Sleep Deprivation and Health importance in our life

Sleep Deprivation

1. Sleep Deprivation
The Other Silent Killer

2. Sleep Deprivation
With many Emergency Service organizations opting
for longer work schedules, what are the effects on
the body?
What about working another job on the off days?

3. Sleep Deprivation Enabling Objectives
The student will be able to identify the symptoms of sleep
deprivation and fatigue
The student will become familiar with possible health risks
The student will be aware of other increased risks to
responding personnel
The student will be aware of risks and liabilities to the
organization
The student will be able to identify prevention and
mitigation strategies

4. What’s the Big Deal?
7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep is required by the body (average)
2015 study found 50% of EMS workers suffered fatigue
Average shift in Fire and EMS is 24 hours
Most FF’s and EMS have one full-time and at least one additional job
High run stations receive far less than the recommended sleep
Providers have alarming rates of illness, depression, PTSD and suicide

5. Health Implications
Cognitive Impairment
Researchers found that sleep-deprived firefighters are
more likely to make impulsive decisions
Wakefulness for over 18 hours = BAC of 0.05%
Wakefulness for 24 hours = 0.096% (legally DWI)
Decreased reaction speed
Reduced short-term and long-term memory
Take greater risks

6. Health Implications
Cognitive Impairment
Military studies found pilot errors doubled after the loss of
a night’s sleep
Pilots claimed depression and confusion
Drowsy driving
100,000 crashes a year
Going home after a long shift doubles chances of crash

7. Health Implications
Cognitive Impairment
Adequate sleep needed for the heart and vessels to repair
themselves
On-going sleep-deprivation decreases repair rate

8. Health Implications
Cancer
World Health Organization has classified shift work as a
probable carcinogen
Shift work thought to disrupt the circadian rhythm and
associated melatonin production
Firefighter cancer rate 300% higher than general
population
Sleep deprivation thought to exacerbate the problem

9. Health Implications
Alzheimer’s Disease
Amyloid-beta is a protein associated with Alzheimers
Long periods of being awake leads to increase of Amyloid-
beta

10. Health Implications
Immune System
Sleep helps regulate hormones that control hunger/eating
Weight gain 70% of EMS responders claimed obesity
May result in:
 Obstructive Sleep Apnea
 Diabetes
Metabolic Syndrome
Higher Blood Pressure
Elevated levels of cortisol

11. Other Implications

Liability for misdiagnosis or misreading emergency scene
Fatigue is the leading cause of medical errors in EMS
Fine motor function decreases
Compassion and empathy reduced
2.5 times more likely to commit an adverse event such as
Protocol deviation
Dropping a patient
Medication errors

12. Other Implications

Company liability for
vehicular accidents
personal injury
workman’s comp claims
Almost 200% more likely to be injured
350% more likely to be involved in a safety-compromising behavior
Possible injuries to fellow workers, patients and victims
Loss of agency productivity due to medical and/or mental conditions
Increased costs to backfill shifts, insurance premiums, etc.

13. Sleep Deprivation
Solutions

14. Develop educational programs for employees
Develop policies governing maximum work periods
Keep dorms and bedrooms
Free of electronic devices
Free of TV’s
Dark and quiet
No sleep in recliners
Allow employees to nap
Maximize off duty time
Use of moderate amounts of caffeine
Call in crews for heavier-than-normal call volume or long cals
Exercise

15. So Why Don’t We Fix The Problems?
Higher costs
Additional staffing
Additional overhead costs
Additional equipment
Some jurisdictions may not be able to sustain
costs
Ever-increasing call volume
Shortage of trained personnel
Insufficient departmental budgets

16. Sleep deprivation is a current
emergency services problem that must
be managed if we are to protect the
health and safety of our personnel.
Sleep deprived providers are unsafe to
themselves and others and may be
setting the stage for future health
issues.