Emergency Care and Services

Emergency service workers, such as police officers, firefighters, and ambulance workers, are regularly exposed to trauma as part of their job. They are called upon to rescue people, many of whom are dying or are already deceased, regularly witness the aftermath of trauma, and often face life-threatening situations in their rescue roles. This puts emergency service workers at increased risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research has identified that emergency service workers seek help for emotional problems at up to four times the rate of nonemergency workers. Prevalence of PTSD in emergency service workers, also known as first responders, is much higher than in the general population, with research suggesting rates of PTSD that range from between 5% and 40%. This dramatic variability in ...