EMT Well Being

 Who takes care of us?

The Well-Being of the EMT-1

 Personal health, safety, and well-being are vital to an EMS operation  Hazards are common  Mental and physical stresses are part of the job.

Rescuer well being

 Death & dying  Critical Incident Stress  CISM  Scene Safety and Personal Protection

Death and Dying

 Few people have witnessed death  Death is something you will have to face  Think about it ahead of time  *remember hearing is the last sense to go

The Grieving Process

 1. Denial  2. Anger  3. Bargaining  4. Depression  5. Acceptance

What Can an EMT-1 Do?

 Provide support  Make helpful statements  Be sincere  Understand that grief is a process

Dealing With Family Members

 Be calm   Use a gentle tone of voice Respect the family’s wishes  Do not create false hope

Signs of Stress

          Sleep problems – nightmares, insomnia, hypersomnia Headaches Changes in appetite Fatigue Irritability Anxiety Mood swings Isolation Substance abuse “Normal responses to abnormal stress”

Stress Management

 Positive and negative ways to handle it  Stress is unavoidable  Understand the effects  Find balance in life

Strategies to Manage Stress (1 of 2)

 Eliminate stressors  Change partners  Stop complaining  Expand your social support system

Strategies to Manage Stress (2 of 2)

 Minimize the physical response by: – Taking a deep breath – – Stretching Exercise – Proper nutrition

Signs and Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

 Depression  Startle reactions  Flashback phenomena  Amnesia of event

Critical Incident Stress

 Multi-casualty Incidents (MCI)  Infant and child trauma  Patients that remind us of loved ones  Death or injury of a coworker  Extreme circumstances – – Amputations abuse

Critical Incident Stress Management

 Confronts responses to critical incidents  Process designed to help EMS personnel defuse responses to critical incidents  Composed of trained peers and mental health professionals

CISM – Components

 Pre-incident stress education  On-scene peer support  Disaster support services  Defusings

CISM – Components

 CISD  Follow-up services  Spouse and Family support  Community Outreach  talk, talk, talk, talk (to people that understand)

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

 Held within 24 to 72 hours  All information is confidential  CISD leaders offer suggestions for overcoming the stress  It Works - Cerritos versus San Diego

Stop

 Questions?