Fw: EMSNEWS Digest - 17 Jul 2001 to 18 Jul 2001 (#2001-152)

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EMS Shiftwork and Sleep Deprivation

>

> http://www.firefighting.com/default.asp?GoTo=namID3320

>

> EMS Shiftwork and Sleep Deprivation

> WRITTEN BY : / Firefighting.com, DATE POSTED: 7/17/01

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> Anyone who has ever done shift work, especially in emergency services,

knows

> that getting enough sleep can be a real issue. Is our lack of sleep

> affecting our judgment and performance? According to Kate Denocoeur it is.

>

> Ms. Denocoeur, is a former paramedic and the author of " Streetsense:

> Communication, Safety & Control. " She will be speaking on this topic

Friday

> at ClinCon, a conference for EMS professionals, to be held at the Rosen

> Centre in Orlando, Fla., July 19-22.

>

> " Shift work can wreak havoc with your sleep patterns. We have people who

are

> too tired trying to make quick and important decisions. We joke about

being

> able to do our jobs in our sleep when in reality that is what we are

doing. "

>

> According to information Ms. Denocoeur obtained from the National Sleep

> Foundation, the majority of people need 7 1/2 to 8 hours sleep every

evening

> to function at their full capacity. Most people try to get by on less.

>

> When emergency workers don't get enough sleep they may be less thorough

and

> less compassionate. Driving skills are also affected.

>

> The National Sleep Foundation's " Facts About Drowsy Driving " contains some

> alarming information: Drowsiness/fatigue may play a role in crashes

> attributed to other causes. About one million crashes annually - one-sixth

> of all crashes - are thought to be produced by driver inattention/lapses.

> Sleep deprivation and fatigue make such lapses of attention more likely to

> occur.

>

> The National Sleep Foundation also puts shift workers in a high risk

group.

> 25 million Americans are rotating shift workers. Studies suggest that 20

to

> 30 percent of those with non-traditional work schedules have had a

> fatigue-related driving mishap within the last year. The drive home from

> work after the night shift is likely to be a particularly dangerous one.

>

> " Lack of sleep is something that affects most everyone, " says Denocoeur,

> " but there are ways to alleviate the problem. The goal for my presentation

> is for people to better understand the potentially devastating effects of

> not getting rest and to suggest methods to minimize the negative effects

of

> sleep deprivation. "

>

> One method of avoiding avoid sleep deprivation Denocoeur suggests is to

> consistently work the same shift. " Your body needs to be on a schedule. If

> you are constantly changing shifts you cannot develop a healthy sleep

> pattern. "

>

> The National Sleep Foundation makes the following recommendations to help

> shift workers stay alert on the job:

>

> Take short breaks throughout the shift.

>

> Try to work with a " buddy. " Talking with co-workers can help keep you

alert.

> And co-workers can be on the lookout for signs of drowsiness in each

other.

>

> Try to exercise during breaks. Use the employee lounge, take a walk, shoot

> hoops in the parking lot, or climb stairs.

>

> Try to eat three normal meals per day. Eat healthy snacks, avoiding foods

> that may upset your stomach.

>

> If you drink a caffeinated beverage (coffee, tea, colas), do so early in

the

> shift, e.g., before 3 a.m. for the night worker.

>

> Don't leave the most tedious or boring tasks to the end of your shift when

> you are apt to feel the drowsiest. Night shift workers hit their lowest

> period around 4 a.m.

>

> Exchange ideas with your colleagues on ways to cope with the problems of

> shift work. Set up a support group at work so that you can support and

learn

> from each other.

>

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> End of EMSNEWS Digest - 17 Jul 2001 to 18 Jul 2001 (#2001-152)

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