ADVERTISEMENT
Six Tips for Peace During the Pandemic
It seems a daunting task to be peaceful in this time of uncertainty, especially for those of us in the emergency medical services. Being on the frontline of something with the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic is new to most of us and scary for all of us. So in this time of uncertainty, how do we best deal with the challenges we face and still keep an internal and external peace that helps us maintain our mental health? Here are some tips to focus on as you go through your daily responsibilities.
1) Stay Informed
Knowledge is power. Knowing what is truly going on not only in your area but in your region and state will allow you to make the most educated decisions about how to be prepared for what comes next. A word of caution: Confirm your sources are reliable; there is tons of misinformation out there.
For managers—Ensure you’re a solid source for your team. In the absence of your voice, someone in your organization will create the information you’re not sharing. Make every effort to be available. Organize with other other providers in your area as well as with needed community resources to ensure all information being conveyed is uniform. Take time at the beginning of every shift to share the most up-to-date news for that day’s workforce. In the days of social distancing, use all communication tools available.
2) Stay Focused
Many times in EMS we know what’s right but find ourselves getting complacent. It is even more difficult to be focused in the face of fear. Keep yourself vigilant and pay attention to details. Allow yourself time to think about what you’re doing next and follow your plans for a safe shift.
For managers—Throughout the day ensure you and your leadership team conduct regular check-ins with staff to help them stay focused, listen to their concerns and frustrations, and change processes as needed. Be sure changes are clearly understood.
3) Monitor Your Physical Health
Ensure you’re eating well at every opportunity, with good, nutritious food. It is common to want comfort foods at times of stress! Plan and prepare meals and take your food to work. Be sure to stay hydrated—PPE can be very dehydrating! Take time to rest and get tons of sleep; if possible, nap early and often. When home try to keep a regular schedule. Exercise is also valuable to relieve stress; don’t discount the impact of a quick walk or online yoga class.
For managers—Monitor the physical and mental well-being of members of your workforce. We can see when people look tired and dehydrated. Be sure water is available for them throughout their shift. Be aware of the unique needs of your department and ready to address them as they arise.
4) Feed Your Soul
Spirituality, religion, and individual belief comprise a sensitive subject and differ for everyone. In these times it is important to stay connected to your beliefs and value system while still respecting the differences that make us great. Remember to exercise, and meditation is a great way to stay focused.
For managers—Assist in motivating and inspiring your workforce throughout their shift. Sending inspirational messages can help everyone get through the toughest part of the day. Be encouraging—if there’s ever a time for a pat on the back, this is it. You will be surprised how far an honest and sincere compliment can go in a time of stress.
5) Share Your Experiences
Start journaling about what you’re encountering. Remember, this is new to everyone; it is your experiences that make you the expert on what you’ve seen and developed to handle this horrible pandemic. One day you may be on the stage at a state or national conference, and your journal entries will be your guide to sharing the best information. Journaling is a great way to remember what you have to be thankful for. Writing down even as few as three things every day will be helpful. We all have good things that happen every day. We can all find something to be thankful for. Write for you—there is benefit to journaling, even if no one else ever sees it.
For managers—Encourage journaling to your staff to ease frustration, stress, and fear. It will also be a great practice for you to begin journaling yourself. Sharing your experiences will give your team hope and strength for these challenging days
6) Look Ahead
This won’t last forever. We don’t know when, but an end will come. Plan something for yourself when this is all over. Give yourself a reward for the hard work you’re being put through. Plan a vacation, schedule a family reunion, plan on learning something new, maybe buy something with your stimulus check. Whatever it is, look ahead and give yourself a vision for the end.
For managers—When you look ahead, make a plan for the growth of your organization. This is going to be a great learning experience—think about the future and turn it into something that will keep the momentum going.
If I could add just one more tip during this time of challenge: Laugh, laugh often, and laugh more. They say laughter is the best medicine—plan on getting a dose. Hopefully when this pandemic is over, we will come out just like EMS always does: on top. Remember these tips and come up with coping strategies of your own. Reach out to your peers, friends, and family. Let them know you are there for them and let them be there for you. The stress this is causing might have long -term effects on everyone, but supporting each other and talking it out will reduce those effects. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t think talking to a colleague will increase their stress—they may be looking for a way to help someone else, and reaching out to them and letting them help you may be helping them too!
Corinne Flammer, MS, BS, MICP, is a speaker, author, and advocate for the EMS field. She has extensive expertise in CISM, trained at the Critical Incident Stress Foundation, is practiced in CISM skills as a peer counselor, and assisted in counseling personnel after 9/11. Corinne has a BS in organizational management and an MS in psychology with a concentration in crisis management and trauma.
