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EMS Workers Face Higher Risk of Work Injuries

For EMS drivers and medical technicians, the danger is part of the job. Houston emergency medical workers experience more injuries related to work than those in many other fields, according to statistics provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor.

About 450 of 10,000 emergency medical workers who work full time experienced non-fatal illnesses or injuries in 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor. The injury suffered in most cases was back injury. Injured workers would be wise to contact Houston personal injury attorneys to receive compensation for pain and loss of work.

The rate of incidence for injuries on the job is 4.5% for EMS workers, as compared to 1.1% in firefighters, 1.2% for registered nurses, and 3.2% for those working in law enforcement. Any of those injured in the Houston, TX area can call Houston personal injury attorneys Kirkendall Dwyer LLP to represent them for these on-the-job injuries.

Houston EMS workers do a great deal of bending, kneeling, and lifting while they care for patients. This may cause repetitive use injury. They stand a chance of being exposed to infectious diseases like AIDS and hepatitis B. EMTs may also be accosted by combative or mentally unstable patients, who may cause injury.

In some large cities, EMS workers even wear bulletproof vests. Medical workers who deal in emergencies encounter multiple threats. If injured, they may call Houston personal injury attorneys to receive compensation for their injuries.

Despite the many risks, the employment of providers for emergency medical services is growing at a steady rate since 2010, and 33% growth is expected through 2020, again according to statistics from the Bureau of Labor.  Emergencies like violence, natural disasters, and car crashes will continue in creating a high demand nationwide for paramedics and EMTs.