Sarnia Paramedic Association Case study # six

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Eric has been a volunteer with the emergency services organization in his small community for eight years.When he first started he was a volunteer firefighter, but now is trained at a basic medical level as well.He, like the others with the 30-member department, carries a pager and responds as needed, day or night.The service averages 300 responses per year.Eric has probably been on three-quarters of those calls already this year.He has considered quitting the department due to family and work concerns.He and his wife have been having marital difficulties and he has been recently promoted at work.Rather than quit the fire department Eric decided to upgrade his medical training to the next level and has been studying hard to pass the exams.This weekend he set aside time away from work and his family to study.His family has just left for a picnic in the park.It is a beautiful sunny Saturday but he settles down at the kitchen table with his books and a cup of coffee.The pager goes off asking members to report to the hall for a medical response.Eric tries to ignore the tones as he knows there are others available and he needs to study.When the pager goes off a second time requesting anyone available to respond he cannot ignore it and runs out the door, jumps into his vehicle and drives to the hall.

Eric responds with a driver to attend to a M.V.A. vs. pedestrian call.A four year old boy was trying out his brother’s new bicycle when he lost control sped down a driveway and was struck by a car.Eric knows both the driver of the car and the boy.Eric and his partne4re work on the boy, who has massive head injuries, and transport him to hospital.The boy is pronounced dead on arrival.

On the way back to the station Eric and his partner say nothing to each other as they both consider why they volunteer.Once in his private vehicle, Eric considers what he will tell his daughter, whose best friend is the sister of the four year old who was killed.Eric feels a knot in his stomach and pulls over to the side of the road and vomits.Eric’s hands are shaky; he feels that familiar headache and knows he is in for yet another sleepless night.Eric is now unable to concentrate on his studying and sits down on the front step to drink a few beers and wait for his family to return home.

6.Critical Incident Stress Defusing can be helpful in dealing with cumulative stress.

9.The diagnosis of P.T.S.D. can be made only if the signs and symptoms of disturbance from a particularly bad event last a month or more.

15.C.I.S.D. can be used for industries, schools, and communities as well as emergency services.

22.At the scene of a critical incident, peer support members of a C.I.S.D. team:

23.In order to maximize workers effectiveness and prevent unnecessary stressors during a disaster:

24.Stress reactions usually diminish if there is opportunity to discuss the events and explore personal feelings about its impact. Stress reactions become a problem and should be discussed with a mental health professional if:

EMS Quiz

By Heather MacKenzie-Carey

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