Death & Dying Environment

 Once ago, death was once both an expected and accepted fact in earlier history. Life expectancy was brief, mortality rates were high, and childbirth was hazardous, and often resulting in the death of both. Hardships of the times, both natural and human made, were great. Most people had experienced the death of someone close to them. There were no funeral homes, mourning occurred at home in the family setting, the presence of the dead body was a natural event.

No matter what the frequency of response to emergency calls, death is something that every EMT will sometimes face. For some of you, it may be infrequent, others in urban setting, may see death many times in responding to motor vehicle crashes, drug overdoses, suicides, and homicides.

Some Firefighters, EMTs may have to deal with the mass casualty incident of an airplane crash or a hazardous materials accident. All these cases, coming to grips with your thoughts, understandings and adjustment to death is not only important personally, but also a function of delivering emergency medical care. 

As providers of health care, as an example, doctor need to look after themselves, in all respects, because an ill physician is in no position to render any professional care as she or he was trained to do. The same applies to all healthcares providers and this goes beyond the physical factors.

There are many factors and situations that can interfere with the EMT ability to treat the patient. (e.g.) “A terminal ill patient might wish to die at home, and the family might call for help when death is imminent”. At some times, even the most experienced healthcare providers have difficulty overcoming personal reactions and proceeding without hesitation. Patients need to be removed from life threatening situations. The personal health, safety, and well being of all EMT are vital to an EMS operation. Part of your training consist in recognize any possible hazard and protect yourself from those scenarios. These scenarios will range from personal neglect to environmental and human made threats to your health and safety. Today, sixty percent of all deaths are attributed to heart diseases with an aged range from  1 to the age 64, trauma is another leading cause of death. This occurred either quite suddenly or after a prolonged terminal illness.

The environment of death has changed since our nation’s earlier days, and it no longer a home setting scenario. The setting of death is somewhere else, like in hospitals, hospices, at work place, or on the highway. Illness can be much more drawn out and much more removed from daily life. Life support systems an impersonal care remove the whole experience of death from most people’s awareness. The mobility of families also makes it less likely that there will be extended family support when death does occur.  

Although. Life support measures need to be given to patients who are severely injured and you also may be called upon to recover human remains from highway accidents, or aircraft disasters, or for a mass casualty incident. In all these scenarios you must be calm and act responsibly as a member of the emergency medical care team.

You must also realize that even though your personal emotions must be kept under control, these are normal feelings that every EMT must deal with such situations. Somehow, this struggle to remain calm in the face of horrible circumstances contributes to the emotional stress of the job.

It is important to remain calm to perform effectively when you are confronted with horrifying scenarios, injuries or life threatening illness. A kind of self control is needed to respond efficiently and effectively to the suffering of others. This self control is developed through the following:

A dedication to serve humanity.- Ongoing experience in dealing with all types of physical and mental distress.- Be appropriated and professional trained.

    We must be prepare to deal with a daily mental fatigue and physical stress that you must cope as a result of caring for the sick and injured. Death and dying challenge you every day and with the realities of human weaknesses and his/her emotions of the survivors.