Ambulance drivers under stress are pilots next?
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Ambulance drivers under stress are pilots next?
Alarm bells ring for ambulance drivers
Sydney Morning Herald.
The upper house MP Robyn Parker, chairwoman of the parliamentary inquiry into the ambulance service, said she had been "inundated" with calls from paramedics detailing workplace bullying and harassment, low morale and high stress levels.
She said she also received a call this week about Trent Speering, an officer with the ambulance service's Blue Mountains regional command, who was found dead with his mother inside her Baulkham Hills home last week.
Mr Speering, who was suspended from the service for harassing staff, outlined his list of grievances in letters posted to media outlets before and on the day he is believed to have killed himself and his mother.
It is not yet known how the pair died but the service has confirmed Mr Speering had been suspended since August and was facing disciplinary proceedings.
Ms Parker said her office had heard an unprecedented number of anecdotes about stress levels in the service but paramedics were scared to make submissions, despite assurances their identity could be protected.
"Anecdotally, we can see there is a high suicide rate among ambulance officers," Ms Parker said.
"What is also surprising is that they are violent suicides, hanging and shooting themselves - and not just men, women, too."
An ambulance service spokesman said suicide should "not be trivialised in any way, shape or form for personal or political gain".
Ms Parker said she would raise the case of Mr Speering in the inquiry, although she urged paramedics to lodge written submissions on any grievance.
Does the above article ring any alarm bells with pilots in this country?
Especially when one considers what maybe just around the corner with the worldwide credit crisis, layoffs, reduced working hours, pay cuts, etc all adding to the considerable stresses placed on our modern lives.
Where will it end?
Sydney Morning Herald.
- Alexandra Smith
June 19, 2008
The upper house MP Robyn Parker, chairwoman of the parliamentary inquiry into the ambulance service, said she had been "inundated" with calls from paramedics detailing workplace bullying and harassment, low morale and high stress levels.
She said she also received a call this week about Trent Speering, an officer with the ambulance service's Blue Mountains regional command, who was found dead with his mother inside her Baulkham Hills home last week.
Mr Speering, who was suspended from the service for harassing staff, outlined his list of grievances in letters posted to media outlets before and on the day he is believed to have killed himself and his mother.
It is not yet known how the pair died but the service has confirmed Mr Speering had been suspended since August and was facing disciplinary proceedings.
Ms Parker said her office had heard an unprecedented number of anecdotes about stress levels in the service but paramedics were scared to make submissions, despite assurances their identity could be protected.
"Anecdotally, we can see there is a high suicide rate among ambulance officers," Ms Parker said.
"What is also surprising is that they are violent suicides, hanging and shooting themselves - and not just men, women, too."
An ambulance service spokesman said suicide should "not be trivialised in any way, shape or form for personal or political gain".
Ms Parker said she would raise the case of Mr Speering in the inquiry, although she urged paramedics to lodge written submissions on any grievance.
Does the above article ring any alarm bells with pilots in this country?
Especially when one considers what maybe just around the corner with the worldwide credit crisis, layoffs, reduced working hours, pay cuts, etc all adding to the considerable stresses placed on our modern lives.
Where will it end?
Last edited by blow.n.gasket; 22nd Oct 2008 at 04:02.
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BNG - you draw too long a bow.
Ambos ( and Firies and Coppers) are confronted too often with stark tragedy arising from both chance and (sadly) predictable human behaviour.
It wears some of them down. There was an unforgettable John Laws radio piece many years ago, where an Ambo rang in prior to a Holiday weekend and basically broke down on air because he knew he was going to be confronted once again with the broken bodies of adults and children.
Yes, a lot of people will be under stress as jobs go.
No, it ain't the same as the stuff that confronts, and sometimes overwhelms, emergency service people.
Ambos ( and Firies and Coppers) are confronted too often with stark tragedy arising from both chance and (sadly) predictable human behaviour.
It wears some of them down. There was an unforgettable John Laws radio piece many years ago, where an Ambo rang in prior to a Holiday weekend and basically broke down on air because he knew he was going to be confronted once again with the broken bodies of adults and children.
Yes, a lot of people will be under stress as jobs go.
No, it ain't the same as the stuff that confronts, and sometimes overwhelms, emergency service people.
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'b.n.g' interesting post.
I don't believe that pilots in general are under the same stress levels as paramedics etc. Even though I work side by side with these terrific guys/gals (ambos) pilots wouldn't normally see the ugly side of the medico's jobs. We do a fair bit at my work place (see some horrific scenes) but our main concern is to fly the plane. The ambos have it all on their shoulders the minute the arrive at an accident scene/hospital.
Stress is obvioulsy an insidious killer, something that can't be made or shown as B&W. Pilots like most other high risk (to some degree) professions are exposed to stress (w all are in todays modern fast world)but generally perform their duties in mostly a relaxed and quiet environment, not so the poor ambos, those guys/gals are worth far more than they are every offered! It's after hours as the above article shows that is where the danger lies.
CW
I don't believe that pilots in general are under the same stress levels as paramedics etc. Even though I work side by side with these terrific guys/gals (ambos) pilots wouldn't normally see the ugly side of the medico's jobs. We do a fair bit at my work place (see some horrific scenes) but our main concern is to fly the plane. The ambos have it all on their shoulders the minute the arrive at an accident scene/hospital.
Stress is obvioulsy an insidious killer, something that can't be made or shown as B&W. Pilots like most other high risk (to some degree) professions are exposed to stress (w all are in todays modern fast world)but generally perform their duties in mostly a relaxed and quiet environment, not so the poor ambos, those guys/gals are worth far more than they are every offered! It's after hours as the above article shows that is where the danger lies.
CW
Does the above article ring any alarm bells with pilots in this country?
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I wouldn't swap with the Ambo's for anything, they do a tough job, what I do just pales by comparison.
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I started my post school life with the fuzz. I have a heap of mates who still are police and a half dozen ambos. They deserve double if not triple the cash they get paid for the crap they deal with, ambos in particular.
This is an extract from an article in todays SMH about an enquirey into the NSW Ambulance Service.
Sobering stuff. By comparison, most workers lead a sheltered life. To read the full report. here is the link:
Ambulance chiefs lashed in suicide inquiry - National - smh.com.au
Mr Woodland said a 31-year-old former Sydney paramedic, who was discharged two years ago after five years in the service, called him for help about two months ago. Her first job had been to attend a man who had killed himself by almost cutting his head off with an electric saw.
"She did not get one ounce of help. Her life is wrecked," Mr Woodland said.
"When she goes to see the senior officer, he starts harassing her, saying, 'What's the matter - can't you handle this? If you can't, put in your resignation.'
"She did not get one ounce of help. Her life is wrecked," Mr Woodland said.
"When she goes to see the senior officer, he starts harassing her, saying, 'What's the matter - can't you handle this? If you can't, put in your resignation.'
Ambulance chiefs lashed in suicide inquiry - National - smh.com.au
Last edited by Ken Borough; 21st Oct 2008 at 09:54.
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Read a very interesting article a few years ago about 'cumulative stress'
conducted by the English Ambos. Some ambos took years before they reached their limit and then broke down over a very normal, stressless task.
The girls and guys at the coalface of the ambulance services do a fantastic job. It takes a very special person to continually front up to the carnage that is presented to them day after day.
conducted by the English Ambos. Some ambos took years before they reached their limit and then broke down over a very normal, stressless task.
The girls and guys at the coalface of the ambulance services do a fantastic job. It takes a very special person to continually front up to the carnage that is presented to them day after day.
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As well as a commercial pilot I am also an auxiliary firefighter in QLD.
I don't know what they do for ambos up here, but QFRS provide excellent psychological support - through peer support (a completely confidential service) we have access to psychologists paid by DES. This support is available for any problems whether they be fire, primary employment or home related.
I've never had the need to use these services, but if the warning signs appear I will make use of them. I've been fortunate - I've only been to two incidents that have involved in fatalities that I know of, but have been to numerous others where we've looked at whats happened and can't understand how those involved survived.
One of the hardest things with emergency response is operating in a very time critical situations where even if the very best decision is made the outcome may have already been determined before you are involved, and what may appear to be the best alternative can result in dire consequences. Turning up to accidents which involves friends is never pleasant.
Emergency services employees experience high levels of marital problems - you need to talk through trauma - but it's not the sort of stuff that you can talk about at home. You hear of long term, very experienced firefighters that have to give there operational career away as a result of CIS. Something as small as a common smell doing common daily things can be enough to trigger CIS.
Whilst flying can be stressful, it is a completely different type of stress that impacts those that respond to emergencies on a day to day basis. I couldn't be an ambo - I doubt I'd be able to cope with the stress. Comparing the impact of the stress between the two professions just doesn't cut it IMHO.
I don't know what they do for ambos up here, but QFRS provide excellent psychological support - through peer support (a completely confidential service) we have access to psychologists paid by DES. This support is available for any problems whether they be fire, primary employment or home related.
I've never had the need to use these services, but if the warning signs appear I will make use of them. I've been fortunate - I've only been to two incidents that have involved in fatalities that I know of, but have been to numerous others where we've looked at whats happened and can't understand how those involved survived.
One of the hardest things with emergency response is operating in a very time critical situations where even if the very best decision is made the outcome may have already been determined before you are involved, and what may appear to be the best alternative can result in dire consequences. Turning up to accidents which involves friends is never pleasant.
Emergency services employees experience high levels of marital problems - you need to talk through trauma - but it's not the sort of stuff that you can talk about at home. You hear of long term, very experienced firefighters that have to give there operational career away as a result of CIS. Something as small as a common smell doing common daily things can be enough to trigger CIS.
Whilst flying can be stressful, it is a completely different type of stress that impacts those that respond to emergencies on a day to day basis. I couldn't be an ambo - I doubt I'd be able to cope with the stress. Comparing the impact of the stress between the two professions just doesn't cut it IMHO.
I spent a couple of years as a volunteer ambo in KNX.
You can't compare the two in terms of stress levels - even as a "Volly" you see some pretty horrendous stuff. 50% of the callouts I attended were suicides
and about 25% Domestic violence in the aboriginal communities.
25% were "One-Arm Ethel has had a fit at the Hotel Kunnunurra, can you send the big white taxi?"
How do you pick up a woman with only one arm... and therefore only one armpit
You can't compare the two in terms of stress levels - even as a "Volly" you see some pretty horrendous stuff. 50% of the callouts I attended were suicides
and about 25% Domestic violence in the aboriginal communities.25% were "One-Arm Ethel has had a fit at the Hotel Kunnunurra, can you send the big white taxi?"
How do you pick up a woman with only one arm... and therefore only one armpit
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My Farther has been a paramedic for well over 30yrs. Some of the jobs that these ladies and gents see on such a regular occasion would leave some people scared for life, if only they saw it once. I no for a fact in some regional area it may be only one ambo who arrives on the scene of a multiple car accident and there may be several minutes before support arrives. The pressure one face’s does not stop, when they finish working for the day. The horrific death of a human being does not compare to that of a failed sim ride. However saying that it would compare to that of an incident or accident i.e. the QF 747 which depressurized (And what a fantastic job was done to under those circumstances) Therefore the stress which we face in some cases is so different.
I also recognize the stress which a pilot has on a daily basis. I.e. coming into a sim check, EP's, Medicals and the daily operation of which a lot of us carry several hundred's of people in our hands.
So to sum it up, the stress we as a pilots face is very different to that of a paramedic. But at the end of the day stress is stress and we should all recognize signs not only in ourselves but our peers and deal with it accordingly.
Safe flying shnee.
I also recognize the stress which a pilot has on a daily basis. I.e. coming into a sim check, EP's, Medicals and the daily operation of which a lot of us carry several hundred's of people in our hands.
So to sum it up, the stress we as a pilots face is very different to that of a paramedic. But at the end of the day stress is stress and we should all recognize signs not only in ourselves but our peers and deal with it accordingly.
Safe flying shnee.
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One of the things that leads to heightened stress is an employer who has little or no appreciation of the duties their staff do.
Even if they once did the job, they should still get themselves out in the actual workplace AT LEAST a couple of times a year, preferably monthly, and walk in their staffs shoes for a night or a day.
It has become increasingly common for the one managing people in stressful occupations to remove themselves completely from day-to-day situations under the guise of long-term planning,big picture view, monitoring KPIs,etc,etc.
They tend to get a rosy-eyed view from their spreadsheets,procedures and future plans about what a terrific 'manager' they are, and get belligerent and bullying when informed that the reality is not matching the theory.
Good luck to the ambos, frontline health care workers,etc, and all those doing those jobs for what is not much money.
Even if they once did the job, they should still get themselves out in the actual workplace AT LEAST a couple of times a year, preferably monthly, and walk in their staffs shoes for a night or a day.
It has become increasingly common for the one managing people in stressful occupations to remove themselves completely from day-to-day situations under the guise of long-term planning,big picture view, monitoring KPIs,etc,etc.
They tend to get a rosy-eyed view from their spreadsheets,procedures and future plans about what a terrific 'manager' they are, and get belligerent and bullying when informed that the reality is not matching the theory.
Good luck to the ambos, frontline health care workers,etc, and all those doing those jobs for what is not much money.
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Seems to me that while the jobs are quite different, there are some interesting parallels.
Both Emergency Medicine and Aviation are outcome-focused occupations.
Both require the operators to be technically proficient.
Both require the operator to be able to acquire highly specialised skills and knowledge, and have sufficient self-discipline and personal drive to retain those skills and knowledge in an environment of infrequent use (80%+ of both roles involves low acuity work - sitting in the LHS watching the GPS count down for hours at a time, or sitting in the truck with not-very-sick patients).
Both roles require the operator to be adaptive to change and able to modify their thought processes to manage rapidly changing situations and environments.
Both require operators to be able to prioritise and multi-task.
Both require a very high level of interpersonal communication, personnel resource management skill and both require the ability to project assertiveness.
Neither job is particularly well understood by joe Average
Both can be life-threatening and stressful.
Both are governed by mediocre bureaucracy.
Both are extremely satisfying and damn good fun!
Both Emergency Medicine and Aviation are outcome-focused occupations.
Both require the operators to be technically proficient.
Both require the operator to be able to acquire highly specialised skills and knowledge, and have sufficient self-discipline and personal drive to retain those skills and knowledge in an environment of infrequent use (80%+ of both roles involves low acuity work - sitting in the LHS watching the GPS count down for hours at a time, or sitting in the truck with not-very-sick patients).
Both roles require the operator to be adaptive to change and able to modify their thought processes to manage rapidly changing situations and environments.
Both require operators to be able to prioritise and multi-task.
Both require a very high level of interpersonal communication, personnel resource management skill and both require the ability to project assertiveness.
Neither job is particularly well understood by joe Average
Both can be life-threatening and stressful.
Both are governed by mediocre bureaucracy.
Both are extremely satisfying and damn good fun!
A good friend of mine was a very senior paramedic who committed suicide back in the late 90's . In the previous twelve months he had discussed a number of issues over a beer and one of the concerns he had was being "flogged" on the job day and night and then being expected to be available for overtime on his days off, little or no leave being allowed and if leave was taken, management rang to see if you would come in for an overtime shift. My mate would politely decline, but still felt pressured by management to be available. However a lot of his co-workers liked to "pig out " on overtime, and it wasn't unusual to see them work their normal shifts and then slip off to a country branch station and do four days of 24 hour shifts and then drive home and pick up their normal station roster. Also some of his workmates would go on holidays but then go and work back at their station on the overtime roster, work in another region ie up country, go interstate and work in Tasmania or NSW, work interstate as paramedics at the Indy cars, Targa Tasmania etc.
My mate had seen some pretty nasty prangs on the Hume Highway in his day, but at the end of the day the organisation worked him to death. Management were pretty relentless in hassling people for extra shifts and basically couldn't give a toss about the end result.
Bit like the second wives club sorry Fire Brigade boys, work their shifts and then on their days off do everything from Chubb security, bouncers at the night club, etc.
Earn plenty of dollars, but no life or time to spend it.
Government agencies aren't always the smartest people when comes to people management, and still a lot of harassment goes on towards staff don the line.
I was talking to a paramedic and if she doesn't pull $120,000 a year she can't make ends meet, and therefor does $40,000 overtime each year to top up her base salary of $80,000.
My mate had seen some pretty nasty prangs on the Hume Highway in his day, but at the end of the day the organisation worked him to death. Management were pretty relentless in hassling people for extra shifts and basically couldn't give a toss about the end result.
Bit like the second wives club sorry Fire Brigade boys, work their shifts and then on their days off do everything from Chubb security, bouncers at the night club, etc.
Earn plenty of dollars, but no life or time to spend it.
Government agencies aren't always the smartest people when comes to people management, and still a lot of harassment goes on towards staff don the line.
I was talking to a paramedic and if she doesn't pull $120,000 a year she can't make ends meet, and therefor does $40,000 overtime each year to top up her base salary of $80,000.
