There has been a sudden influx of material and conversation revolving around sleep lately. Starting with an article recently resurrected, originally written in 2014 outlining the specific statistics regarding first responders and their sleep disorders. The article starts off strong, “Sleep problems could be a major factor in explaining why more than 60 percent of firefighter deaths are caused by heart attacks and traffic accidents” Continuing, “They found that 37 percent of firefighters suffered from at least one type of sleep disorder.” (Regan, 2014) The connections are clear, the cause is identified, but the remedy is delayed by common practice, among other things.
Then, I was asked by another fitness professional how first responders can manage their sleep while on duty. But, that answer isn’t a simple nap, or better planning. The answer is often that we cannot manage our sleep loss but can only try and put measures and systems in place to manage the effects of it. There is no ‘Too sleepy to respond’ button on our dispatch computers. I explained, “You can’t, not do your job because you’re tired. You can do it poorly, but you still have to do it.” I can unfortunately recall several times when my judgement has been cloudy, decisions have been wrong and skills have lacked due to sleep deprivation.
The follow-up questions come in a string, how many calls per day is normal, when do they typically happen, and how long are they? All questions that are looking to normalize the program in order to hack the system. But emergency calls aren’t like conference calls, there is no rescheduling them for a better time. A two-call shift can be debilitating if the two calls come in at 1 am and 3:30 am. A ten-call shift can be easy if there are no tone-outs overnight. The shift is described as irregularly irregular, meaning besides your attendance and duty to act, there is no normal. Sometimes all you can do is hope to recover in time for your next shift and pray for smoother sailing.
Managing the demands of the job is an evolving practice that must be personalized to each member and their needs. There is no broad-brush fix or rubber stamp solution. First, like any issue, admitting there is a problem is the first step. Don’t think there is? Of course you don’t, but go ask your significant other or friends if they think you need an extra wide birth after a shift and you might get a different answer. Secondly, having systems in place to protect the first responder from their natural inclination to help everyone but themselves, are painfully necessary. This is one that I struggle with constantly. I’d much rather plug away at a project or problem than take a nap. Even though I’ll be much more effective when rested and the project will be completed in half the time, napping still gives me the FOMO, or fear of missing out. The system is there because it is in your best interest, but it is up to you to get past the mental block or FOMO and stick to the plan. The third part is understanding that even when you don’t want to put the time in to recover, everyone else wants you to. My wife would much rather me take a nap or be unavailable for an hour in the afternoon, so I can be more present at night. Your coworkers want you to show up ready to go, not still reeling from 48 hours ago. You deserve to give yourself the best opportunity to succeed as well as giving the public the best version of yourself. Developing the plans and strategies to recover and restore can take some help, and this topic as well as others using goal setting, mindset and strategies are available through us.
Be prepared for your shift.
References:
Regan, H. (2014, November 14). Sleep Disorders: Firefighter Deaths Linked to Sleep Problems. Retrieved April 01, 2018, from http://time.com/3584980/sleep-problems-firefighters-death-insomnia-shift-work-sleep-apnea/