Emergency Workers Research Paper

Emergency Workers may experience physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral symptoms of stress. Some people experience these reactions immediately at the scene, while for others symptoms may occur weeks or months later. Some of these symptoms include: Physical symptoms-Chest pain, Difficulty breathing, Severe pain, Symptoms of shock (shallow breathing, rapid or weak pulse, nausea, shivering, pale and moist skin, mental confusion, and dilated pupils), Fatigue, Nausea/vomiting, Dizziness, Profuse sweating, Thirst, Headaches, Visual difficulties, Clenching of jaw, Nonspecific aches and pains. There are also Cognitive symptoms such as Confusion, Disorientation, Heightened or lowered alertness, Poor concentration, Poor problem solving, Difficulty
identifying familiar objects or people, Memory problems, Nightmares. Emotional symptoms also occur during emergency situations such as Anxiety, Guilt, Denial, Grief, Fear, Irritability, Loss of emotional control, Depression, Sense of failure, Feeling overwhelmed, Blaming others or self, Severe panic. Along with all of these symptoms the emercency worker might also show signs of Behavioral symptoms much like Intense anger, Withdrawal, Emotional outburst, Temporary loss or increase of appetite, Excessive alcohol consumption, Inability to rest, pacing, Change in sexual functioning