Experiences as a Woman in the EMS Workplace

MAAS Monthly

Mar 6 2024 • 31 mins

Join host Andrea Abbas on this podcast episode with Jodi Abraham. Jodi is the Client Services Advocate for The Accumed Group, Owner of the EMS training, education, and revenue consulting company EMS Pros LLC, and practicing EMT. In this podcast episode, Jodi and Andrea sit down to discuss the unique career experiences we’ve had working as women in the field of EMS.

Studies conducted among general first responding populations have found that females experience higher proportions of burnout, and that gender is a significant predictor of burnout. It has also been reported that female first responders experience higher levels of stress and adverse mental health outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and even suicide, compared to their male counterparts.

These stressors, in addition to others such as lack of opportunities for advancement and mentorship, are applicable to all female first responding populations, but have been minimally described among EMS clinicians. Experiencing these stressors in addition to the demanding nature of their occupation, female EMS clinicians may be at even higher risk for adverse mental health outcomes.