400) | 21 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 4,600 | (1,900, 7,300) | 19 |
| Hand & finger | 4,400 | (1,700, 7,100) | 19 |
| Leg, including foot | 3,500 | (1,600, 5,300) | 15 |
| Arm | 2,000b | (600, 3,500) | 9 |
| Eventc | |||
| Bodily reaction & exertion (2) | 9,600 | (4,600, 14,600) | 41 |
| Harmful exposures (3) | 4,000 | (1,700, 6,400) | 17 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (0) | 3,400 | (1,600, 5,300) | 15 |
| Assaults & violent acts (6) | 2,200b | (700, 3,800) | 10 |
| Transportation incidents (4) | 2,000 | (800, 3,200) | 8 |
| Falls (1) | 1,900 | (800, 3,000) | 8 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 11,300 | (5,700, 16,800) | 48 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 4,100b | (1,400, 6,800) | 17 |
| Vehicles (8) | 3,100 | (1,600, 4,600) | 13 |
| Structures & surfaces (6) | 1,900 | (800, 3,000) | 8 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 23,000 | (12,200, 33,700) | 98 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 1.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk, although lower extremity sprains or strains were also common. Most sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and other kinds of injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. Almost half of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 9,800 | (5,100, 14,400) | 100 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 3,800 | (1,600, 6,000) | 39 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 3,200b | (1,000, 5,300) | 33 |
| Lower extremity | 2,000 | (900, 3,100) | 20 |
| Event | |||
| Bodily reaction & exertion | 7,600 | (3,600, 11,500) | 78 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Healthcare patient or resident of a healthcare facility (573) | 4,300 | (1,700, 6,800) | 44 |
| Bodily motions/position of injured worker (562) | 1,900 | (900, 2,900) | 19 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 1.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries and illnesses that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1:Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury or illness, the majority of workers were men. Among men and women, the majority of injured/ill EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries/illnesses | 95% confidence interval | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 23,300 | (16,100, 30,500) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 13,300 | (9,600, 17,100) | 57 |
| Female | 10,000 | (5,500, 14,400) | 43 |
| Age group (in yrs)a | |||
| <25 | 5,200 | (2,100, 8,300) | 22 |
| 25-34 | 9,000 | (6,800, 11,300) | 29 |
| 35-44 | 4,800 | (3,000, 6,600) | 21 |
| >44 | 4,200 | (2,300, 6,100) | 18 |
a The numbers may not sum to the total due to rounding.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries and illnesses, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the trunk, hand, and leg. The greatest portion of injuries/illnesses involved bodily reactions and exertions. The bodily reactions and exertions frequently resulted from a single incident of free bodily motion which imposed stress or strain on some part of the body or from excessive physical effort. The second most common event related to injuries and illnesses was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., blood). Among all of the injuries and illnesses, the most common sources which directly produced the injury or illness involved the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 23,300 | (16,100, 30,500) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 8,900 | (5,300, 12,400) | 38 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 4,400 | (2,300, 6,500) | 19 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Leg, including foot | 4,000 | (2,200, 5,900) | 17 |
| Lower trunk | 4,000 | (2,400, 5,600) | 17 |
| Upper trunk | 4,700 | (2,800, 6,700) | 20 |
| Hand & finger | 4,200 | (2,800, 6,700) | 18 |
| Arm | 2,100 | (1,100, 3,200) | 9 |
| Eventb | |||
| Bodily reaction & exertion (2) | 8,700 | (5,900, 11,600) | 37 |
| Harmful exposures (3) | 4,400 | (2,600, 6,200) | 19 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (0) | 3,700 | (2,300, 5,200) | 16 |
| Falls (1) | 2,400 | (800, 4,000) | 10 |
| Transportation incidents (4) | 1,600 | (700, 2,600) | 7 |
| Assaults & violent acts (6) | 1,800c | (600, 3,000) | 8 |
| Sourceb | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 13,200 | (9,100, 17,300) | 57 |
| Vehicles (8) | 2,900 | (1,500, 4,200) | 12 |
| Structures & surfaces (6) | 2,500 | (1,300, 3,600) | 11 |
| Tools, instruments, and equipment (7) | 2,400 | (1,400, 3,500) | 10 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 23,100 | (16,000, 30,200) | 99 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 1.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
c This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk, although lower extremity sprains or strains were also common. Most sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and other kinds of injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. More than one third of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 8,900 | (5,300, 12,400) | 100 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 2,600 | (1,300, 4,000) | 30 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 2,800 | (1,500, 4,000) | 31 |
| Lower extremity | 2,300b | (800, 3,900) | 26 |
| Event | |||
| Bodily reaction & exertion | 6,900 | (4,200, 9,600) | 78 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Healthcare patient or resident of a healthcare facility (573) | 3,300 | (1,700, 5,000) | 37 |
| Bodily motions/position of injured worker (562) | 2,400 | (1,100, 3,600) | 27 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 1.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov
The NEISS-Work data in the tables below include all nonfatal injuries and illnesses that occurred during the performance of paid or volunteer EMS duties. “Firefighters” were included when they were injured while performing EMS duties such as patient care, patient transport, patient rescue, or working in an ambulance.
Table 1: Among EMS workers treated in emergency departments (EDs) for an occupational injury or illness, the majority of workers were men. Among men and women, the majority of injured/ill EMS workers were less than 35 years of age.
| Number of injuries/illnesses | 95% confidence interval | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21,500 | (14,600, 28,400) | 100 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 12,800 | (8,300, 17,300) | 60 |
| Female | 8,700 | (5,600, 11,800) | 40 |
| Age group (in yrs)a | |||
| <25 | 3,100b | (900, 5,300) | 14 |
| 25-34 | 8,600 | (5,800, 11,500) | 40 |
| 35-44 | 6,000 | (3,500, 8,500) | 28 |
| >44 | 3,700 | (2,000, 5,500) | 17 |
a The numbers may not sum to the total due to rounding.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
Table 2: Among EMS worker injuries and illnesses, sprains and strains were the most common diagnosis. Most injuries affected the leg and lower trunk. The greatest portion of injuries/illnesses involved bodily reactions and exertion. The bodily reactions and exertions frequently resulted from a single incident of free bodily motion which imposed stress or strain on some part of the body or from excessive physical effort. The second most common event related to injuries and illnesses was exposures to harmful substances such as potentially infectious materials (e.g., blood). Among all of the injuries and illnesses, the most common sources which directly produced the injury or illness involved the EMS worker themselves or another person such as a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 21,500 | (14,600, 28,400) | 100 |
| Diagnosis | |||
| Sprains & strains | 9,100 | (5,500, 12,700) | 42 |
| Contusions/abrasions | 3,200 | (1,700, 4,700) | 15 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Leg, including foot | 4,300 | (2,400, 6,300) | 20 |
| Lower trunk | 4,200 | (2,200, 6,100) | 19 |
| Upper trunk | 3,300b | (1,100, 5,600) | 16 |
| Hand & finger | 2,700 | (1,600, 3,800) | 12 |
| Arm | 2,200 | (1,300, 3,100) | 10 |
| Eventc | |||
| Bodily reaction & exertion (2) | 8,800 | (5,100, 12,600) | 41 |
| Harmful exposures (3) | 4,100 | (2,300, 5,800) | 19 |
| Contact with objects & equipment (0) | 3,000 | (1,700, 4,300) | 14 |
| Falls (1) | 2,500 | (1,300, 3,600) | 11 |
| Assaults & violent acts (6) | 2,100b | (700, 3,500) | 10 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Persons, plants, animals, & minerals (5)d | 12,500 | (7,900, 17,100) | 58 |
| Harmful exposures (3) | 2,900 | (1,500, 4,200) | 13 |
| Structures & surfaces (6) | 2,100 | (1,000, 3,300) | 10 |
| Discharge disposition from ED | |||
| Treated and released | 21,300 | (14,500, 28,100) | 99 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 1.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent major division codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
d The majority of these injuries involved other people or bodily motion of the injured worker themselves.
Table 3: The majority of sprain and strain injuries involved the EMS worker’s trunk, although lower extremity sprains or strains were also common. Most sprains and strains, but not all, were noted in connection with bodily reactions or exertion. Falls and other kinds of injury events were occasionally related to sprains or strains. More than one third of all sprain and strain injuries were related to interactions with a patient.
| Number of injuries/illnessesa | 95% confidence interval | Percenta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 9,100 | (5,500, 12,700) | 100 |
| Body part affected | |||
| Lower trunk | 3,300 | (1,300, 5,300) | 36 |
| Upper trunk, inc. neck & shoulder | 2,400b | (700, 4,100) | 27 |
| Lower extremity | 2,400 | (1,200, 3,500) | 26 |
| Event | |||
| Bodily reaction & exertion | 7,200 | (4,100, 10,400) | 80 |
| Sourcec | |||
| Healthcare patient or resident of a healthcare facility (573) | 3,400 | (1,600, 5,300) | 38 |
| Bodily motions/position of injured worker (562) | 2,100 | (1,100, 3,100) | 23 |
a Numbers and percentages might not add to totals or 100 because of rounding and omission of data not meeting NEISS-Work reporting requirements.
b This estimate is provided for information only as the variance does not meet NEISS-Work reporting requirements. The higher variance means it is less stable than other reported estimates. Use this number with caution.
c Events and sources are coded using Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) (version 1.01). The numbers in parentheses after each category represent codes in the OIICS hierarchical coding structure.
For questions about the NEISS-Work data specific to EMS workers, please contact:
Audrey Reichard, MPH
Epidemiologist
(304)285-6019
AReichard@cdc.gov