Emergency Medical Response Emotional Aspects of Emergency Care

Emergency Medical Response

Emotional Aspects of Emergency Care


You Are the Emergency Medical Responder

Your police unit responds to a call for a medical emergency involving a man who has collapsed in front of a school building. When you and your partner arrive, you see that the man is bleeding from the mouth and face. Vomit and blood are on the ground around him. “His face hit the ground when he fell,” a bystander says. The victim does not appear to be breathing.

Lesson 3: The Well-Being of the Emergency Medical Responder


Stressful Situations

Dangerous situations Physical and psychological demands Critically injured or ill people Death and dying patients Overpowering sights, smells and sounds Multiple-patient situations Angry or upset patients, family and

bystanders


Emotional Crises

Steps that will help the EMR to deal with a dying victim and his or her family members Recognizing that the victims needs include

sharing, communication, privacy, and control Allowing family members to express emotions,

know that its usually not personal Listening empathetically Not offering false reassurance Using a gentle tone of voice Letting the victim know that everything that

can be done to help will be done Comforting the patient and family


Exceptions to Resuscitation

Valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order present at the scene

Patient with obvious signs of death Tissue decay Rigor mortis Obvious mortal wounds Dependent lividity – pooling of blood

Situation endangering to EMR’s life


Stages of Grief

Denial – denies seriousness of situation Anger – toward other people Bargaining – negotiate with a spiritual

being Depression – sadness and grief Acceptance – accepts the situation


Warning Signs of Stress

Difficulty sleeping and nightmares Irritability Sadness, anxiety or guilt Indecisiveness or lack of concentration Loss of appetite or interest in sexual

activity or work Isolation or hopelessness Alcohol or drug misuse/abuse


Critical Incident Stress Reactions

A critical incident is a specific situation that causes an EMR to have an unusually strong emotional reaction that interferes with his or her ability to function immediately after the event and later on. This reaction can produce stress called Critical Incident Stress Confusion, shortened attention span or poor

concentration Denial, guilt, depression or anger Change in interactions with others Increased or decreased eating Uncharacteristic or excessive humor or silence Any other unusual behavior


Critical Incident Stress

Strong emotional reaction that interferes with ability to function

Can build-up over days, weeks, months, or years May require professional counseling A critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) is a

type of meeting held within 24 to 72 hours of an incident. During a CISD, participants are encouraged to

have an open discussion of feelings, fears, and reactions triggered by the incident.

Defusing Less formal and less structured


Activity

You are the first to arrive on the scene of a multi-vehicle collision involving a tractor trailer and several cars. The driver of the tractor trailer is severely injured with a portion of his hand partially severed. A person in one of the cars, a young teenager, has been thrown through the windshield and is lying in a contorted position on the side of the road. Another person is trapped in the car and unable to move her leg.

• What could cause stress in this scenario? (Learning Log)


Steps to Relieve Stress After an Incident

Quick relaxation techniques Healthy meal No caffeinated beverages Avoidance of alcohol and drugs Event review Rest Involvement in physical activity Debriefing/defusing


Enrichment: Health of the Emergency Medical Responder

Physical well-being Physical fitness, nutrition and sleep Prevention of disease transmission Safety, including protection from the sun

Mental well-being Stress management techniques Balance of work and life demands Avoid alcohol or drug use or misuse

Read Enrichment pages 38-40

Documents

Emergency Medical Response Emotional Aspects of Emergency Care