scholarly journals Sleep in Emergency Services Workers: What Do We Know and Why Does It Matter?

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s166-s167
Author(s):  
Sally Ferguson ◽  
Brad Aisbett ◽  
Alexander Wolkow ◽  
Sarah Jay ◽  
Nicola Ridgers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Service ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Sleep Quantity ◽  
Working Environments ◽  
Emergency Service Workers

Introduction:Emergency service workers perform physical work while being subjected to multiple stressors and adverse, volatile working environments for extended periods. Recent research has highlighted sleep as a significant and potentially modifiable factor impacting operational performance.Aim:This presentation would (a) examine the existing literature on emergency service workers’ sleep quantity and quality during operations, (b) synthesize the operational and environmental factors that impact sleep (e.g., shift start times, shift length, sleeping location, smoke, noise, heat), and (c) assess how sleep impacts aspects of emergency service workers’ health and safety, including mental and physical health and performance.Methods:This presentation would be based on a narrative review conducted by the authors which used a systematic search strategy of health-related databases. Articles that were not relevant, duplicate or from non-peer-reviewed sources were excluded.Results:Sleep is restricted during emergency service deployments, particularly when shifts have early start times, are long duration, and/or when sleeping in temporary accommodation (e.g., tents, vehicles). Shortened sleep impairs cognitive but not physical performance under simulated emergency services conditions.Discussion:Depending on the organization and jurisdiction, these findings warrant re-evaluation of existing policies, formalization of beneficial but currently ad-hoc practice, or provide support for current procedures. Work shifts should be structured, wherever possible, to provide regular and sufficient recovery opportunities (rest during and sleep between shifts), especially in dangerous working environments where fatigue-related errors have more severe consequences. For agencies to continue to defend local communities against natural hazards, strategies should be implemented to improve and manage emergency service workers sleep and reduce any adverse impacts on work.

scholarly journals Sleep in wildland firefighters: what do we know and why does it matter?

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace E. Vincent ◽  
Brad Aisbett ◽  
Alexander Wolkow ◽  
Sarah M. Jay ◽  
Nicola D. Ridgers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Sleep Quantity ◽  
Working Environments ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Physical Task ◽  
Modifiable Factor ◽  
Wildland Firefighting

Wildland firefighters perform physical work while being subjected to multiple stressors and adverse, volatile working environments for extended periods. Recent research has highlighted sleep as a significant and potentially modifiable factor impacting operational performance. The aim of this review was to (1) examine the existing literature on firefighters’ sleep quantity and quality during wildland firefighting operations; (2) synthesise the operational and environmental factors that impact on sleep during wildland firefighting; and (3) assess how sleep impacts aspects of firefighters’ health and safety, including mental and physical health, physical task performance, physical activity and cognitive performance. Firefighters’ sleep is restricted during wildfire deployments, particularly when shifts have early start times, are of long duration and when sleeping in temporary accommodation. Shortened sleep impairs cognitive but not physical performance under simulated wildfire conditions. The longer-term impacts of sleep restriction on physiological and mental health require further research. Work shifts should be structured, wherever possible, to provide regular and sufficient recovery opportunities (rest during and sleep between shifts), especially in dangerous working environments where fatigue-related errors have severe consequences. Fire agencies should implement strategies to improve and manage firefighters’ sleep and reduce any adverse impacts on firefighters’ work.

scholarly journals The role of psychological screening for emergency service responders

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noreen Tehrani ◽  
Ian Hesketh
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Psychological Screening ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Screening And Surveillance ◽  
Emergency Service Workers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that psychological screening and surveillance can take in improving the delivery of psychological support to emergency service responders (ESRs) at a time of increasing demands and complexity. Design/methodology/approach The study aims to present and discuss the use of psychological screening and surveillance of trauma exposed emergency service workers. Findings The evidence supports the use of psychological screening and surveillance using appropriate validated questionnaires and surveys. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest that emergency services should be using psychological screening and surveillance of ESRs in roles where there is high exposure to traumatic stress. Originality/value These findings will help emergency service organisations to recognise how psychological screening and surveillance can be used as part of a wider programme of well-being support. This approach can also help them meet their legal health and safety obligations to protect the psychological health and well-being of their ESRs.

Spirituality and the negative and positive effects of traumatic experiences in a group of emergency service workers

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Ogińska-Bulik ◽  
Magdalena Zadworna-Cieślak
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Stress Disorders ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Emergency Service Workers ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective: Studies concerning the importance of spirituality on the negative and positive effects of traumatic experiences are very rare. Our study attempts to determine the role of spirituality in posttraumatic stress disorders, approached as a negative result of facing traumatic events, and profiting from such experiences in the form of posttraumatic growth. Method: The study covered 116 emergency service workers (only men), including 43 firefighters (37.1%), 43 police officers (37.1%) and 30 paramedics (25.8%), who experienced a traumatic event in their line of work. Those surveyed were between 21 and 57 years of age (M = 35.28; SD = 8.13). The Impact of Event Scale was used to assess the negative effects of traumatic experience, and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory for assessing the positive effects. Spirituality was measured using the Selfdescription Questionnaire. Results: 61.2% of the workers displayed at least moderate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, whereas 38.8% displayed low intensity symptoms. Taking into consideration the positive effects of experienced traumatic events, it was discovered that almost 40% of those surveyed displayed low levels of posttraumatic growth, 34.5% average and 25.8% high. Correlation analysis was been performed to establish the relation between spirituality and posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth. Posttraumatic growth predictors were determined. Conclusions: Study results show that spirituality is not related to the intensification of posttraumatic stress symptoms, whereas it contributes to positive posttraumatic changes. Among different aspects of spirituality, harmony plays a major role.

Conceptualizing secondary traumatic stress among emergency service workers in Madrid, Spain

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Eugenia Morante Benadero ◽  
Bernardo Moreno Jimenez ◽  
Alfredo Rodriguez Muñoz ◽  
B. Hudnall Stamm
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Emergency Service Workers
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