PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS: CHALLENGES AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
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Keywords
Prehospital, Emergency, Care, Low-Resource, Settings, Challenges, Policy Implications.
Abstract
Prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) play a vital role in saving lives, particularly within the critical "golden hour" following a traumatic event. However, in low-resource and high-security environments such as correctional facilities, EMS delivery faces significant operational, logistical, and policy-related challenges. This study investigates the barriers to effective prehospital care in Saudi Arabian prisons through a qualitative descriptive design using case studies and interviews with correctional healthcare staff. Three embedded scenarios—an inmate riot, a COVID-19 outbreak, and a flood-induced fire—were constructed to examine the impact of institutional constraints on emergency response. Findings indicate that restricted access to essential medical supplies, delays due to stringent security protocols, inadequate disaster preparedness, and the absence of trained first responders severely compromise patient outcomes. The research also highlights improvised solutions by prison staff, such as makeshift medical kits and informal evacuation strategies, which underscore both resilience and systemic fragility. Thematic analysis reveals a critical need for integrated policy frameworks that align correctional health systems with national EMS and disaster response protocols.
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