1. Dont Stress out You could give yourself a heart attack !!!!
2. The story you are about to see is true The names have NOT been changed. Because the star of this story is far from innocent!!!!!!!!
3. January 16th, 2003..7:25 a.m. Connersville, Indiana.47331.
4. Patient sound asleep, AWAKEND BY EXTREME MIDSTERNAL CHEST PAIN10- plus on pain scale. Patients immediate thoughtsI AM HAVING A FREAKING HEART ATTACK.I DONT HAVE TIME FOR THIS.
5. Sit down , Stay calm, Call Paramedic unit, Take Aspirin, Take one hit of Nitro-sprayPain hurts bad ....Need dilation Lets take 3 hits of Nitro So I was a little stressed that day.
6. So nine months and one stint later. My stress level is much better.
I reached my 41st birthday two days ago.
I got divorced. ( I got the house)
Things couldnt be any better.
7. So lets look at the typical life style of a person in EMS. Usually works a 24 hour shift with little or no sleep.
Eats whenever, and whatever they can woof down in a few minutes(WHITE CASTLES)
Has a back up uniform in the locker, just in case asked to work another 24 hour shift.
Gets off work at 7:00 a.m., and goes to work at another job, usually another ambulance service.
8. Life style continued: Goes home to the family, spends a day with them, and back to work the next day.
Over and over this process repeats itself day in and day out.But you are okayThere is always COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9. Look at your lifestyle, Be honest! Are you stressed out over the job??????????? There is bad stress (Distress).
There is good stress (Eustress).
10. There are good ways and bad ways to deal with your stress. When dealing with stress, you must first decide if what you are stressed over is even worth being stressed for ??????
You must also be able to recognize the warning signs of stress.
Lets look at some signs and symptoms of stress..
11. WARNING SIGNS OF STRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CATAGORIES OF STRESS REACTIONS:
BEHAVIORAL/MENTAL/EMOTIONAL/PHYSICAL.
Behavioral can include:. Drinking,smoking,blaming,crying,yelling
Mental can include:.loss of sense of humor,decreased memory,indecisiveness
12. Symptoms continued: Emotional can include: Fear,depression,worry,anger,impatience.
Physical can include:
Chest pain,fatigue,insomnia,headache,
stiff neck,sweating,colds,heart palpitations.
13. Lets look at some stressful situations,and YOU think how YOU would deal with it. #1
15. Stressful situation #2
17. Stressful situation #3
19. Stressful situation #4
21. Stressful situation #5
23. Good ways to deal with stress: It is a proven fact that humor is the #1 stress reliever:
24. Other methods of coping with stress: Learn to describe your emotions instead of acting them out.
Vent anger by writing down your thoughts. Then tear the paper up.
STOP REPEATING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS.
Put responsibility back on the plates of others.In other words- DELEGATE.
25. Bonding with close friends is a great way to relieve stress:
26. Serious stress not acted upon can leave you feeling helpless and alone:
27. Stress kept in can keep building inside of you, until you burst:
29. Deal with stress, before it deals with you!!!!
31. Presented by: Bill J. Hufford, REMT-P, PI.
EMS Director-Fayette Memorial Hospital
765-827-8045
Available for speaking and other things.
billh@fayettememorial.org
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING.
