EMT WellBeing The Well Being of the EMT
EMT Well-Being
The Well- Being of the EMT Personal health, safety, and well-being are vital to any EMS operation Intrinsic dangers and hazards of our occupation vary greatly from call to call You will be constantly faced with mental and physical stresses on the job Even the most experienced provides have difficulty overcoming personal reactions
Understand the causes of stress to prevent it from negatively affecting you! Remember, if you cannot take care of yourself, how will you take care of others?
Stressful Situations Death and dying Mass-casualty incidents Severe trauma Abuse Co-worker death or injury Vehicle accident caused by EMS personnel Violent scenes
Warning Signs Physical – Fatigue – Changes in appetite – Headaches – Insomnia – Irritability
Warning Signs Psychological: – Fear – Depression – Anger – Frustration – Inability to cope
Stress Management Understand the effects of stress Find balance in your life Change or eliminate stressors Avoid complaining or worrying about things you cannot change Expand your social support system Take care of yourself: diet, exercise, sleep
Stress Management Resources Partners and co-workers – Be open with and aware of each other Family members Chaplains Wellness Counseling and EAP CISM
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Held within 48 -72 hours of a major incident All information is confidential CISD leaders and mental health professionals offer suggestions for overcoming stress Can be initiated by anyone
CISM System Pre-incident stress education Peer support CISD Follow-up services Spouse and family support system
Scene Safety Hazardous materials – Identification and isolation Electricity – Live electricity is difficult to see – Power off at source Fire – Protective gear – Do only what you have been trained to do!
Scene Safety Violent Scenes – Civil disturbances, domestic disputes, crime scenes, large gatherings (mobs) Motor vehicle accidents – Safety at scene Highways, streets, and roads – Moving traffic is a major hazard!
Body Substance Isolation Minimum protection on all calls: gloves and eye protection Mask and gowns per department policy Hand washing and sanitizer use Sharps disposal
Body Substance Isolation Always use Body Substance isolation precautions Always us a barrier between yourself and the patient Always wash/sanitize your hands after each patient contact Make certain immunizations are up to date Be careful handling sharps
Remember, to always take care of yourself first…. . . BSI and Scene Safety
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