I don't have a new blog post to share today. Just this tip...
Hearing Protection
It's often sold to us this way:
So much occupational exposure to loud noises will one day cause significant enough cumulative damage that we will be hard of hearing (probably in our retirement).
But, at the same time, we're often told that the noise levels of sirens in our vehicles is low enough to be within safe levels.
So, do you need hearing protection when responding with sirens or not?
I haven't assembled enough data on this to write a blog post. But, I've got enough n=1 data to suggest a little experiment for you to run.
In a recent newsletter I encouraged you to consider using exercise for state-change. Those who exercise to feel good right now tend to have far greater consistency of exercise habits over their lifetime.
Well, grab yourself some hearing protection on your next tour and run this experiment:
Does responding to calls with hearing protection make you feel any different?
Sirens are designed to elicit a stress response. Even sirens at low volume levels seem to have some impact.
That stress response results in higher blood pressure, higher heart rate, and a mindset that is on the lookout for threats... not one that is well prepared to understand and organize complex and detailed medical history and assessment.
I've started regularly wearing hearing protection when responding to calls with sirens because it blunts the stress response.
I arrive calmer. My heart rate is lower. I'm less tense.
Walking into a call with just that much more calm makes a difference that I have come to appreciate.
Maybe.... maybe... it will spare me having to use hearing aids someday. But, more importantly to me, it helps me feel better and perform better right now.
Try the experiment and please let me know what you find!
Yours in pursuit of Medic Mastery,
Brendan
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