Objective: The study aimed to assess the physical and mental health status of active ambulance workers concerning the additional workload they are facing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Data and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 130 Hungarian National Ambulance Service em¬ployees (n = 130) in the first quarter of 2023, using an online questionnaire on a voluntary, anonymous basis. After convenience sampling, physical and mental health were assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire, along with questions on musculoskeletal status and experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. SPSS was used for data analysis, with descrip¬tive and mathematical statistical tests. The results were significant at p<0.05. Results: The ambulance workers considered their "Physical functioning"to be the best (mean 90.7 ± 13.2 points) and their "General health"to be the worst (55.4 ± 9.5 points). The dimensions were correlated (p<0.001). 73.1% of the sample had a musculoskeletal complaint in the last 5 years, with the highest proportions in the back area (56.8%) and spine (51.5%). These ambulance workers rated their "Physical Functioning"significantly worse (p = 0.002). 95 persons were registered as COVID-19-infected, 50% of whom were only slightly or not at all affected by the pandemic (mean 2.6 ± 1.2). The experience of the coronavirus had a negative impact on the dimensions "Vitality"(r = -0.204, p = 0.020), "Emotional role"(r = -0.317, p<0.001) and "Mental health"(r = -0.283, p = 0.001). Persons with residual symptoms of COVID-19 rated their "Physical functioning"(p = 0.015), "Physical pain"(p = 0.010), "Social functioning"(p = 0.001), and "Mental health"(p = 0.023) dimensions worse. Conclusion: The sudden increase in workload caused by the pandemic makes it essential to monitor ambulance work¬ers' health closely. Residual symptoms of the coronavirus and concomitant musculoskeletal disorders can compro¬mise the quality of patient care.

In Hungary, around 14,000 to 15,000 traffic accidents result in personal injuries on public roads annually. Half of the individuals involved in fatal collisions are considered vulnerable pedestrians or cyclists. Our retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed the police and medical aspects of personal injury traffic accidents in our county. In 2023, there were 26 fatal accidents, 9 of which involved pedestrians, with 8 being at-fault pedestrians. Additionally, 920 traffic accident patients visited the emergency care department of the county hospital, with 68% of them having injuries that healed within 8 days.