Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - Polyphasic Sleep

AnthonyM83 · 11-14-2007, 09:05 AM

I thought I'd share some an experience, because it seems to relate to polyphasic sleep patterns.

I'm an EMT (aka an ambulance guy) and a few months ago decided to work two and a half weeks straight...a combination of 12 - 72 hour shifts (which is common in this field...just not doing so many of them back to back). During that time I basically slept when I could in between calls or when I finished a shift at 2AM so I could start another at 6AM.

I found that at the two week point, I was able to get an only about two hours of sleep and it would hold me over about 12 hours, which a few mini naps throughout the day that I wouldn't count as real sleep sitting in the front passenger seat of the ambulance.

I didn't feel refreshed, but I did feel functional. I wish I had made the connection to polyphasic sleep at the time, so I could have tried to keep it going on a more structured schedule after my stint of back to back shifts.

I plan on trying again at some point...but I'm really dreading both working that much (which is what forced me to stay awake during the adjustment phase...the adrenaline from various calls).

PS We work in a system where critical patients always receive care from TWO providers en-route to hospital and never once have I felt sleepy during a critical call no matter how exhausted I've been (more tired than during these 2 weeks) because the adrenaline more than compensates. In fire and EMS, 24-72 hour shifts are extremely common or even required. Patient care was nor sacrificed beyond what it normally is being forced to work 24 hour shifts.

11-14-2007, 09:05 AM	#32 (permalink)
AnthonyM83 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5	I thought I'd share some an experience, because it seems to relate to polyphasic sleep patterns. I'm an EMT (aka an ambulance guy) and a few months ago decided to work two and a half weeks straight...a combination of 12 - 72 hour shifts (which is common in this field...just not doing so many of them back to back). During that time I basically slept when I could in between calls or when I finished a shift at 2AM so I could start another at 6AM. I found that at the two week point, I was able to get an only about two hours of sleep and it would hold me over about 12 hours, which a few mini naps throughout the day that I wouldn't count as real sleep sitting in the front passenger seat of the ambulance. I didn't feel refreshed, but I did feel functional. I wish I had made the connection to polyphasic sleep at the time, so I could have tried to keep it going on a more structured schedule after my stint of back to back shifts. I plan on trying again at some point...but I'm really dreading both working that much (which is what forced me to stay awake during the adjustment phase...the adrenaline from various calls). PS We work in a system where critical patients always receive care from TWO providers en-route to hospital and never once have I felt sleepy during a critical call no matter how exhausted I've been (more tired than during these 2 weeks) because the adrenaline more than compensates. In fire and EMS, 24-72 hour shifts are extremely common or even required. Patient care was nor sacrificed beyond what it normally is being forced to work 24 hour shifts.