Cognitive ergonomics is the discipline of making human-system interaction compatible with human cognitive abilities and limitations, particularly at work. In high stress EMS work there are hallmark human factors, a term synonymous to ergonomics,  that impact one's ability to perform effectively and efficiently.

Attention, schemas, memory, adjustment, decision making and judgement are typical human factors associating with EMS work. While these factors may be common to the field, the human brain can only allot so much to cognitive load. Cognitive overload, which has become prevalent in literature surrounding EMS and cognitive ergonomics, entails one's inability to allot adequate memory space for prominent work tasks, leading to poor decision making and ineffective learning (McHughes Palmer, 2017).