NOWCAST KOAT Action 7 News at 10pm
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Many first responders, from paramedics to police, facing emotional toll of pandemic
Mark Albert
Many first responders, from paramedics to police, facing emotional toll of pandemic
what has the last four months been like? Um, it's been rough f d. And why Paramedic lieutenant Andrew Brock knows the struggle facing first responders during the pandemic, trying to save patients and console their families in an era of social distancing. You can't even get somebody hug. You can't even somebody in the shoulder and say, I'm sorry, Did I do enough? Did I do the right thing that I get here fast enough so emotionally it's taken a toll. It's taken a tremendous toll emotionally, my guys, America's healers may be in need of healing themselves. In Italy. During the pandemic, a study found, nearly half of health care workers reported post traumatic stress symptoms in China. More than 1/3 said they had insomnia. And here in the U. S. Kelly trip launched a comfort team to talk to struggling workers at Sojourn it Seneca Senior Behavioral Health Hospital in Ohio. Nurses are notorious for not asking for help, and so sometimes the best we can do is tow offer that help and encourage them to take it. Dr. Jan Gob, at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is leading a nationwide focus group of police officers who have been on calls during the covert crisis. Not being able to go home right or baby being going home and having to stay in the basement or sleep in the car because they don't want to contaminate their, you know, family members. So that kind of takes a toll. After a while, some of them got frustrated that they couldn't do their job. They normally did. Michael Glenn did just that. The paramedic with the New York City Fire Department stayed away from home for nearly four weeks to protect his wife and seven kids. Glenn narrowly survived 9 11 Now, two decades later, he's dodging another killer, Kobe, 19. If we were all suggests, pack it in and say We quit, then that would be disastrous. That's just not not a realistic outcome. So you keep going, you keep going. That's all you can do. Keep going. And the stress may be getting worse, Dr Gob says. Many of the officers in her focus groups worried that as tax revenue shrinks, local governments will be making cuts, including layoffs. In Washington, I'm chief national investigative correspondent Mark Alberts
Advertisement
Many first responders, from paramedics to police, facing emotional toll of pandemic
Mark Albert
Nationwide, the coronavirus has killed over 128,000 people in the U.S.Now, our National Investigative Unit has learned some of those never infected with COVID-19 are struggling, too — our first responders.Chief National Investigative Correspondent Mark Albert shows us how.Lt. Andrew Brock, a New York City Fire Department paramedic, says the last four months have been rough."You can't even give somebody a hug," Brock says. "You can't even touch somebody on the shoulder and say, 'I'm sorry.' 'Did I do enough?' 'Did I do the right thing?' 'Did I get here fast enough?' So emotionally, it's taken a toll. It's taking a tremendous toll emotionally on my guys."During the pandemic in Italy, a study found nearly half of health care workers reported post-traumatic stress symptoms.In China, more than a third said they had insomnia.Here in the U.S., Dr. Kelly Tripp launched a comfort team to talk to struggling workers at Sojourn at Seneca Senior Behavioral Health Hospital in Ohio."Nurses are notorious for not asking for help," Tripp said. "And so sometimes the best we can do is to offer that help and encourage them to take it."Dr. Janne Gaub at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is leading a nationwide focus group of police officers who have been on calls during the COVID-19 crisis."Not being able to go home. Right. Or ... going home and having to stay in the basement or sleep in the car because they don't want to contaminate their family members," Gaub said. "So that kind of takes a toll after a while. Some of them got frustrated that they couldn't do their job as they normally did."Michael Glenn, a paramedic with the New York City Fire Department, did just that.He stayed away from home for nearly four weeks to protect his wife and seven kids."If we were all to just pack it in and say we quit, then that would be disastrous," Glenn said. "That's just not not a realistic outcome."And the stress may be getting worse.Gaub said that many of the officers in her focus groups are worried that as tax revenue shrinks, local governments will make cuts, including layoffs.The National Institute of Mental Health has a toll-free hotline for people who need help. It's 866-615-6464. This mental health website also has a list of other resources, too.Mark Albert is the chief national investigative correspondent for the Hearst Television National Investigative Unit, based in Washington D.C. April Chunko and Samone Blair contributed to this report. Know of coronavirus-related waste, fraud, or abuse? Have a confidential tip? Send information and documents to the National Investigative Unit at investigate@hearst.com.

Nationwide, the coronavirus has killed over 128,000 people in the U.S.

Advertisement

Now, our National Investigative Unit has learned some of those never infected with COVID-19 are struggling, too — our first responders.

Chief National Investigative Correspondent Mark Albert shows us how.

Lt. Andrew Brock, a New York City Fire Department paramedic, says the last four months have been rough.

"You can't even give somebody a hug," Brock says. "You can't even touch somebody on the shoulder and say, 'I'm sorry.' 'Did I do enough?' 'Did I do the right thing?' 'Did I get here fast enough?' So emotionally, it's taken a toll. It's taking a tremendous toll emotionally on my guys."

During the pandemic in Italy, a study found nearly half of health care workers reported post-traumatic stress symptoms.

In China, more than a third said they had insomnia.

Here in the U.S., Dr. Kelly Tripp launched a comfort team to talk to struggling workers at Sojourn at Seneca Senior Behavioral Health Hospital in Ohio.

"Nurses are notorious for not asking for help," Tripp said. "And so sometimes the best we can do is to offer that help and encourage them to take it."

Dr. Janne Gaub at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is leading a nationwide focus group of police officers who have been on calls during the COVID-19 crisis.

"Not being able to go home. Right. Or ... going home and having to stay in the basement or sleep in the car because they don't want to contaminate their family members," Gaub said. "So that kind of takes a toll after a while. Some of them got frustrated that they couldn't do their job as they normally did."

Michael Glenn, a paramedic with the New York City Fire Department, did just that.

He stayed away from home for nearly four weeks to protect his wife and seven kids.

"If we were all to just pack it in and say we quit, then that would be disastrous," Glenn said. "That's just not not a realistic outcome."

And the stress may be getting worse.

Gaub said that many of the officers in her focus groups are worried that as tax revenue shrinks, local governments will make cuts, including layoffs.

The National Institute of Mental Health has a toll-free hotline for people who need help. It's 866-615-6464. This mental health website also has a list of other resources, too.

Mark Albert is the chief national investigative correspondent for the Hearst Television National Investigative Unit, based in Washington D.C. April Chunko and Samone Blair contributed to this report.

Know of coronavirus-related waste, fraud, or abuse? Have a confidential tip? Send information and documents to the National Investigative Unit at investigate@hearst.com.