SEIU and Paramedics protesting for better PTSD support. July 8, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)SEIU and Paramedics protesting for better PTSD support. July 8, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)
Sarnia

Local Paramedics Call for PTSD Support

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) paramedics took part in an information picket outside the Lambton County Administration Building at Wyoming Wednesday morning.

Around 40 workers attended the protest, asking employers to recognize post-traumatic stress disorder as an illness and offer a critical debriefing period in the 24 hours following a traumatic event.

SEIU Spokesman Dan Belford says there is currently a 1-800 number paramedics can call for therapy, but debriefing takes place weeks later.

He says it must be done within 24 hours to be successful.

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Belford adds that EMS workers have the highest rate of PTSD of of all emergency services with 22 per cent of workers experiencing it.

SEIU and Paramedics protesting for better PTSD support. July 8, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)SEIU and Paramedics protesting for better PTSD support. July 8, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)

SEIU and Paramedics protesting for better PTSD support. July 8, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)SEIU and Paramedics protesting for better PTSD support. July 8, 2015 (BlackburnNews.com Photo by Briana Carnegie)

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