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Coping with the baddest, the maddest and the saddest: Emergency personnel study stress management
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By MISTY MAYNARD Staff Writer
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While police, fire department and emergency officials are trained for the duties of their respective positions, few are trained to deal with the accompanying physical toll their positions take. The amount of stress on those individuals is magnified because their careers require more than a 9 to 5 work day -- it is a lifestyle.
"In police work, historically we've focused on the physical training, with firearms and exercise," said Lt. Justin Horch with the Maysville Police Department. "But we haven't ... mentally trained our officers to deal with the daily stress and traumatic situations that our offices will encounter throughout their career."
Remedying that, members of the Maysville Police Department, EMS and Fire Department attended a special stress management seminar Friday at Maysville Community and Technical College. The class was taught by Dennis R. Lindsey, the supervisory special agent and senior instructor from the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.
"We have to deal with the worst of people all the time," Lindsey said about officials in emergency responder positions. "We see the baddest, the maddest and the saddest."
Lindsey said the badge officials wear may weigh only two ounces, but when it is pinned on, the weight is immeasurable.
"When the badge is pinned on the chest, it's a lifestyle," he said.
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| Firefighters Kevin Doyle, Daniel Sammons and other emergency workers attended the conference on Friday.
Terry Prather/Staff |
Especially in a small community, Lindsey said it is difficult for officers to separate work with their personal life, since they are often known by many in the community.
Lindsey spoke at length about the biological effects of stress, and how to manage stress, from incorporating exercise and a regular diet into their lifestyle, to the significance of regular sleep.
Lindsey especially addressed sleep and issues related to it, including fatigue and how it can affect the officials' responses, insomnia and sleep stages and patterns.
"Lack of sleep disrupts every physical function of the body," he said.
He also shared 20 sleep myths and the corresponding actual truths. One myth was that sleep is the most valuable at certain times, such as after 9 p.m., however Lindsey said sleep is most valuable if it comes at a time planned by the body. Another myth is that sleeping pills give more sleep, but, the quality of rest is lower. And as every kindergarten student knows, naps are good for you.
According to information provided by Lindsey during the seminar, the human body is designed to stay in a stress level 15 to 20 minutes a day, while many law enforcement and emergency officials remain in it 24 hours a day.
On average, the life expectancy of a police officer or emergency responder is 11 years shorter than the life expectancy of people in other professions due to the stress they encounter.
Horch expressed appreciation for Lindsey taking the time to present the seminar, as well as the community college for providing the room and refreshments.
Contact Misty Maynard at 606-564-9091, ext. 274. |
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