r/Firefighting • u/c00kieduster • 4d ago
General Discussion Cannot sleep at the station anymore
15 years in, company officer at a suburb dept of 4 stations, 100ish people, 48/96. We average 4-5 in a 24 hr period, sometimes 1-2, sometimes 12-16.
It’s not all that uncommon for us to get to sleep through the night. However, in the last year or 2, I simply cannot sleep through the night. Even without calls, I’m getting up 2-3 times. Usually it’s a toss and turn, occasionally I’ll get up to go to bathroom but that’s not the reason.
When I’m at home, my head hits the pillow and unless something wakes me up, I sleep like a baby.
Anyone experience this? Got any tips?
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u/LikeAPhoenixFromAZ 4d ago
Sound machine, light cancelling shades, sleep mask, try and make your room as comfortably cool as you can, and melatonin before bed. Quite any tobacco/nicotine products as well.
Also, I can’t stress this enough. Cut out caffeine. Maybe have a cup of coffee in the morning to get going but that would be it. Cut out soda, coffee, etc. Try drinking different types of tea if you can’t do without caffeine. After two weeks or so you’ll find your body will adjust and you’ll feel a bit more refreshed. Caffeine really just destroys your body’s natural rhythm. For most people it’s fine to have, but in this job it becomes too much of a crutch and ultimately an addiction.