From the frontline

“I get so fatigued that I fall asleep whilst driving at work (occasionally) and on the way to and from home (most days).”

Rural Paramedic
AEA Victorian Paramedic Fatigue Survey 2008

“I think if the community knew at what mental level we are made to operate at they would be horrified.”

Rural Paramedic
AEA Victorian Paramedic Fatigue Survey 2008

"I’ve had times where I’ve had to pull the ambulance over I’ve been so fatigued and nauseated that both my partner I actually vomited, because we’ve been working all night.

"I’ve also been driving my patient and partner to hospital and forgotten completely where I was going, and made wrong turns. And these are places that I would normally know very well.”    Read more...

“On a couple of occasions, on nightshift, I have had to try to calculate drug doses (one was for a child that needed to be sedated and intubated). [But because of fatigue] I was completely incapable of it."

"I had to rely totally on the dose and volumes calculated by my partner. I couldn’t assist by even confirming his calculations.     Read more...

“We are at crisis point. Our health and patient care are being severely compromised. Will it take a tragedy before Premier Brumby fixes this crisis?”

OLGA BARTESEK,
Regional Paramedic (Romsey)

"I believe fatigue impacts on my clinical performance and my safety (especially when driving) on nearly every nightshift.”

Melbourne MICA Paramedic
AEA Victorian Paramedic Fatigue Survey 2008

I have been a Paramedic for 28 years. This job is part of my life.

Being involved in the community and being proud to serve them, means everything to me.

The current climate is "madness" and cannot continue. I fear for the wellbeing of the younger paramedics.

I do not want to see them, end up like me. My whole life has changed, but not for the better!    Read more...

 "The fatigue in this job is cumulative. You never really leave work and you don't sleep properly. It builds up and then it hits you.

"The service is understaffed across the state, but particularly in country areas. We're working long hours and coming in on our days off.

"The levels of paramedic fatigue are a scandal. They're a danger to us and the community.    Read more...

My father, a photocopier technician who works 5 days a week, gets paid more per hour on the weekend to be on call than we paramedics do.

And he doesn’t have to do this work after already working a 10 hour day shift.

He is also not expected to jump out of bed and respond to a call immediately.    Read more...

“After 10 years in the profession I love, I am seriously considering leaving due to the impact fatigue is having on my family life."

"I now take medication for depression.

"When I started 10 years ago it wasn’t this bad. But with our horrendously busy night shifts I spend all my non-work time like a zombie, trying to recover.”    Read more...