The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Firefighter Insomnia
Heard of it? Experienced it? Dealing with it right now?
I've noticed that some of the stations I work at I seem to be up all night not being able to fall asleep. It's usually at the slower station where I suffer bouts of insomnia. Anyone have any good methods to help with this? We head to our gym for about an hour every shift, if possible we take a nap after lunch, and we're always out and about doing something. However, it seems like I still find myself flipping through channels on the tv and looking up random stuff on wikipedia and FFN to help pass the time and wear myself out. I know this can't be too great on one's health; if it were a once in a while type thing I would understand, but its starting to become habitual and occuring every shift now (we work 24/24 for 2 weeks followed by 7days off) Any ideas would be appreciated.
Jon Logue
I've noticed that some of the stations I work at I seem to be up all night not being able to fall asleep. It's usually at the slower station where I suffer bouts of insomnia. Anyone have any good methods to help with this? We head to our gym for about an hour every shift, if possible we take a nap after lunch, and we're always out and about doing something. However, it seems like I still find myself flipping through channels on the tv and looking up random stuff on wikipedia and FFN to help pass the time and wear myself out. I know this can't be too great on one's health; if it were a once in a while type thing I would understand, but its starting to become habitual and occuring every shift now (we work 24/24 for 2 weeks followed by 7days off) Any ideas would be appreciated.
Jon Logue
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Jonathan on
-
You singled out my problem exactly Kali. I need to get into the habit of going to bed. Our bunkrooms are pitch black the windows are blacked out and the bedrooms are no warmer than 64 degrees even in the winter. Everyone has a tv infront of their bed as well as their own fan. The captain snores horribly but I sleep fine regardless of lights or noise.
I learned my lesson the first time it happened when I first joined the fire service. I had been working on an aerial for several months straight and was used to hearing the truck get toned out. I worked OT one day at another station on an engine, I heard the tone go off but when I heard the dispatcher call out the engine, I just went back to sleep not thinking (because it wasn't my aerial). The captain came running in shouting for me to wake up and I've never since missed a call. I am a hard sleeper sometimes but we have it all down as an unspoken rule to wake up anyone when the tones go off if they aren't up already (assuming its their truck being called).
Much obliged I will definently start making myself goto bed and stop killing time in the day room. Working on a 72hr shift, only 31 hours to go before my long time off!
-Jon
-
Permalink Reply by ffbam24 on
-
I don't think anyone really sleeps well at the firehouse. The day after is usually a recovery of sorts with a good nap when I get home in the morning.
Sometimes I find myself still kind of amped up late into the night and can't fall asleep right away. Hyper-vigilance.
Sounds like that one night was your trigger. Try to get into a routine if you can. Avoid tv and internet (If that's at all possible LOL) an hour before trying to rack out.
-
Permalink Reply by FETC on
-
Jonathan,
I wanted to chat with you on email but I guess I will air it here. I went through a time where I was circling the drain due to lack of sleep. Even when at home I was waking multiple times due to my work sleep pattern due to call volume. My doctor had me record my sleep hours for a week in a log book and we found that I was actually getting way too little sleep. Less than 4-5 hours a night only 30-35 a week. You need 50+ to stay healthy. Lack of sleep is killing us slowly. Systematically I was shutting down. Walking zombie. Not overnight this took months to happen. She researched some studies about our profession. The process of resting and staying alert for calls is an oxymoron. The key as some have described is routine. Which is difficult in our biz. She looked into sleep studies and napping. 3 pm is ideal time in the day BUT no longer than 45 minutes. Diet is key with supplements and vitamins. I take a homeopathic medecine called Aurum. A natural supplement. I awake feeling well rested even when we get our ass handed to us with calls. A well balanced diet and dinner not too late into the shift. I found that exercise in the afternoon instead of morning was another key change. Exercising late afternoon though difficult to get motivated because we tend to dip in a little low with BS, actually awakens you while burning off stored fats / energy. This also sets you up to be tired later. Morning exercise for me, I was re-energized by dinner time.
No caffiene, soda, coffee after 3, lots of water at least a 100 ounces and I have used some sleepy time tea as well. The next big thing I found was, as you stated stay off the television or computer. You have to force yourself to lay down, darken your room, quiet as possible, or with a little white noise. I also went and got a foam egg carton pad to put on top of our shitty mattresses. I also found I would adjust the climate. A little warmer with less blankets set you up for quicker sleep. It was also suggested by the doc, to read a book with a little (low light) book light for 10-15 minutes while waiting to fall asleep. I now fall asleep within 10 minutes and awaken rested.
Your concern over missing a call is probably your trigger, make alliance with your brothers to assure you are awake when the bell rings. It is in the best interest of everyone to be rested and ready to go to work when the shit hits the fan.
The other thing she went into was "me time" you work alot of hours and how do you get away and enjoy life outside of the department - this is a huge chronic stress reliever. I, in my spiral was focusing on work and not enough on life, so I added in going to the chiropractor for maintenance, get a massage, I got back out on the mountain bike in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Hope some of this is helpfull, I know what you are feeling.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve on
-
Same problem here. A fan dose help and ive been trying to lay in bed and read and it has helped. The tv keeps me up and so dose the computer.
-
-
Sorry for the confusion Bill I thought you were offering me to e-mail you the next time I'm wide awake at 0200 on duty. I've thankfully not been having any problems sleeping for the past couple days, but then again I'm on my week off right now, heading back to duty Wednesday. I'm going to pick up one of those cheap mattress toppers from walmart later tonight and start bringing a book or two and leaving them in my locker until just before bedtime. I had been reading my fire investigator book, but it has not story or plot just information and I don't believe it would help me fall asleep.
I greatly appreciate all the advice and will definitely put the tips into affect.
-Jon
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
