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?
198
Upvotes
1
u/Accomplished_Man123 2d ago
Question: Did this happen around the same time as your promotion?
As a firefighter and company officer, I usually slept fine. But I spent a lot of time towards the end of my career as the acting shift Commander, and I felt the same way when I was in the car.
The only thing I can suggest is a sound machine. Our station had a metal roof, and when it was raining, the sound put me to sleep like a baby (even if I was in the car). Since COVID everyone had their own bunkroom and company officers and the shift Commander always did.
Ultimately, I decided it was time for a change. My department was also toxic. Look for jobs in the insurance industry. Our skillset is in demand in the insurance industry. I work from home, have a company SUV (sold my truck), make my own schedule (this past Friday, I took my kids to the beach while I was "working"), and best of all-I am making more money than our chief was.