From EMS1
by
By Brian J. Maguire, Dr.PH, MSA, EMT-P
Barbara J. O’Neill, PhD, RN
Scot Phelps, JD, MPH, Paramedic
Paul M. Maniscalco, PhD(c), MPA, MS, EMT/P, LP
Daniel R. Gerard, MS, RN, NRP
Kathleen A. Handal, MD
The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic resonate around the world. Escalating infection and death rates are reported daily. While emergency medical services clinicians have been operating at the far forward front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic from the start, their infections, lost work time, long-term clinical manifestations and deaths have not been adequately reported or recorded [1]. In this article, we examine currently available EMS COVID-19 mortality data in order to describe the extent of EMS losses and to compare the risks for EMS clinicians to the risks for other related professions.
On September 1, 2020, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine invited public comment on the Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine, commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. Input from the public, especially communities disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, is essential to produce a final report that is objective, balanced, and inclusive. The public comment period will be open for 4 days, from 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 1, until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, September 4.
The mental, emotional and physical impacts of emergency response work can compromise our ability to be there for our brothers and sisters in uniform, to be engaged with our families, and to protect our communities.
Founded at the National Mental Health Innovation Center of the University of Colorado Anschutz, ResponderStrong is a collaboration between emergency responders and their advocates. Its mission is to improve mental health supports for emergency responders and their families through joint focuses on intervention and prevention. Thesite serves as a resource map for responder-informed crisis and clinical services as well as easily accessible educational content and tools for responders, their families, their leaders and the clinicians who work with them. ResponderStrong has also created custom educational content regarding relationships, stress management, and resiliency in response to community needs assessments.
The role of the affective domain is well studied among other medical and public safety professions, including its impact on provider physical and mental health,
quality and patient perception of care, occupational burnout, empathy fatigue, and organizational commitment. As part of a doctoral research study, a survey has been developed and approved through an Institutional Review Board (IRB). It is hoped the information gathered in this survey will help to develop a clearer understanding of the specific difficulties and needs of EMTs and paramedics.
Participants will be entered to win one of twenty (20) $20 gift cards raffled off at the end of the study (summer of 2020). In addition, the survey results will be shared with participating EMTs and paramedics so that they can learn about our findings and better understand how their work experiences compare to those of others. The survey should take approximately 25 minutes to finish.
Administrators interested in facilitating distribution of the survey may contact researcher Emily Kaplan at Emily_Kaplan@nymc.edu
Emily Kaplan, MPH, EMT-P is working to complete her Doctorate in Public Health at New York Medical College. Her work seeks to understand the role of the affective domain in the out-of-hospital emergency services.
This presentation involves a careful examination of behavioral health awareness for EMS with an emphasis on understanding emotional and physical stressors. We will cover communication skills, addiction, depression, PTSD/PTSI, suicide statistics, retirement, and creating a behavioral health program. The program will:
Introduce attendees to emotional and behavioral awareness.
Introduce attendees to the various emotional stressors that affect EMS providers, including stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicide, and other behaviors.
Discuss Cultural Brainwashing
Discuss suicide rates within the EMS and fire services.
About Jeff Dill
Jeff holds a master’s degree and is a licensed counselor. He is a retired Captain from Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois and is a member of the American Counseling Association and National Board of Certified Counselors.
About Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA)
FBHA’s goal is to provide behavioral health workshops to fire departments and EMS organizations across the globe, focusing on behavioral health awareness with a strong drive towards suicide prevention and promoting resources available to first responders and their families. FBHA’s goal is to promote good mental health for the men and women who serve their communities through EMS and fire protection. FBHA is also focused on training for EAP organizations, Professional Clinicians, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Doctors, Social Workers, Marriage Counselors, Chaplains, and those dedicated to helping EMS and firefighters. FBHA is the only organization in the U.S. which tracks and validates all FF and EMS suicides.
Prehospital Use of the Critical Care Decontamination System (CCDS) for N95 Respirators Download as PDF PURPOSE: Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic response is at unprecedented levels. In order to slow usage rates and maintain supply chain stability, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized an Emergency Use Authorization…
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Recorded May 18, 2020 at 14:00 ET | Free | Now On-Demand
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for healthcare workers and first responders. As this pandemic enters its third month, our employees and those leading EMS agencies are hitting a critical level of physical and emotional fatigue. While many parts of the country are starting the process of “opening back up”, we still have a very long way to go before we return to any semblance of how things looked prior to this Coronavirus outbreak.
Join AAA HR & Operations Consultant, Scott Moore and licensed Psychologist, Dr. Lau Morrison for this important webinar program. Dr. Morrison is a former EMT who currently works for the Los Angeles County, Department of Mental Health working with children who are considered high risk for severe mental health issues. In her private practice, Dr. Morrison works with EMTs and Paramedics who are struggling with PTSD and other mental health and wellness issues. Dr. Morrison and Scott will be discussing many of the challenges that faced EMS personnel in the early days of the COVID-19 response and the challenges that lie ahead in the coming months. This program will provide attendees with strategies that EMS professionals and leaders can employ to provide the greatest support to all who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
