If you are preparing for a career in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and think you’ll finally get a good night’s sleep after all of your EMT test preparation, read on for the ugly truth.
While it is recommended by healthcare professionals and experts that EMTs get nine full hours of sleep every night, it’s not always possible when they’re on-call or working longer shifts. If you ask most EMTs, they’ll say they typically sleep between four and five hours at home and squeeze in one or two hour-long naps while on a longer shift. Don’t worry, though‒EMTs working twenty-four- and forty-eight-hour shifts are paid to sleep during their downtime!
How Much Sleep Do EMTs Get? (Typical Ranges)
| Category | Hours of Sleep |
|---|---|
| Recommended by experts | 9 hours per night |
| Typical at home | 4 to 5 hours |
| During long shifts (naps) | 1 to 2 hours per nap |
| 24 to 48 hour shifts | Paid rest time included |
You might now be asking, how many hours do most EMTs work? EMT shifts can range from nine to twenty-four hours, with longer shifts and more intense schedules more frequent in rural areas or agencies with fewer EMS professionals.
Sleep is critical for performing your job to the best of your ability. Without sleep, you could make serious mistakes on the job that could put lives at risk, cause burnout for yourself, and have negative impacts on your health. In this post, we’ll discuss ways to keep yourself healthy while working as an EMT.
Sleep Deprivation: The Risks
It’s extremely common for EMTs to work long shifts, including twenty-four-hour shifts. This job requires you to be attentive and alert at all times, but studies show that working long hours can have major negative impacts. When you go too long without sleeping or resting, you can experience sleep deprivation.
Sleep deprivation affects your brain and body systems, preventing them from working properly. This means you can struggle with focusing, difficulty communicating, feel drowsy, and more. Sleep deprivation can also cause impaired thinking, memory lapse, and slowed reaction time. The long-term effects of sleep deprivation can put you at a higher risk for diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease and further compromise your immune system.
Understanding Tactical Napping
Due to the nature of their work, many EMTs utilize tactical napping. The US Department of Defense actually recommends soldiers in combat use tactical napping, a brief period of sleep that restores and sustains readiness and performance.
EMTs often face life-or-death circumstances while on the job and must remain alert and of sound mind to perform their job duties well. Here are some tips for tactical napping to get the best rest:
- Avoid napping too close to bedtime, as this can interfere with nighttime sleep.
- Nap in a dark, cool environment on a comfortable sleeping surface.
- Wait ten to twenty minutes after waking up before engaging in tasks that require a lot of focus.
- Drink a caffeinated beverage immediately before you take a quick nap. Caffeine takes fifteen to thirty minutes to kick in, which can help you wake up more quickly and feel more alert when your nap is over.
Keep in mind that EMS agencies should only encourage EMS professionals to stay awake and alert for part of the duration of extended shifts. One of the perks of being an EMT is you actually get paid to nap on the job! However, only nap during downtime when you are not responding to calls or crises.
How Our Video Vault Prevents Burnout During EMT School
Learning how to manage sleep begins before you work in the field. Every EMT knows that clinical rotations, school, and preparing for the NREMT exam are a lot to juggle – especially for candidates who are also working full-time!
The Paramedic Coach created the Video Vault as a comprehensive tool to make your journey to NREMT certification both easier and faster, breaking down every national content area in a user-friendly, immersive format.
If you’re struggling to cram in exam prep or are exhausted from completing endless practice questions, take a look at these insights from just a couple of the thousands of EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics who’ve sailed through the test without sleepless nights.
- Anthony says our program cut all the fluff and gave him the information that was actually on the test. He passed on his first try in seventy questions!
- Senia recommends you don’t waste any more time, having also passed the NREMT exam in seventy questions, an entire year after a previous failed attempt.
Unlike so many EMT programs, we don’t limit your time or charge a repeat subscription. Instead, you get lifetime access with zero additional charges, and can dip in to refresh your comprehension of any areas you need to, from any location or device. This means no more rushing through test prep or losing sleep over your NREMT exam, which we’ve explained isn’t any good for your health or focus!
Insights From Real EMTs and More
Sleep deprivation can be dangerous for you, your team, and your patients. EMTs are encouraged to rest during the downtime on their shifts, get nine hours of sleep on their days off, and to use tactical napping strategies to keep them alert and healthy.
Want to learn more about the ins and outs of being an EMS professional, including the proper name for an EMT? Sign up for our Video Vault, where we give you a wide range of study resources and connect you to a network of EMS professionals to jumpstart your career in EMS with confidence!
