Drowsy and dangerous? Fatigue in paramedics: an overview (June 2019)

Summary

Fatigue is a complex phenomenon that has effects on physical characteristics, cognition, behaviours, and physical and mental health. Paramedicine crosses the boundaries of many high-risk industries, namely medicine, transport and aviation. The effects of fatigue on paramedics need to be explored and considered in order to begin to identify appropriate interventions and management strategies.

This article, published in the Irish Journal of Paramedicine, demonstrates that fatigue is associated with increased errors and adverse events, increased chronic disease and injury rates, depression and anxiety, and impaired driving ability. It has suggested that paramedic services and paramedics need to work collaboratively to identify and action appropriate measures to reduce the effects of fatigue on the wellbeing of the workforce and mitigate its effects on clinical performance and safety.