Objectives: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers are critical to effective disaster response. Therefore, it is important to understand their knowledge, skills, and preparedness for disasters. This study investigated factors influencing EMS workers’ disaster knowledge, skills, and preparedness in the Saudi Arabian context. The study also sought to identify challenges to disaster preparedness among Saudi Arabian EMS workers. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey using The Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool was distributed to EMS workers in military and government hospitals across 3 Saudi Arabian cities. Responses were recorded on a 6-point Likert scale where higher scores indicated higher knowledge, skills, or preparedness. The results were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Results: 272EMS workers participated in this study. EMS workers reported a moderate level of knowledge (3.56), skills (3.44), and preparedness (3.73) for disasters. Despite this, EMS workers reported a high level of involvement in regular disaster drills (M = 4.24, SD = 1.274) and a strong interest in further disaster education opportunities (M = 5.43, SD = 1.121). Participants also reported a high skill level with the triage principles used in their workplace during a disaster (M = 4.06, SD = 1.218). The study findings revealed a significant positive correlation between disaster preparedness levels and age, years of experience, education level, and the facility worked in. Conclusions: EMS workers have moderate disaster knowledge, skills, and preparedness levels. Knowledge, skill, and preparedness have a significant relationship on the EMS workers’ demographics. These findings demonstrate the need to invest in preparing Saudi Arabian EMS workers to effectively respond to bioterrorism disasters.

Maintaining hospital functionality during and after earthquakes is essential for effective disaster response in seismically active regions. In the Middle East, hospital resilience is challenged by limited infrastructure investment, variable enforcement of safety regulations, and inconsistent preparedness planning. A systematic literature review was conducted across nine databases (2009–2024), including EBSCO, Cochrane, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, EconLit, and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they assessed hospitals in the Middle East with comprehensive or partial seismic risk reduction programs. Three independent reviewers performed data extraction and quality appraisal using validated tools appropriate to study design. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Hospitals with comprehensive seismic risk reduction programs, including structural retrofitting, disaster drills, surge capacity plans, and emergency communication protocols, demonstrated higher levels of functional continuity following earthquakes. In contrast, facilities lacking such measures reported structural damage, service disruptions, and patient evacuations. Mobile hospitals were identified as a promising adaptive strategy for mitigating overload in high-risk, resource-limited settings. Comprehensive seismic preparedness programs enhance hospital functionality in earthquake-prone regions. These findings underscore the importance of integrated risk reduction strategies, cross-sector coordination, and sustained investment. Further research is needed to evaluate the comparative impact of preparedness levels using standardized functionality indicators, and to explore scalable innovations such as mobile and modular healthcare units to strengthen regional disaster resilience.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel frequently operate in high-stress environments, particularly during disaster deployments, placing them at heightened risk of psychological distress. Evidence describing symptom burden, coping behaviours, and the utilisation of organisational support among EMS workers in the Middle East remains limited. This cross-sectional study surveyed 294 EMS personnel in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. A structured questionnaire assessed psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, PTSD-related distress, emotional exhaustion, sleep and appetite disturbances), coping strategies, and organisational support. Symptom prevalence percentages reflect the proportion of participants endorsing "agree" or "strongly agree" on the corresponding items. Analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate tests with False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction, and multivariable regression models adjusting for demographic, occupational, and exposure-related variables. A considerable proportion of participants reported psychological symptoms following disaster deployments, including anxiety (26%), depression (22%), emotional exhaustion (25%), sleep disturbances (26%), and appetite changes (28%). Access to counselling (p = 0.008) and medication (p = 0.003) was associated with lower symptom scores, whereas general well-being programmes showed weaker associations (p = 0.026). Coping strategies such as physical activity and peer support were inconsistently utilised. Awareness and uptake of organisational mental-health resources were low, and no significant differences in coping or support utilisation were observed across demographic or occupational groups. EMS workers in the Makkah region experience substantial psychological burden during disaster response, compounded by limited engagement in coping strategies and low utilisation of organisational support services. The findings highlight the need for accessible, context-appropriate mental health interventions embedded within routine EMS operations.

Introduction: Disasters pose significant challenges globally, affecting millions of people annually. In Saudi Arabia, floods constitute a prevalent natural disaster, underscoring the necessity for effective disaster preparedness among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers. Despite their critical role in disaster response, research on disaster preparedness among EMS workers in Saudi Arabia is limited.Study Objective/Methods: The study aimed to explore the disaster preparedness among EMS workers in Saudi Arabia. This study applied an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design to explore disaster preparedness among EMS workers in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the qualitative phase. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 EMS workers from National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah. Thematic analysis was conducted following Braun and Clarke’s six-step process, ensuring data rigor through Schwandt, et al’s criteria for trustworthiness.Findings: The demographic characteristics of participants revealed a predominantly young, male workforce with varying levels of experience and educational backgrounds. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: (1) Newly/developed profession, highlighting the challenges faced by young EMS workers in acquiring disaster preparedness; (2) Access to opportunities and workplace resources (government versus military), indicating discrepancies in disaster preparedness support between government and military hospitals; and (3) Workplace policies and procedures, highlighting the need for clearer disaster policies, training opportunities, and role clarity among EMS workers.Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of addressing the unique challenges faced by EMS workers in Saudi Arabia to enhance disaster preparedness. Recommendations include targeted support for young EMS professionals, standardization of disaster training across health care facilities, and improved communication of disaster policies and procedures. These findings have implications for policy and practice in disaster management and EMS training in Saudi Arabia.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel are integral to disaster and emergency response systems. Recurrent exposure to high-acuity incidents, irregular