Improving Paramedic Student Lifting and Fitness

Current Literature

Fass, B. (2018). EMS injuries are predictable and preventable. EMS World. Retrieved from https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/emsworld/article/220174/ems-injuries-are-predictable-and-preventable

Maguire, B.J., O'Meara, P.F., Brightwell, R.F., O'Neill, B.J. and Fitzgerald, G.J. (2014), Occupational injury risk among Australian paramedics: an analysis of national data. Medical Journal of Australia, 200: 477-480. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja13.10941

Sheridan, S. (2019). Paramedic health status, fitness and physical tasks: A review of the literature. Australasian Journal of Paramedicine, 16. https://doi.org/10.33151/ajp.16.580

Telama, R., Yang, X., Viikari, J., Välimäki, I., Wanne, O., & Raitakari, O. (2005). Physical activity from childhood to adulthood: a 21-year tracking study. American journal of preventive medicine, 28(3), 267–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2004.12.003

Stein, C., Sibanda, T. (2016). Burnout among paramedic students at a university in Johannesburg, South Africa. African Journal of Health Professions Education, 8.

Personal and Professional Experience

Paramedic

I have seen many of my peers get injured due to poor lifting and poor fitness status

Educator

Through my experiences as an educator, I have found that many paramedics/students have a lack of knowledge when it comes to lifting, health, and personal fitness

Student

I have seen many students fail school due to poor fitness ability and poor lifting mechanics

Prior Course Work

PME861

I completed a change management project that had the same goal of this, just completed through the perspective of a change report, and not a capstone project

PME894

I learned about qualitative/quantitative strategies that will aid me in completing this capstone

PME810

I learned about curriculum designs and philosophies that underpin my rationale for this project - that is to promote more holistic education in Paramedicine

PME803

I learned about potential leadership/follower frameworks I find will be especially important from a solution implementation perspective.

Other Resources

College Instructors

Provide me information regarding the colleges current practices, problems they have run into, and possible solutions

College Students

The problem of practice revolves around the students as they are what make up future Paramedics

Survey Data

Provided by the college, this survey includes data on students current perceptions of their own abilities, their current knowledge on this topic and their perceptions of the colleges current training and policies

Online Media

Various reports on paramedic injury, burnout and PTSD - which we have seen in the literature can improve with improved fitness, health and exercise