Society would crumble if without the dedicated men and women in emergency response. Imagine not having a fire department, an ambulance service, or a police force addressing an emergency when needed.
Not only would the death toll drastically rise, but panic and chaos would ensue in society. These people are nothing short of heroes of our time. However, we need to realize that they fall victim to insecure work environments and stress as well.
Stress levels in first responders are some of the highest in any profession. Moreover, they are considerably more likely to suffer from heart-related issues than people from other careers. This article will be addressing several ways to minimize stress and ensuring safety in the average working environment.
We need to look out for the people who look out for us. Therefore, here are five ways to minimize tension and ensure safety.
Ensure proper training
One of the most stress-inducing factors of the job is self-doubt. Responders may lack education and experience and, therefore, fumble in life and death situations. The stress levels that this causes are astoundingly high and can cause clinical anxiety in some people.
One of the best ways to ensure that your responders don’t doubt their abilities is to give them adequate training. A holistic training period with up-to-date information and diverse situational planning can help responders do their job correctly and avoid mistakes.
Employers and managers need to take a leading role in this scenario and check for the best emr rates for companies to ensure all officials and rookies receive proper training regarding their profession.
Finding the proper training solutions is key to ensuring adequate performance and lifesaving measures. Moreover, the more in tune with their abilities, the less likely they will suffer from stress and work-related casualties.
Reduce racial discrimination
One of the leading issues in emergency response is racism at the hands of superiors and colleagues. The immense stress that this causes on a person can be substantial, causing an individual to make mistakes in even the most minor mundane situations. When dealing with life and death, a clear mind is critical.
Moreover, patients can refuse treatment/aid if the responder is of a specific ethnic group. Not only does this make the emergency considerably more complex, but it can make the official question their role in the healthcare/response industry.
A solution to this issue is education on a large scale. The state needs to step in and reduce racism throughout the country. Not just in the emergency response sector, but cutting it out at the source is the best way to go about it. Start with the education system and work up from there.
Adequate working conditions
If your officials are working anything more than a standard eight to twelve-hour shift, you have a problem on your hands. This is a job where fatigue-related mishaps are extremely common.
Not only is overworking the employee unethical, but in a field like this, the consequences can be dire.
Standard working hours with a break in between is the best way to ensure productivity from your employees.
Moreover, if you can reduce the working hours slightly, that would help them recuperate for the next day. Remember, these officials have to respond swiftly, follow protocol and endure the extremely physical job demands.
Paid leave when they need it
We often don’t talk about the fact that employers often refuse to sign off on holidays. An employee may be well within their right to ask for paid time off. However, the boss may either drag their feet or refuse to sign off on the application at all.
Sure, one can argue that the force needs the responder; however, that’s not their problem.
Burnout is prevalent in first responders and needs to be addressed accordingly.
If your employees need time off, please give it to them, because not only have they earned it, but it’s usually part of their contract which must be honored.
Access to adequate equipment
In poorer neighborhoods and lesser developed countries, emergency departments may not have the supplies they need. It’s common to hear about fire departments in poorer nations not fighting the fires because they don’t have the right equipment.
Moreover, paramedics need to have advanced paraphernalia in their arsenal to tackle any medical emergency that comes their way.
This is where the employer comes in. They either need to increase funding or seek help from the right stakeholders. The government usually aids response departments. However, sometimes they may be run by private organizations as well.
Equipment is not a luxury to make their job more accessible; it’s necessary to get the job done.
Conclusion
There we have it, some ways of minimizing stress in emergency response providers. Tragically, the real heroes in our society have to suffer from mental health issues because of their job silently. Moreover, several officials fall victim to workplace casualties for various reasons.
We need to acknowledge the work these people do and aid them in whatever way we can. If something as mundane as giving them days off when they want, don’t say No. This article has addressed several factors to consider to minimize stress and maximize productivity, so the sooner we apply these ideas, the better it is for everyone.
