Looking Forward - Health Promotion and Physical Health of Paramedics
What do I know about physical health promotion in paramedics?
My area of health promotion will be focused on promoting physical health among paramedics. To date, I know that there are considerable rates of medical leave among the profession in Canada. Anecdotally, I have seen paramedics' physical health decline after being hired with a service (no longer have to complete regular fitness testing). I know there is little to no promotion of physical health within my workplace. Researchers have been present at my service recently to test ergonomics on lifting of the stair chair. In my time, we have replaced manual stretchers with automatic ones (in response to increased MSK injuries).
Goals and Future Applications
I would like to understand this area of HP more thoroughly and perhaps apply it within my service if specific programs can be identified. I hope to research physical health promotion in paramedic services in other countries, police and fire departments, and use existing frameworks that will help translate theory into practice. Additionally, I think it will be imperative for me to understand how the workplace impacts individual physical health and to demonstrate that physical health is affected by this, not just as a result of individual choices.
What am I looking forward to? What challenges may exist?
I am most excited to learn how other countries and provinces promote physical health in the workplace, and see how this could apply to paramedic services in Ontario. I am nervous that there may be limited information, a lack of evidence-based research, and little direction on how to improve this area of health in the workplace. I foresee this being a challenge due to the existing limited body of research about paramedics and paramedicine.
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