The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Emotions in the field of EMS>?
I was just wondering how all of you deal with the emotions and stress from your career? From people dieing and dealing with death? That is the only obstical i forsee in my path of becoming an EMT/Paramedic? I can be very emotional sometimes?
Thanks,
Bobbie Jo
Thanks,
Bobbie Jo
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Todd on
-
Bobbie Jo, after 15 years as an EMT and firefighter I can tell you that you will develop the ability to evaluate your surroundings and how they effect your care of your patient. I am assuming your fearing blood, guts, etc. however that is easy to deal with. With trama you patch and go. The other emotions that may be difficult to deal with like children involved in assults or accidents, elderly abuse etc. are the ones that have taxed me the most and they are the ones that each person may handle differently. But one thing will always hold true. You have a duty to maintain your emotions until an appropriate time allows you or I or anyone else to "break down". I don't know if this helps but time will help you more than anything. Todd
-
Permalink Reply by Beth on
-
Sometimes you just have to go home after shift and cry. I used to cry all the time but time has helped with that issue. You also learn to hide your emotions. If you feel like you are going to cry think happy thoughts. Also find someone at the dept. to talk things over with. I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but there is no magic pill to deal with emotions.
-
Permalink Reply by David wilson on
-
Look i am not going to lie fire and ems can become very stressful but it has to be in you to take it some can and some can't. i do agree that children are harder to deal with but if its in you. you will know .
-
Permalink Reply by EMT Jason on
-
you never get use to it i've been in EMS for 7 years , doesn't sound like a long time but the things I've seen would make most people sick to there stomach. Well a lot of Services has debriefing class after a really bad accident or what ever. It's all right to be human and cry but don't let it break you down. And if it gets to the point where you don't feel others pain it's time to get out I have friends that have been in the EMS field for years and years they still get up set and cry so hang o in there and be strong REMEMBER talk to someone if something is bothering you.
-
Permalink Reply by Jason Black on
-
Some people deal with it better than others. Just remember people are going to die. Some injuries or medical events are so bad that no one on earth can do anything about it. What makes me get through those moments is being well trained and doing the very best for the patient that could have been done. If I think I could have done something different or done something alittle better, those are the ones that stick with me the longest. After some time, I have became sort of numb to the whole thing. I don't know if it is normal, good or bad. In a way it keeps emotions out of the way so I can function.
-
Permalink Reply by David on
-
Bobbie Jo,
Well I can say from my experiences that I agree with the rest.. it can be very tough at times. but if you can function till you get the job at hand done, you should do fine. We all have calls that haunt us and stay with us. Ask anyone who has been around a while, what there worst smell is and you can almost see them relive the call that brings back that smell. I have found that being around others like me and being able to share those experiences with them really helps. I dont mean telling war stories (allthough we all are willing to share those..lol) but just to have people with similar experiences to understand what we go through can mak a huge difference in being able to cope with anything. Make some friends with the down to earth medics in your group and you should have a good support system that will be able to help you through the rough spots.
-
Permalink Reply by Parker B. on
-
Bobbie Jo,
The following is something I wrote, I think it may help you understand who you are and why you have chosen this field:
Dodging bullets is not part of the job description, but we do it.
Being chased by an angry dog that does not understand that you are there to help it's owner is not part of the job description, but we do it.
Holding back the tears because you were not able to save someone's live is not in the job description, but we do it.
Holding the hand of an elderly lady crying for her husband of 60 years lying on the floor dead and trying not to cry with her but comforting her instead is not in the job description, but we do it.
Holding the lifeless body of a two year old and looking into the eye's of her parents and deciding to try CPR one more time to try to save this child even though you know it won't is not in the job description, but we do it.
Pulling a fallen brother/sister firefighter from a burning building after the roof collapsed on top of them is not in the job description, but we do it.
Performing CPR on a lifeless dog or cat and breathing life back into them is not in the job description, but we do it.
Having to attend the funeral of a fallen brother/sister EMS hero is not in the job description, but we do it.
We all do this because it is our calling, not to become rich or famous, hell not for any recognition at all. We know the job that we do and we feel the bond between all of us each and every day. If we are able to save just one life, then all of the blood, sweat and tears have been worth it. I love all you guys and girls and I am honored to be part of this heroic family of mentally unstable persons!
You see Bobbie Jo, dealing with the stress and deaths of this job can be very hard at first. Until you discover your own way of dealing with it and subdueing your human emotions long enough so that they don't see you break down, it will be hard to control it. But you must alway's remember that thoes family members are looking at you to save their family member and looking at you to tell them that everything will be alright. it is VERY stressful and trying, but you have to be the piller of professionalism and keep a stiff upper lip until you drive away, then you can let it all out. Cry if you must, weap if you will but there is alway's tomorrow to try and save that other life. GOD be with you in your endevor and best of luck with your career decision. You can do it!!!
~Parker~
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
-
These are all great thoughts and ideas, and I'd like to throw in my own two cents. It sounds like you aren't through class yet, or maybe contemplating getting into the field of EMS. Whatever, just make sure you practice your skills in class and hopefully during ride-along times, so that you know them thoroughly. If you feel you are weak in one area or another, practice until you have it down.
Then, when you are faced with your first trauma call, or code, or other serious call, your training will kick in and you will find yourself doing it "just like in class". Of course very few calls go the way we train for, but the basics are the same and if you stick to them you'll get through fine.
Once the call is over there is plenty of time to replay it in your mind or with crew members, maybe thinking about what could have been done differently. We all probably second-guess ourselves at one time or another, but I think that's a healthy thing.
And like someone else said, we can only do our best to apply the knowledge and training at a particular incident. Some times we can save a person, sometimes we can't.
-
Permalink Reply by Christy on
-
Bobbie Jo,
I had the same concerns when I started. I was not sure if I would be able to handle the emotional side of this job. I was amazed at how my training kicked in and got me thru the call. I have had some difficult ones. The one thing the guys said to me when I started....just remember that you did not create this call. We are responding to calls that are out of our hands. We didn't create it but we are there to do everything possible to help. Definitely find those that you can talk to after. Exercise is also a great stress reliever. And as the others said...there is nothing wrong with crying....as long as you wait for the right time and place. Personally for me I look at the spirtual side of death. Everyone has to find their own way to cope. You will find yours too. Best wishes to you!!
-
Permalink Reply by Darin DeFreese on
-
Hello Bobbie Jo,
I've been in the fire service for 21 years and you just learn not let it get to you. The best advise I can give to you is that if it start's to get to you, talk to a senior member of your department. Never hold it in .
Good luck and stay safe
Darin DeFreese
-
Permalink Reply by joshmac on
-
Hmmmm...How do we deal with all the emotions and general BS that you deal with in the EMS field?
I have found that everyone develops a certain amount of resilience to the things we see. Most of the EMS providers that I have met and dealt with through out my career have develeoped a very warped sense of humor (I almost think that a warped humor "bone" is required.) The reality is that there is no one way to define how to deal with these emotions. Several people have mentioned that you "just do it" and that is, to a point, true. I can remember my first serious call (I was in EMT school and about 1/2 way through it when I had it) and I'll tell you, the strength of the overwhelming emotions that I had, I am surprised that I am still in this today. The best thing that happened after that call was the critical incident debriefing that was held by the department. It helped me to put the entire call into perspective, and let it "go" (although, during a certain time of year I end up getting a little melancholy and know that this is the time of year that the incident happened.) The other thing that I have also found as a way to deal with any emotions that you may have on the call is to talk with your partner on the way back from the hospital/call -- this is a great mini-debriefing that can help you to get over what may have just happened and it may just help keep you from saying "That's it! I quit!"
Hope this helps!
Joshmac
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
