Stress Management  Emotional Aspects of Emergency Care (2 hours - Basic, Intermediate and Paramedic levels)

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1. Stress Management (20 minutes)
   1. Definition of Stress
   2. Definition of Burnout
   3. Definition of Depression
   4. Stressful situations that produce stress response
      1. Mass casualty
      2. Infant/child trauma
      3. Infant/child/elder/spouse abuse
      4. Death/injury to co-worker
      5. Personal stressors
      6. Ergonomics (work setting)
     
2. Recognizing Warning Signs of Stress/Four Hall Marks of Stress (10 minutes)
   1. Persistent feelings of fatique
   2. Loss of motivation
   3. Negativity
   4. Persistent cynicism
     
3. Other Signs and Symptoms of Stress (20 minutes)
   1. Emotional
   2. Behavioral
   3. Cognitive
   4. Physical
     
4. Managing Distress and Avoiding Burnout (15 minutes)
   1. Life style changes
   2. Work environment changes
   3. Change diet
   4. Exercise
   5. Relaxation techniques, mediation, visual imagery
   6. Balance work, recreation, family, health
     
5. EMS personnel and their family and friends response (20 minutes)
   1. Expectations of EMS personnel
   2. Lack of understanding
   3. Fear of separation and being ignored
   4. On-call situation cause stress
   5. Can't plan activities
   6. Frustrations caused by wanting to share
     
6. Maladaptive solutions (15 minutes)
   1. Learned helplessness
   2. Substance abuse
   3. The "rut" syndrome
   4. Inappropriate expression of frustrations
     
7. Positive Management Approaches (20 minutes)
   1. Take time off
   2. Take time for yourself
   3. Increase activity
   4. Develop outside friends and interests (MCI plan)
   5. Self programming and rebalancing