Many lost workdays from injuries, illness.

• Position: EMTs - Brief article

At any given time, almost 10% of the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics in the U.S. miss work because of injuries and illnesses they suffered on the job, suggests research from Ohio State University, Columbus. Compared to data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of injuries requiring work absence among these first responders (8.1 of every 100) far exceeds the national average of 1.3 per 100 lost-work injury cases reported in a 12-month stretch.

The study also identifies work-related and health conditions most likely to lead to injuries, which include responding to a high volume of emergency calls, working in bigger cities, and having a history of back problems. Researchers say that knowing how...