NAEMT HEALTH AND SAFETY TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS SEATBELT USE AND BACK INJURY
Friday, September 26, 2003 12:00:00

Members of the new NAEMT Health and Safety Task Force met for the first time in September during the Annual Meeting held in Las Vegas to hammer out the group's mission statement and determine which aspects of health and safety the task force wanted to tackle during its first year.

After a lively discussion, the group settled on two issues of top priority: the use of seatbelts by EMS personnel in the ambulance and in personal vehicles and the prevention of back injuries that result from poor conditioning and improper lifting techniques. NAEMT will address both of these areas by developing educational programs for EMS agencies, raising awareness with a poster campaign and creating a database of information that will help EMS professionals to develop good habits in these two areas. These efforts will serve the group's mission, which is to effectively advocate for the health and well-being of all EMS providers in all EMS environments.

NAEMT members who have volunteered for the Health and Safety Task Force are: Chair Ken Bouvier, Jonathan Politis, Edward Sawicki, James Slattery, Tim Smith, John Roquemore, Sue Roundy, Bubba Bell, Paul Maniscalco, Deborah Knight-Smith and Tommy Loyacono.