The Lethal Stress of EMS – CME

Learning from Combat Vets to Understand PTSD

DOWNLOAD THE FLYER: LethalStressCME2019

Date: Saturday, March 16, 2019

Time: 1300-1500

Location: Stratford EMS Headquarters, 2712 Main Street, Stratford, CT 06615

Cost: There is no cost for this training session

CME: 2.0 hours (SHCGB) – N/LCCR

Lecturer: Gregory Shovak is a Paramedic and Paramedic educator involved in EMS for over 18 years.  Greg is a Paramedic FTO for AMR Hartford, works per diem for the town of Simsbury, and is Lab Coordinator for the Capital Community College Paramedic Program.  Greg founded “EMS and PTSD – Learning from Combat Veterans to Understand PTSD” in November of 2013

Description:

Yesterday, a number of US Military Veterans decided to take their own lives. Today another group will make that same decision and unfortunately others will succumb to suicide tomorrow and into the foreseeable future. This is happening at a rate of more than 20 per day.

EMS professionals will also commit suicide today. EMS Professionals along with firefighters, dispatchers and police officers are exposed daily to environments similar to combat and likewise are at risk for developing post traumatic stress.   Combined together, 1 Public Safety Worker will complete suicide every 1.5 days. 

A panel of Veterans, some of whom are also EMS professionals, will share their personal accounts of dealing with PTSD and will provide attendees with strategies to assist Veterans like them who are in crisis. Secondarily, they will discuss and demonstrate some lessons learned about Post Traumatic Stress on their roads back to civilian life. This interactive discussion is leadership by example and inspiration. We hope that by sharing our stories, we can reduce the Stigma of PTSD and lead others to seek help and not feel alone.

Objectives:

• Define PTSD’s Signs and Symptoms as seen through the eyes of Veterans living daily in its grips.
• Discuss the potential for PTSD amongst EMS providers.
• Increase awareness to the epidemic levels of suicide within both the Veteran and EMS communities.  Introduce attendees to Military Culture.
• Present and discuss tips for safely approaching a Vet in crisis.  Discuss “Burnout” within the EMS community as a sign of PTSD.
• Increase provider empathy and understanding of mental health patients.

The presentation will include a panel of Veterans, some of whom are also EMS providers, who will share their personal and often raw, emotional stories of living each day with PTSD.  A PowerPoint presentation will lead the Veterans and audience members on a journey of understanding and self awareness in a manner that will spurs open discussion and encourage questions and interaction from all in attendance.  Panel members will speak personally about interacting with the EMS community both as patients in crisis and as providers attempting to reintegrate into civilian EMS post deployment.  This eye opening session will personalize PTSD and hopefully begin the process of removing the stigma of asking for help. The current rates of Veteran and EMS suicides are at epidemic levels.  Awareness and education are necessary to combat this plague that is literally killing those who chose to serve.

Audience: All levels of EMS and First responder, Dispatchers