The role of management in reducing workplace stress for first responders

The Role of Management in Reducing Workplace Stress for First Responders Name Institution The Role of Management in Reducing Workplace Stress for First Responders Abstract The management is an essential part when it comes to creating strategies for alleviating stress in the workplace for first responders. This paper discusses these roles in regards to offering pre-planning techniques that first responders require to have a stable working environment. The importance of education and training is discussed, as well as peer support systems. The paper also discusses the management role in enhancing self-care for the responders and ensuring that professional help is acquired on time. The Role of Management in Reducing Workplace Stress for First Responders Stress refers to the heightened state of arousal in a person when it is caused by some stimulus or demand. When stress reaches a maximum effect it results in deterioration of health (Marmar et al., 2006). The first responders are the first people who reach a scene of crisis such as accidents, emergencies or crimes, they encounter people who have experienced traumatic events. This makes the first responders susceptible to extreme emotional and physical reactions to the stress involved in dealing with traumatic events. From fear, anxiety, sadness, and even anger, these stressful emotions occur throughout the job and one goes with them home at the end of the shift. Whether it is the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), firefighters, or police officers, proactive measures need to be in place to alleviate or manage stress. In this way, the management plays a crucial role in putting up these measures in the workplace to ensure that the first responders have a system of coping and dealing with stress (Marmar et al., 2006). The management can help in reducing workplace stress for the first responders through pre-event planning, education and training, support systems, self-care measures, and also linking them with professional help in a way that creates an environment of support. The management needs to have pre-event planning for first responders to reduce workplace stress. There are various preventive measures that the management can enact before a crisis or event to reduce stress. This means a thought-out planned communication strategy can be put in place to lessen the impact of stress when first responders reach the scene of a disaster (Chen, Sharman, Rao & Upadhyaya, 2008). For instance, the first responders should be aware of where and how they will respond once at the scene without having any confusion. The management should ensure that there is a clear understanding of the roles and procedures that the first responders need to adhere. When these are in place, it enhances the preparedness of the individuals so that they know what they are likely to face and how to react to each situation. The management ought to have protocols, processes, and procedures that all the first responders are to use when responding to a crisis. The importance of these protocols and procedures is to have a clear line of instructions that allow the responders to be organized and avoid a chaotic scene of response (Chen, Sharman, Rao & Upadhyaya, 2008). When a scene is disorganized or chaotic, the stress levels of the responders is bound to be high because they begin to feel overwhelmed because of unpreparedness. Further, pre-planning includes strategies for safety within the workplace. When the safety measures are enhanced in the workplace, the responders feel at ease at work knowing their lives are secured and in the process stress levels are reduced (Chen, Sharman, Rao & Upadhyaya, 2008). The management should also have training and education about stress for the first responders in the workplace. The management should be aware that stress is a common occurrence in this line of work and so it is important to have ongoing training to the staff so that they are familiar with the signs of stress. According to Ko et al. (2008), training and education should focus on teaching the responders regarding the typical emotional, mental, behavioral, and also the physical signs of stress. The importance of such training and education is that it keeps the responders aware of such eventualities and not get scared when they emerge (Ko et al., 2008). It is important for the management not to ignore and assume that the responders will adjust and learn to cope with the stress of their own. This training offers a chance for the management to disclose that stress is a normal part of this line of work but can be recognized and managed in a suitable manner. Further, such training ensures that the responders do not feel weak and isolated (Ko et al., 2008). When this training and awareness is available, the first responders feel included and appreciated so that they are able to cope with stress more effectively. Training and education is, therefore, essential in ensuring that the management builds up a team of responders that is connected and emotionally stable. Additionally, the management should ha...