Eat, sleep and be healthy: A paramedic’s guide to healthier shift work

We live in a world that doesn’t sleep. Around the clock, there is a need for work to be done, from overnight services in hotels and restaurants, maintaining long-term industrial processes to continuous patient care in hospitals, and delivery of care in the prehospital setting. Shift work is fundamental to the demanding 24/7 practice of paramedicine. For many paramedics, a busy shift without returning to station is an everyday reality. Several studies have shown paramedics are at a higher risk of being overweight, obese and physically unfit compared to the general population (1,2).This is not a new phenomenon, identified as early as 1991 in Northern Ireland (3). Paramedics are also more likely to smoke, have higher blood pressure and higher cholesterol than the general population (1–3).This can have a negative impact on clinical care. For example, physical fitness has been identified as an important component in assisting the rescuer to perform adequate chest compressions during CPR (4,5). These findings can in part be attributed to shift work. Paramedics often find themselves relying on fast food, snacks and sometimes skipping meals altogether, as a result of busy shifts and lack of resources. Shift work for paramedics will not go away, so identifying ways to reduce the risk of adverse health effects should be a priority for the paramedic and their service. Healthier lifestyle choices, including healthy eating and increasing physical activity can help promote the best possible health in the paramedic.