More than 5 million people die every year from injuries, accounting for 9 % of all deaths globally; around one-quarter of these deaths are caused by road accidents [1]. Furthermore, most of these injuries and deaths (91 %) occur in the poorest countries and affect those aged 15–29 years [2]. Inadequate pre-hospital care and delayed transportation to hospital were identified as two of the leading causes of preventable death from injuries [3], [4]. Typically, healthcare investments in developing countries are disease-focused, and some vital healthcare services, such as primary healthcare and emergency pre-hospital medical care, tend to be overlooked [3], [4], [5].

The World Health Organization (WHO) identified strengthening pre-hospital emergency services as a critical area for action. Good quality pre-hospital care has been linked to lower mortality and disability rates from trauma, pregnancy-related complications, heart attacks, stroke, and sepsis. High quality pre-hospital care has also been reported to improve the quality of life among survivors [4], [6]. When access to preventative and routine healthcare is limited by factors such as a lack of insurance or an inadequate focus on primary healthcare, emergency services become even more important [6].

Pre-hospital emergency care demands a thorough understanding of numerous disease pathologies, along with the ability to perform specialized procedures correctly, swiftly, and in unique situations where main resources are limited. Dispute resolution, logistical and staff resource management, communication, and teamwork are necessary skills in addition to clinical competence. Finally, pre-hospital emergency medicine requires highly regulated and controlled systems, well defined roles and duties for the care team, and explicit standards and procedures [7].

Community critical incidents or traumas should be diagnosed and treated quickly depending on the mechanism of injury and the anatomical area involved. Delays in treatment and interventions may lead to the loss of vital functions and irreversible damage or death [8], [9]. The emergency management of community critical incidents or traumas usually takes place across three different phases of care: pre-hospital trauma life support, in-hospital or in-emergency room life support, and surgical trauma life support [9], [10], [11]. Many life-saving measures can be implemented directly at the scene of the incident.

For successful and organized emergency management throughout all treatment phases, Emergency Health Professionals (EHPs) must be fully aware of national and international standards and guidelines, and ensure well-organized and coordinated teamwork [9], [12], [13]. This assurance allows healthcare professionals to be confident that they have provided the best possible care for their patients during critical stages, potentially reducing psychological stress and anxiety. Most importantly, patients will benefit from a high standard of care, enhancing their chances of survival and reducing potential morbidities [14].

Most of the evidence and knowledge regarding prehospital emergency management originates from Western countries such as the USA, the UK, and Australia. There is a paucity of studies from developing countries such as Jordan, Egypt, and other Asian countries. In addition, the majority of available studies are quantitative and offer limited information on EHPs’ knowledge about general trauma management [15]. There is a paucity of research on the whole experience of EHPs when managing critical incidents in pre-hospital settings [16]. It is important to understand the whole of experience of EHPs as they work continuously under the pressure of dealing with critical emergencies, including their experience in managing emergency cases and how this influences their daily lives. These first-hand perspectives of EHPs have not previously been explored comprehensively in Jordan and probably the similar neighboring countries. However, previous studies have highlighted the physical and psychological stress on paramedics and nurses in emergency and pre-hospital settings [17].

This study was conducted in Jordan, a Middle Eastern country with an approximate population of 11 million. Jordan's health system is bifurcated into pre-hospital and hospital care. Pre-hospital care primarily focuses on providing emergency services, while hospital care encompasses broader healthcare services. The term “peri-hospital emergency services” refers to the continuum of care provided to patients from the pre-hospital setting through to the hospital emergency department.

In the hospital care phase, there are four primary healthcare providers: government, military, university, and private sector hospitals [18]. In the pre-hospital phase, Civil Defense assumes responsibility for pre-hospital medical care. It operates through 209 sites, offering specialized ambulance services staffed by approximately 2,279 paramedics. These paramedics, professionally trained by the Jordanian Ministry of Health, operate over 547 specialized ambulances [19]. All health organizations adhere to the Ministry of Health's principles and laws for governance and regulation.

However, significant variations exist within and across sectors at the clinical practice level. There are no unified clinical practice guidelines or policies. Consequently, clinical sites or even individual clinical teams within these sites may adopt their own or selected international standards for managing various clinical conditions. This absence of clear national guidelines could lead to disparities in emergency response and management within the same team, potentially compromising patient safety during critical situations.

This study was conducted to explore the experiences of EHPs in peri-emergency services, focusing on caring for patients with critical emergency incidents that require complex, competent, and prompt management.