Being a first responder is an innately stressful job. Day in and day out we are exposed to the full spectrum of human emotion: from assisting in bringing new life into the world, to watching one leave the next call. Add on the stress of intense workloads, risk of personal harm or injury, critical life or death decisions, and time spent away from our families; and it is no wonder the average career length for an EMT or Paramedic is only 5 years.
The two of the most common stress responses seen in first responders are burnout and post-traumatic stress. Burnout is described as feeling completely overwhelmed or exhausted. Post-traumatic stress is a condition resulting from exposure to a traumatic event.
Some signs of burnout may include becoming easily frustrated, irritability, indifference, isolation, and exhaustion.
Some signs of post-traumatic stress may include hypervigilance, isolation, hostility, irritability, flashbacks, fear, and extreme anxiety.
So what can we do to reduce the stress and lengthen the career lifespan of Paramedics and EMTs? First of all, one of the most important steps is to normalize the discussion. Too long in this career field we have walked around with the “tough it up attitude.” It is natural to talk about things that bring about a stress response, and it is one of the most important steps in recovery. It is recommended, furthermore, to have this discussion amongst peers who might have been in similar situations. Another step to reduce stress is to set boundaries and say no. Doing so will help us manage a magnitude of problems that face us as first responders, such as long hours and sleep deprivation. It is equally important to have a balanced work and home life.
As an EMS responder of 11 years, I understand some of these things are easier said than done. The leaders in the EMS community set an example. Don’t eat the young. Don’t normalize the “this is what you signed up for mentality.” Take care of yourself as best you can.
Because if you can’t save yourself, how are you going to be able to save anyone else?
