Three Apps Every EMT Needs
Our EMTs are on the road all day, responding to urgent, life-threatening calls and performing critical medical transportation duties. They are so focused and dedicated on providing every patient with quality care and attention, they often forget about their own.
Here are three apps our EMTs use to help maintain balance between their personal and professional lives.
HEADSPACE
Headspace is the simple way to reframe stress. Relax with guided meditations and mindfulness techniques that bring calm, wellness and balance to your life in just a few minutes a day.
According to MoneyTalk News, being an EMT and Paramedic is the 4th most stressful job in America. You knew, from your days in basic training, that this job would be high stress and require both mental and physical toughness. However, you probably were not prepared for the stress caused after your shift ends. The lack of knowing when the next call is coming in or what that next call entails, can weigh heavily on your sleep, diet, and emotional state. To combat that stress, Brian, a four-year EMT recommended Headspace. The app features a range of stress-related categories and a series of respective meditation sessions that can either be 10, 15, or 20 minutes in length.
“I downloaded Headspace a few months ago and it has truly been a life-changing experience. Right when I wake up I start my session and then follow the techniques provided by a meditation guru. I realized meditation is not gongs, yoga gear, and lighting incense candles. You use this app at home or on the road… wherever and whenever you feel you can enjoy a little ‘me time.’”
MINT
Finally, there’s one place to manage all your finances with ease. Mint is the free money manager and financial tracker app from the makers of TurboTax® that does it all.
Let’s get right down to it. It’s no secret that EMTs on average make very little money. According to Glassdoor, based on data collected from over three thousand EMTs, average pay is roughly $14 an hour. That kind of money is hard for one person to live on, let alone supporting an entire family. But, before you start looking for a second job, or a third, Lisa, a two-year EMT, recommends you download Mint.
“This app can help you balance your budget and it may even help you save money you didn’t know you had. When you first download the app, you can immediately start to plug in your financial information, i.e., loans, rent, water & waste, electricity, etc. Once your finances are in order, you create budgets, track when bills are due, and track your money, so you know what you can (or can’t) afford to spend. I personally enjoy receiving weekly alerts that tell me how much I spent at the end of the week and what payments are due the following week.”
LASTING
The nation’s #1 marriage counseling app. It was selected as Apple's 2018 Valentine's "App of the Day." Lasting gets to know your relationship and creates a program to help you build and maintain the health of your marriage.
Relationships are not easy to start or maintain when you’re a first responder. As an EMT, you see things on the job that you sometimes wish you could forget. So, when you’re on a date or sitting at the dinner table and asked, “How was your day?” the last thing you want to do is truly talk about it. There are many blog articles that speak to dating first responders, and the difficulty with communication or intimacy. So, whether you’re in a marriage, a long-term relationship, or a short-term that’s getting serious, Lasting is an app that can help you effectively communicate with your significant other. It costs $12 a month for you and your partner, or $80 for the year, but it’s money well spent. The assessment quiz, only 35 questions for both you and your partner, will help you identify problem areas in your relationship. Then each of you, separately or together, can read articles, get tips, and coaching. “I say to the EMS community, especially the younger ones just starting their 24/48s, if you take your relationship seriously, this app can help.”