EMT-Basic Exam: The Basics of Dealing with Stress

You already know that an EMT’s job can be extremely stressful. EMT-Basics deal with dangerous and mentally draining situations every day. They must not only treat injuries and illnesses, but also help patients who are extremely emotional.

Although EMT-Basics learn how to compartmentalize their emotions on the job, there is no way to avoid stress altogether. In this section, you’ll review the ways in which EMT-Basics learn how to cope with the stress they encounter on the job.
 

1. Managing Stress
Stress is any factor that results in physical or mental tension. Many people think of stress as something negative, but stress can also be positive. 

Without stress, there would be little motivation to complete our daily tasks. Stress becomes negative when it starts to consume your life, preventing you from functioning in a normal manner. 

People experience stress in different ways. Symptoms of stress can be physical, emotional, and mental. This is why it’s important for you to understand how you can manage stress and prevent it from becoming a serious issue.

There are many situations that cause EMT-Basics to feel stress. Cases involving mass casualties, trauma or abuse of children, or grotesque injuries can have a serious effect on EMS workers. 

The stress caused by these incidents doesn’t always manifest right away. Particularly traumatic cases can continue to affect EMT-Basics for weeks or even months after the initial incident.

While it’s impossible to avoid stress altogether, there are simple steps you can take to deal with stress in an effective manner, as summarized in the following figure.

EMT-Basics need to maintain a balanced lifestyle to deal with the stress they encounter on the job.

a. Diet
One of the most important things you can do to manage stress is to eat a well-balanced diet. Eating balanced meals will provide you with the vitamins and nutrients you need to stay healthy. Incorporate fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your diet. Avoid fatty foods and excessive sugar and salt. These foods can increase your blood pressure, which can contribute to stress.
EMT-Basics are extremely busy, so eating regular meals can be challenging. Skipping meals can cause your blood sugar to drop, making you feel tired and irritable. This is why it’s important to eat healthy meals regularly. If you can’t find time to eat an entire meal, grab a healthy snack. A banana or a cup of yogurt can help regulate your blood sugar levels until you find the time to eat.

b. Exercise
Getting regular exercise isn’t just about staying in shape—it’s also an important factor in managing stress. Studies show that regular exercise reduces the risk of a number of serious diseases and greatly contributes to emotional well-being. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym to get a good workout. Take your dog for a walk or go for a hike in a nearby park. Any activity that elevates your heart rate will contribute to your overall health.

c. Balance Your Life
EMT-Basics are extremely dedicated to their jobs. However, EMT-Basics need to maintain a balance between their professional and personal lives. It’s important for EMT-Basics to involve themselves in activities outside of EMS. Spending time with family and friends and engaging in entertaining activities will help relieve stress and provide the EMT-Basic with an emotional and mental break from job-related stressors.

d. Rest
Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things that an EMT-Basic can do to relieve stress. A lack of sleep adds to stress and could affect your performance on the job. Doctors recommend getting at least eight hours of sleep every night to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Keep yourself on a regular sleep schedule. If you can, try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. This will help your body maintain a normal sleeping pattern and can help prevent insomnia.

e. Professional Help
You may find that you can’t deal with symptoms of stress on your own. If this happens, it’s important for you to seek professional help. There’s no shame in speaking with a counselor, physiologist, or other mental health professional about how you’re feeling. Often, these professionals can provide you with the tools you need to better manage the stressors you encounter on the job and in your personal life.
Don’t wait until the stress becomes too much to handle. If you suspect that something isn’t right, contact your doctor for a referral to a mental health professional. You can also ask for referrals from coworkers or friends who have dealt with these issues in the past.

2. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
Certain situations can cause great stress for EMS workers. A critical incident is a situation that causes EMS workers to experience serious emotional reactions and may inhibit their ability to perform their duties. These incidents may include situations involving the death or injury of a coworker or loved one. Critical incidents may also include mass-casualty emergencies and situations in which the patient dies after a long rescue attempt.
To help EMS workers deal with these situations, many systems have implemented a process called critical incident stress debriefing (CISD). CISDs are initiated within 24 to 72 hours after the initial incident. The debriefing, which is conducted by peer counselors and mental health professionals, allows EMS workers to discuss their feelings about the incident. These debriefings don’t involve any discussion about the technical aspects of a case. Rather, it is a confidential discussion about how the incident has affected the emotional and mental well-being of the EMT-Basics. Everyone who was involved in the incident is invited to participate in the CISD.
CISDs can also involve discussion of general job-related stresses that most EMS workers experience. The important thing to remember is that the CISD is designed to be a safe environment for EMS workers to discuss their feelings. The main goal of the CISD is to expedite the recovery process after a critical incident. The debriefing process can help individuals process their emotions more quickly than they would be able to on their own. The professionals involved in CISD can also recommend further treatment for EMS workers who are particularly affected by certain cases.

3. Cases Involving Death and Dying
Some of the most difficult cases that EMT-Basics deal with involve patients who are dying. It’s important to remember that people deal with death in different ways. You should always treat patients and family members who are dealing with this situation with the utmost respect and compassion.
While you should never offer false hope in a serious situation, you can show your support through simple gestures. Holding a patient’s hand or simply listening to the patient’s concerns can mean a lot. Always do your best to help friends and family members through this difficult time. Allow them to express their feelings through whatever means necessary. Some people may cry, scream, or show very little reaction to the news of a loved one’s death. Do what you can to comfort them.
Remember, these cases can also have a serious effect on you and your coworkers. Don’t ignore feelings of grief or sadness. Discuss your emotions with your coworkers. If you are particularly affected by a case, ask your supervisor for a CISD or seek professional help.

Related Topics You Should Review:
- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s five stages of grief
- Comprehensive critical incident stress management