EMS Stress Management and Workplace Ethics

Study Notes

EMS is a high-stress job due to the responsibility of patient lives and emergency situations.
Stress is the impact of stressors on physical and emotional well-being, causing various physiological responses.
General Adaptation Syndrome includes alarm response, resistance to stress, and recovery or exhaustion.
Physiological signs of stress include increased blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, muscle tension, and decreased blood flow to the GI tract.
Stress reactions include acute stress reaction during a crisis, delayed stress reaction after a stressful event, and cumulative stress reactions from prolonged stress.
Acute stressors in EMS can be mass casualty incidents, serious injuries, traumatic deaths, or accidents involving emergency vehicles.
PTSD can develop after a psychologically distressing event, leading to symptoms like reexperiencing, flashbacks, and depression.
Symptoms of burnout in EMS personnel include chronic fatigue, irritability, negative attitudes, and declining health.
Strategies to manage stress include minimizing stressors, changing partners or work hours, talking to trusted individuals, and adopting relaxation techniques.
Compassion fatigue can lead to a gradual lessening of compassion over time due to caring for trauma patients.
Peer support and critical incident stress management programs are available to address acute stress situations and prevent PTSD development.- Quitting smoking requires creating a plan, setting a quit date, and removing smoking products from your surroundings.
Balancing work, family, and health is essential for overall well-being, including taking vacations and scheduling time for self-care.
Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men, with excessive drinking having negative effects on health.
Misuse or abuse of medications and drugs, including prescription drugs, can lead to disciplinary actions and even dismissal in EMS agencies.
Embracing diversity in the workplace involves respectful communication with co-workers and patients, recognizing cultural differences, and using appropriate terminology.
Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, which can create a hostile work environment.
It is important to report any harassment immediately, keep written records, and confront the harasser only if comfortable, escalating to the equal employment opportunity commission if needed.