After the unsuccessful resuscitation of a 3-year-old boy who was shot by his mother's boyfriend, you find yourself extremely stressed and anxious over the call. You are having trouble sleeping and the resultant anxiety is affecting your home life. Which of the following should be your initial action, given this situation?
A) make a resolution to perform better the next time
B) resolve to find a profession outside of medicine
C) make a conscious effort not to think about the event
D) Talk to a close friend or fellow EMS provider about your feelings
Answer: Talk to a close friend or fellow EMS provider about your feelings
This will be the best option as talking to a close friend or EMS professional will lighten the burden of the thought, and they will offer helpful advice as what step to take further to find closure.
