Tips to Keep Calm if You’re an EMT in a Critical Emergency Situation

---

Being an emergency medical technician (EMT), you get all kinds of calls from simple injuries to cardiac arrests, and you really can’t be sure what a call entails until you get there, but there are some things you can do to help manage the stress when the situation takes a dive and still get the job done while remaining psychologically healthy.

Prepare for what may happen

As an EMT, you are going to see people that are hurt and there is always going to be a chance you’ll lose a patient. It’s important that you understand this going into the job. It’s necessary to ask yourself before deciding on this carrier path: “Can I really deal with what I may see or have to do?” and to make sure your answer is a ”Yes.”

Proper training is a must in any highly stressful situation and you will fall back on your training in times of stress. If your training is not there at all, you simply won’t know how to react and could freeze up. To quote the Greek soldier Archilochos, “We don’t rise to the level of your exceptions…we fall to the level of our training.” Having confidence in your training is the best inoculation against stress. The second way to prepare is try to make friends with your co-workers, knowing they have your back when times get tough can help give you the confidence to get you through hard times. Make sure you have people around you that you feel comfortable talking to; no one can bear all the weight on their own.

Know what to do when the time comes

You never know when things will take a turn for the worse, but there are a few things you can do to help you get through it. Focus on what “needs done” rather than simply worrying about the entire medical crisis. It’s important to realize you can’t change the past, but you can affect the future.

Self defense expert Jeff Cooper and later Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and Bruce Siddle developed a color code for stress and they advocate remaining in the yellow state any time stress might be present, which is “alert” but not fearful. Basically, your aim is to never become complacent in your job. Never let yourself reach grey or black and try not to stay in red for too long. In these states, you begin to have tunnel vision and coordination makes it impossible to do delicate movements. Being aware of your stress can help you know when you need to cool down by thinking about your family or saying a comforting mantra.

Make sure to decompress afterwards

Once you’re out of harm’s way then you need to deal with the stress you were holding in. Talking to coworkers or family can help a lot and they will remind you that you’re going to be okay. You may have to take some time off to deal with a traumatic event and there’s no shame in taking a few days to relax. You’re no use to anyone if you’re not at the top of your game. If you start to notice constant nightmares or a drastic change in behavior after the event, take the time to see a psychologist since you may have a case of post-traumatic stress disorder and they can help you and your love ones work through it. Remember, there’s no shame in admitting you’re scared when the worse happens. It’s whether you let that fear prevent you from getting the job done. This is a job that’s meaningful and everyone appreciates. Coming in every day, ready to help, is what matters.