EMTIP Wellness

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EMT-I/PWellness

• Presented by
• Captain Michael W. Robinson, MA NREMT-P
• Baltimore County Fire Department
• EMS Training Section

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EMT-I/PWellness-OVERVIEW

• Wellness defined
• Infection Control
• Risk Reduction/Management
• Stress
• Lifestyle Management

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Wellness defined

• State of well-being of an individual
• Three components
• Physical well-being
• Mental well-being
• Emotional well-being

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Physical Well-Being

• I feel good!
• Adequate weight
• Normal laboratory values
• Disease free
• Physically fit
• Limited cardiac risk factors
• Good nutrition

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Mental Well-Being

• Absence of psychological disorders
• Positive outlook
• Ability to empathize with pts.
• Compassionate
• Stress Reduction

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Emotional Well-being

• Physical well-being
• Mental well-being
• Do you feel great!
• Stress-free
• Can you handle it?
• Do you have baggage?

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Infection Control

• Compliance with 1910.1030 (OSHA)
• Bloodborne Pathogens-HIV/Hepatitis
• Airborne Pathogens
• Report ANY exposures/?
• Engineering Controls
• Prophylaxis/prevention
• Practice hygiene

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Risk reduction/management

• Risk real or potential hazard that can cause an
  injury or occupational setback.
• Injury surveillance-systematic program for
  monitoring cause and occurrence of same
• Risk management-comprehensive program for
  reducing risk.
• Awareness/prevention/training are key to
  management.

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Risk Management

• Become aware of hazards
• Have applicable safety equipment
• Be trained/retrained in everything
• Document any occurrence
• Seek medical care
• Improve/reduce risks
• Keep personal records

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STRESS

• Physical and/or emotional state of arousal
• Can be good or bad stress (eustress)
• Acute stress
• Delayed stress
• Chronic stress
• Burnout

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EMS STRESS- WHY?

• Lack of organizational support?
• Inadequacies (personal/agency)
• Death/dying
• People at their worst/helplessness
• High anxiety
• Administrative issues?
• Unrealistic perceptions?

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EMS Stress-COPING?

• Relax/Relax/Relax
• Recognize the symptoms
• CISD
• EAP/referrals
• Seek help early
• Have an outlet/unwind!
• Get away from it/support groups-family
• Love EMS or get out of it!

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Lifestyle Management

• Follow Maslows hierarchy
• Physiological needs (eat/sleep/health)
• Safety/Security(risk reduction/mgmt.)
• Belongingness(have friends/join)
• Self-esteem(respect yourself)
• Self-actualization (have a goal)

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Lifestyle management

• Eat well/excercise
• Sleep well
• Have a life/diversions!
• Have friends/support
• Have somebody else?
• Communicate-let it out!
• Stay healthy
• Enjoy/love EMS?

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SUMMARYEMT-I/P Wellness

• Wellness defined
• Infection Control
• Risk reduction/management
• Stress
• Lifestyle management
• Be safe, be happy, be healthy!