EMS: Courage And Compassion In Action

By Shawn Godfrey
12:00AM / Monday, March 12, 2007

Shawn Godfrey is a certified paramedic and operations manager for the Village Ambulance Service

And I Thought Only Toast Could Be Burnt

Welcome to "EMS:Courage and Compassion In Action," a weekly column written by Village Ambulance Services Operations Manager and paramedic Shawn Godfrey. Godfrey's columns will appear on Monday and will focus on the reality of the emergency services medical profession.

A career in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) involves the dual existence of rewarding and regrettable experiences; a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows. On one hand, the EMT may be part of a richly gratifying experience, like assisting with the birth of a child. On the other hand, the EMT may experience horrifying events no human being should ever have to encounter, like witnessing the death of that same child.

The "Burnout" Factor

Because of this, stress and occupational “burnout” is an ongoing problem the EMT must battle throughout his or her career. When faced with emotional stressors that strike more rapidly than can be mentally processed, the EMT moves into a state of psychological and physical exhaustion, unable to effectively manage their patients and ultimately their own lives.

Psychologist Herbert Freudenbeger loosely defines occupational “burnout” as the reduction of vitality and the sense of being overwhelmed by other peoples' problems.

Everyday, EMTs place themselves in harm's way, from violence to disease exposure to additional unimaginable circumstances. They have freely elected to risk their lives to help others, and while they are able to determine the location in which they practice, they can not decide on the individual challenges they face from day-to-day.

If overwhelming stress or the signs of occupational “burnout” are present, this can adversely affect the EMT, subsequently causing less effective mental and physical acuity.

Heed The Need

Here are some strategies I use to curtail stress and occupational “burnout”, and maintain emotional balance:

Physical fatigue can ultimately lead to significant, crippling emotional tension. Longer shift schedules can easily disrupt the circadian rhythm, thus leaving the EMT in a perpetually fatigued state. Working less and getting enough rest allows an additional defense mechanism against stress. Be sure to tell the boss “No more shifts this week!” And bosses, heed the need for EMT sleep!

Proper Diet: Maintaining a healthy body will eventually lead to a healthier mind. Eating a balanced diet, which includes fruits and vegetables, and possibly taking daily vitamins, is extremely important. Eliminating, or at least reducing, the amount of caffeine and sugar intake is equally important. So, pass on the cheeseburger and eat a California Roll!

Exercise: Participating in any pulse-raising exercise regimen for 30 minutes, 5 days per week, not only maintains an adequate level of physical fitness, but also aids in suppressing the secretion of chemicals released in the body during stress. For you busier folk, many physical fitness professionals believe that 20 minutes, 3 days per week is adequate.

Writing/Journal: For me, documenting my emotions, during or after a stressful incident, can help with fully understanding the event. I have learned the key to maintaining a successful and therapeutic journal is allocating enough time to do it. I try to set aside 15 minutes a day to record an entry, and although this may seem impossible, the results can pay positive emotional dividends. If you maintain a daily journal, I guarantee you will see yourself growing and changing as each page progresses. A journal will force you to take time to reflect on your emotional state and, if needed, take the steps to modify your life.

Professional counseling: Most EMTs exposed to critical incident stress (CIS) recuperate in a reasonable time span; however, some require professional psychoanalysis and, quite possibly, medicinal treatment. EMTs differ from individuals in the general population because of the unique stressors they face from day-to-day. Electing to meet with a qualified counselor should neither be embarrassing nor generate feelings of inadequacy. Who knows, I may see you there!

Extracurricular activities: Time away from the job is extremely important. Activities should not include co-workers, but it is essential that family is involved. The goal of out-of-work social activities is to provide a diversion from the daily grind of EMS related duties. A variety of extracurricular activities can also provide exercise or act as support groups for many individuals. Let me guess, this very minute you are thinking about the bowling lanes, right? Okay, maybe not.

My suggestions to reduce stress and occupational “burnout” are just that, suggestions, and any advice from a professional counselor, psychologist, or other expert should be followed. One thing is for certain, if stress or occupational burnout continues without treatment, family, friends, and coworkers of the person affected may suffer.

Don’t forget to enjoy life, and by simply writing this column, I am now ready to do the same.