scholarly journals Sleep quantity and quality of on-call from home fire and emergency service workers

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 50-50
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Service ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Sleep Quantity ◽  
Emergency Service Workers

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.

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

scholarly journals Trauma and Mental Health Awareness in Emergency Service Workers: A Qualitative Evaluation of the Behind the Seen Education Workshops

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4418
Author(s):  
Andrea Fogarty ◽  
Zachary Steel ◽  
Philip B. Ward ◽  
Katherine M. Boydell ◽  
Grace McKeon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Emergency Service Workers

Emergency service workers (ESWs) are at high risk of experiencing poor mental health, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Programs led by ex-service organizations may play an unrecognized but critical role in mental health prevention and promotion. Behind the Seen (BTS) is an Australian ex-service organization that runs workshops to raise awareness and facilitate conversations around the mental health of ESWs. The purpose of the study is to conduct a qualitative evaluation of workshop participants’ experiences, to understand the acceptability and perceived usefulness over the immediate- (within 1 month), intermediate- (6 months) and longer-terms (12 months). Participants (n = 59 ESWs) were recruited using purposive sampling across five fire and rescue services in metropolitan, regional, and rural locations. Focus groups methodology was used for data collection and data were analyzed using iterative categorization techniques. Participants reported (i) a high perceived need for education about PTSD, (ii) highly salient aspects of the presentation that made for a positive learning experience, including the importance of the lived experiences of the facilitators in the learning process, (iii) key features of changes to intentions, attitudes, and behavior, and (iv) major aspects of the organizational context that affected the understanding and uptake of the program’s key messages. BTS was perceived as an acceptable means of delivering mental health, PTSD, and help-seeking information to ESWs. The program is a promising candidate for scaling-up and further translation.

scholarly journals The impact of emergency call taking on the mental health and wellbeing of ambulance call-takers: A systematic thematic narrative of qualitative research

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen Willis ◽  
Sharon Lawn ◽  
Louise Roberts ◽  
Leah Couzner ◽  
Leila Mohammadi Mohammadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Peer Review ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Workplace Culture ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Emergency Service Workers ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundOver the past decade there has been significant focus on the mental health and wellbeing of emergency service workers in Australia, evidenced by the 2018 Senate Inquiry into the role of Commonwealth, state and territory Governments in addressing the high rates of mental health conditions experienced by first responders, emergency service workers and volunteers. Call-takers as an occupational group within this domain are at risk of cumulative and vicarious trauma, yet there is little research on their work-related mental illness. This systematic thematic narative literature review of qualitative articles reports on the mental health and wellbeing of emergency call-takers. MethodsBoth published peer review (2000–2018) and grey literature (2009–2018) that examined the impact of emergency work on call-takers was retrieved. Papers that focussed on call-takers’ psychological and psychosocial health were selected. Databases included Ovid Medline, CINAHL, Ovid EMcare, PsychInfo, Scopus as well as Google Scholar. ResultsFourteen articles met the eligibility criteria; five peer review and nine grey literature studies. Thematic analysis identified issues around surveillance versus lack of supervision; role denial versus advocacy; and failure to acknowledge vicarious trauma. Suggestions for improvement required recognition of the stressful nature of the work, improvements in workplace culture and the provision of support and counselling services. ConclusionWorkplace stressors for call-takers arise from their work in dealing with trauma related communication with the public as well workplace culture, particularly the response of management to issues such as shift work, poorly managed rosters and long hours of work with little time for recovery. Compounding these issues is the invisibility of call-taker work.

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