The impact of providing help: Emergency workers and cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts
✍ Scribed by Myles Genest; Janice Levine; Vivian Ramsden; Richard Swanson
- Publisher
- Springer
- Year
- 1990
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 407 KB
- Volume
- 3
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0894-9867
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Although anecdotes suggest that emergency medical technicians often themselves have to cope with severe trauma as a result of their work, almost all empirical work h m been concerned with the aftermath of disaster. Fourteen volunteer ambulance attendants were asked about resuscitation attempts in which they had been involved. It was found that many of these evidenced a persistent psychological aftermath. Some of these individuals experienced vivid, involuntary, and uncontrollable thoughts, feelings, and/or mental images concerning their attempt. Perceived control and coping responses were examined, and found to be related to the impact of the resuscitation attempt upon the ambulance personnel. Data from this preliminary investigation indicate the need for further work in the area, and with relatedpopulations, such as nonprofessionals who attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation.