How to cope with peds deaths

[u/[deleted]]

I worked my first peds arrest yesterday. He was under a year old. I can hear his family’s screams echoing in my head and see the defeat in my team when we called it. I know it’s part of the job we do, but it sucks and I know they don’t get easier. Does anyone have any advice or coping skills to offer? I could use it.

[u/LizAnneCharlotte]

If your hospital has a critical incident debriefing team, use them. If not, find a counselor to talk to who specializes in working with first responders. The moral injury from these deaths can be incredibly traumatic and usually require trauma counseling to overcome. You’re not unusual or unique to need this, and it won’t “go away on its own”. Time does not, in fact, heal all wounds - most wounds fester without treatment.