VENT: stupid people

[flying_babyb]

What makes a person think that its ok to sleep at work? My freind, an EMT, fell asleep in the ambulance while she was a passerger. She then got fired today. Shes making a huge deal about how this is wrong and against laws. WOW! Whats worse is this isnt the first time shes been fired for sleeping. You sleep while working you should be fired. some people. Thanks for letting me vent

 

[cheerbabe55]

Your Welcome! Anytime!

 

[familyS]

That's what the community board is for, vent away

 

[adaygaby]

Vent away!!!

I wonder if she has some type of sleeping disorder and is not aware of it. A couple of years ago...I had sleep apnea.

 

[just4today]

What makes a person think that its ok to sleep at work? My freind, an EMT, fell asleep in the ambulance while she was a passerger. She then got fired today. Shes making a huge deal about how this is wrong and against laws. WOW! Whats worse is this isnt the first time shes been fired for sleeping. You sleep while working you should be fired. some people. Thanks for letting me vent

It's hard to say without knowing the particular circumstances. I know a couple of people who fall asleep as soon as they get in the car. It's like they are powerless to help it. But, if your friend is one of those people, EMT is probably not the best career choice for her.

 

[flying_babyb]

I told her to get tested but of course she wont listen to me, she too caught up in being fired.

 

[NMAmy]

Vent away!!!

I wonder if she has some type of sleeping disorder and is not aware of it. A couple of years ago...I had sleep apnea.

I have a coworker who had this. Bless his heart, he'd have me sit next to him in meetings because he kept falling asleep--I'd unobtrusively wake him up if he dozed off. He was at one without me, fell asleep, and was terribly embarassed because people were laughing when he woke up. He's been for treatment and is doing much better now.

To the OP--if she just slept because she wanted to or doesn't have a medical issue, then I'd be annoyed with her, too. Since it sounds like you suggested getting tested and she was too caught up in the whole being fired thing, I'd mention that if she can prove she has a medical issue, she may be able to get her job back. That is, if she hasn't burned all her bridges by being a shrew about being fired.

 

[Rebelmom67]

My coworker's husband is an EMT and was fired for drugs. They gave him the option of drug rehab or firing. He chose to be fired. She is *****ing. I guess we know where their priorities lie.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Why can't you sleep? Firemen do it while on duty?

Mikeeee

 

[NAB]

I was wondering that too unless she is sleeping on the gurney in the back.

My hubby works night shift and on his breaks rest his eyes as he calls it....

 

[Amlee]

Why can't you sleep? Firemen do it while on duty?

Mikeeee

I was thinking the same thing.

If she was suppose to have been working on a patient or if they were on a call. I could see why they fired her. But then again, it's such a rush when a call goes out, I don't see how she could have slept through it.

My brother is an EMT and he napped between calls when he worked. They all did. Also they weren't in the trucks unless they were on a call.

 

[wardfamily1]

Disclaimer: I know it's wrong to sleep on the job

BUT there must have been more to it. The only way anyone would have known is if her partner told on her. He must of been fed up with her about other issues too. If I was friends with someone at work in that situation and they dosed off, I would have just yelled "Hey, GET YOUR BUTT UP, IF I GOTTA STAY AWAKE, SO DO YOU!" and that would have been the end of it. Now if it happened all the time or if there were other issues too, I'd probably rat them out to the boss.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Vent away!!!

I wonder if she has some type of sleeping disorder and is not aware of it. A couple of years ago...I had sleep apnea.

Your thinking of narcolepsy not sleep apnea. It causes you to fall asleep uncontrollably during the day. Sleep apnea is when someone quits breathing while sleeping.

 

[adaygaby]

Your thinking of narcolepsy not sleep apnea. It causes you to fall asleep uncontrollably during the day. Sleep apnea is when someone quits breathing while sleeping.

I was told sleep apnea. Doctor never mentioned narcolepsy, but could've been both. I would fall asleep while working, having a conversation at home with someone, on the phone, driving (thankfully never had an accident). My employer back then had me visit a "counselor" (but in reality was a psychiatrist) went twice a week for a whole month and the "counselor" would drill me with questions and finally had me go do a sleep study. Sleepapnea was diagnosed and they had me sleep with a CPAP machine I never had those issues again. Two years ago I had 3 surgeries done in my throat to help with that and now I don't need to use the CPAP machine anymore.

But I do know that policemen, firefighters, & EMT do work long hours at times and sleep catches up to you. Hope she'll look into it once she calms down and notices that she's lost previous jobs due to the same circumstances.

 

[flying_babyb]

she was in the ambulance going to pick up a paient, she was the copolet. Now shes beging me to stay living here with her and her evil fieance.

 

[Amlee]

she was in the ambulance going to pick up a paient, she was the copolet. Now shes beging me to stay living here with her and her evil fieance.

YIKES!!

 

[sha_lyn]

Your thinking of narcolepsy not sleep apnea. It causes you to fall asleep uncontrollably during the day. Sleep apnea is when someone quits breathing while sleeping.

The lack of sleep/lack of deep sleep from sleep apnea often causes the person to fall asleep uncontrollably during the day.

 

[flying_babyb]

all i know is im not staying

 

[Stacerita]

Your thinking of narcolepsy not sleep apnea. It causes you to fall asleep uncontrollably during the day. Sleep apnea is when someone quits breathing while sleeping.

Sleep apnea can cause you to fall asleep uncontrollably during the day as well. My father had it. Because of the sleep apnea he wasn't getting the sleep his body needed at night. To compensate, if he was sitting down, he would just fall asleep. Thankfully, his job recognized it as a problem and sent him for testing. He is treated for it and sleeps through the night now. He has had no more issues with falling asleep during the day.

Im thinking there is more than her just sleeping one day.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

As a boss- I've fired my fair share of people for sleeping on the job...

If they are sitting up and their eyes droop I consider it one thing- if they are working and make themselves comfortable/go off and hide- then yes that is a problem and they will definitely lose their jobs. I have one current employee who I have banned from sitting on the sofas- because no matter what- she sits down and is asleep in a flash when she does- I told her that her job depended on her not sleeping so no future exceptions would be made.

I've had a boss before who had narcolepsy- she could be yelling at someone and fall asleep- we'd just tip toe past her and go about our business- she was a manager- so did minimal patient care- but she did have a serious problem.

I had the displeasure of taking a long ambulance ride with my dd earlier in the year- and one of the EMTs fell asleep on the way- the paramedic may have dozed some too- but the driver was staying alert the entire time. I knew that the EMT and Paramedic were coming from working at night shift- and I knew I had been awake most of the night- had the heater worked in the back of the ambulance- I'd been asleep too-