News

Oct 14, 2024

Eye safety: Essential PPE for EMTs, paramedics

Nearly 2,000 eye injuries occur every day in the United States. EMS providers are at risk of eye contamination or injury from blood and other body fluids, fine and large particulates, splashes from

Nearly 2,000 eye injuries occur every day in the United States. EMS providers are at risk of eye contamination or injury from blood and other body fluids, fine and large particulates, splashes from liquid medications and other chemicals, and other forms of blunt or penetrating trauma. According to NIOSH, even minor eye injuries can lead to lifelong vision problems.

Do you take appropriate eye protection on every call? Prevention of eye injury is simple. In many instances, prescription glasses or non-prescription sunglasses offer adequate splash protection to EMS providers.

Depending on the scene size-up and your local protocols, select appropriate protective eyewear from this list:

Employers and employees should work together to formulate an eye safety plan that includes:

This article, originally published May 26, 2009, has been updated.