Night Shift: EMS World

Andy is on day six of eleven night shifts. He just finally got home around 10am after flying the plane to Greensboro, NC, and driving a rental car back the three hours to the hanger, then driving home. The plane needed routine maintenance. He had been on call at 6pm the night before and on duty at 8pm. Andy feels and looks tired. He made a quick sandwich for Pyper and himself, then hugged and kissed her goodnight for the day.  

A normal shift would be seven days, 8 to 8, days or nights. This is an odd long hitch, while he covers for a coworker.  Andy doesn't always work nights, but every other shift is a night shift. You wouldn't think that working nights for a week out of the month would be any big deal until you see the effects of it first hand physically and mentally.  It's the same reason jet leg can throw someone off for a whole week when traveling, sometimes even longer. It's not natural. Andy has been doing EMS flying for over two years now, essentially "jet legged" that whole time. 

There's a reason why your body has a circadian rhythm; it regulates how your body functions. Andy's a good sport about it even if he comes home with a raging headache, sand behind his eyes, and sore kidneys. He's chronically fatigued like everyone else in EMS.  

Think about having to switch your whole eating schedule, or not even being able to eat because now your digestion is all off.  Or maybe you should be sleeping, but you can't because your circadian rhythm is off.  Or you finally get off your shift, your family misses you and you them, but you just can't do anything but lay down.  Working and living around night shifts isn't "healthy" no matter how much exercise or good foods you eat, but we do our best anyhow. 

With all that said, there can also beauty in night shift. There's the still energy of the sleeping world around you and of course Andy gets both sunset and sunrise in the summer months. 

Andy's sunrise flight from Donaldson Center to Greensboro, NC this morning.