As many of you are aware, Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. is responsible for representing literally hundreds of individuals who have suffered from the effects of PTSD, more commonly known as post-traumatic stress disorder. Quite frequently, those individuals will come from professions such as police and fire, but more and more we are seeing those who are coming from the emergency medical service areas. Those individuals, such as paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers, and others who are directly involved with traumatic events but may not necessarily come to mind as those who can or would be exposed to trauma leading to PTSD. Today I want to talk about those individuals, because those individuals and their injuries and conditions are just as serious and important as those of the other first responders such as police and fire.
Let’s start with the paramedics. Paramedics, by definition, are literally one of the first on the scene. They are responsible for helping and assisting the injured parties, whether it be a car accident, sudden death, personal issues such as drownings or heart attacks, etc. They are faced with the dilemma of making life or death decisions on a daily basis. Over time, over years of time, these individuals may start developing symptoms as a result of this constant exposure. This is what ultimately will lead to the conditions known as PTSD.
Our office represents hundreds of first responders, such as paramedics and others, who have unfortunately developed PTSD, yet they are oftentimes the forgotten individuals. Professionals who are also exposed to PTSD include, but not limited to:
• Dispatchers – Take the first phone calls from a victim or someone who has witnessed an accident or someone who is calling for help
• EMTs – One of the first on the scene assisting individuals
If you are suffering from symptoms such as fatigue, nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, panic, depression, excessive alcohol or illicit drug abuse, these are very commonplace and often times you don’t necessarily see it or recognize it, but are consistent with PTSD. So, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, if you are in a paramedic, a dispatcher, or if you are working as an EMT, please call us. We are here to help you, because your injuries and your conditions are just as important to us as anyone else.
At Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A., we have represented many clients with PTSD, including police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, and various other first responders. Our knowledgeable attorneys understand this nuanced area of the law and work with our clients to ensure they receive the full benefits they are entitled. Contact Meuser, Yackley & Rowland for a no-obligation, confidential consultation. Call us today at 1-800-746-5680.