Updated May 26, 2014
Another EMS week has come and gone; the free food and accolades from the community are over and it’s back to business as usual. For those of you lucky enough to get some cool EMS freebies from your employer, enjoy them. I personally have more umbrellas, coolers, hats, bags and goodies than I know what to do with.
There was a 2013 article from a medical director that really hit home. This story exploded throughout most of the EMS social media outlets. Personally, I have consulted with and trained this department and it’s tragic that they lost one of their own in the line of duty.
But, dig into this story a bit further. The personnel work 24-hour shifts, donate multiple volunteer services and are dedicated to serving and protecting their community. Is this the type of responder I want coming to my aid — devoted, dedicated, experienced BUT exhausted?
Responders, we have a problem and this problem has been here for a long time, simmering just under the surface of all branches in public service. Working long hours, battling constant fatigue and stress, being exposed daily to carcinogens/oxidizers, combined with a management system that unknowingly turns its back on the problems creates a very unhealthy environment. It makes our heroes basically a disposable commodity.
So, let’s come at the problem from a different angle. We need to change a few things for ourselves so you can continue to do what you love and for what you train so hard for.
Get better sleep
Everything revolves around sleep. Fatigue makes mistakes: medication errors, poor decision making, bad driving, mood swings and weakened immunity are but a few. Try these tricks to get better sleep:
- Melatonin: A natural hormone that helps to regulate the sleep/wake cycle. Check with your doctor but studies clearly show that melatonin taken after a shift will help restore natural circadian rhythms.
- ZMA: A supplement thought to help muscle recovery and sleep, taken at night along with Melatonin may be a natural way to get more restful and healing sleep.
- Avoiding caffeine and sugar 4-5 hours before bed time is always a good choice so you can get to sleep.
Embrace healing foods
Most of what we eat is bad for us. Unfortunately, we live in a society and work in a job where it’s easy to eat poorly. Heck, it’s almost a job requirement. Try these easy steps:
- Bring it with you: Prepare your food ahead of time before you get to work. You make better choices when you have time to think about your meals.
- Color code your food: Nature made it easy for us, the darker the food (natural NOT man made) is the better it is for you. This holds true for fruits and veggies and most root vegetables.
- Snack more: Raw veggies, fruits, nuts, homemade protein bars and homemade smoothies are all EMS friendly and will stop the bad choices from happening in the first place.
Move around
EMS, Fire and Law Enforcement are physical jobs. Physical fitness, physical ability and job specific strength are a requirement, not an option. One of the main reasons that medics are disposable is the simple fact that they are not fit for duty, therefore injury is more apt to occur.
Just walk, do step-ups, play Frisbee or wall ball. Floor based exercise is very EMS friendly and so are portable resistance bands that you can hook on your truck.
We owe it to ourselves, our families, our community and, yes, your employer to take action for ourselves. We laugh at what reality is out there on the streets, but can you look in the mirror and say you are any different?
Take positive steps now for yourself, take your wellness as seriously as you take your job and then maybe the respect EMS deserves will come to us.
