Whether you’re a pilot, a paramedic, a nurse, or a doctor; working in a medical flight crew means one thing – shift work. And shift work can bring with it several issues and can particularly affect your sleeping pattern. And lack of proper sleep can take its toll on your physical and mental health. In this post, you will learn how to overcome sleep issues that result from working in shifts.
How to get Better Sleep – Medical Flight Crews
Lack of sleep can make you lethargic. This could in turn impact your ability to carry out your duties as a medical flight crew member as it impacts your attention, concentration, and reaction time. Here are a few things you can do to overcome your sleep issues:
- Naps – Naps can refresh your mind and give you more alertness to carry out your duties. If you’re working the night shift, try to take a quick nap before you head to work.
- Proper meals – Regardless of your schedule, try to maintain regular eating hours and have at least three proper meals a day. By having a regular meal time, you signal your body clock and makes sure it knows when to induce sleepiness.
- Prepare for shift changes – Your crew may have rotating shifts, which makes it difficult to maintain a regular sleep schedule. But before your shift schedule changes, you could try adjusting your sleep time gradually so your body can adapt to the change. Instead of subjecting your body to a sudden change, you’ll be easing it into the new shift schedule so you won’t face too many sleep issues.
In some cases, you may even need medications to help you fall asleep after shift changes. But you should never use them as a long-term solution.
