Sleepy at work? Take care on the late shift

Ambulance Today Volume 3, Issue 3 - March 2004
15/11/2004

As part of our continuing research into fatigue in the emergency services this article focuses on the high levels of tiredness being experienced by ambulance crews. In the USA a number of high profile road accidents involving ambulances have brought this issue to the fore. In the UK the issue is less well appreciated, but our discussions with ambulance crews and H&S managers have shown that tiredness among emergency service workers urgently needs to be addressed at a national level. This article highlights some of the dangers faced by ambulance crews working nights….

Sleepy at work? Take care on the late shift

A number of our researchers have worked in hospital settings and therefore understand the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. One of our consultants has recently researched a PhD on the effects of long work hours and shiftwork on sleep and cardiovascular health.

Long and irregular work hours are all part of the job for dedicated UK Ambulance Service employees. Shifts start and finish at all times of the day and night and for some employees overtime has become the norm. As many readers are aware, rigorous work hours reduce the opportunity for sleep and leave us feeling tired and sometimes unwell. This article presents an up-to-date summary of research assessing the impact of shiftwork on health and well-being. It looks at some of the strategies that can be put in place to improve the well-being of Ambulance Service employees and anyone involved in shiftwork…..

For a full copy of this article please contact us on +44 (0) 8450 77 00 38.