Videos - Case Studies
I'm safe video
"The acronym IM SAFE stands for illness, medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue, emotion.
This is a useful self assessment to determine when entering the workplace each day whether a person is safe for work."
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Do I have an illness / have I fully recovered? Illnesses can cause fever and distracting symptoms that can impair judgement, memory, alertness, and the ability to make mental calculations or read charts completely. Although symptoms from an illness may be under control with a medication, the medication itself may affect performance.
Have I been taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs? Performance can be affected by either prescribed or over-the-counter medications, as well as by the medical conditions for which they are taken. A number of medications such as tranquilizers, sedatives, strong pain relievers, and cough-suppressant preparations, have primary effects that may impair judgement, memory, alertness, coordination, vision and the ability to make mental calculations.
Am I under increasing pressure? Stress from the pressures of everyday living can affect Doctors performance, often in very subtle ways. Difficulties at work or at home can occupy thought processes enough to markedly decrease alertness. Distractions can interfere with judgement then unwarranted risks are taken.
Have I been drinking within eight hours? Within 24 hours?. The misuse of alcohol can impair Doctors performance and make them a potential risk to patients. Studies have shown that at blood concentrations of 80 mg/100 ml (the legal limit of driving), the risk of an adverse event occurring is 50 per cent more likely. At 100 mg/ 100 ml, the accident risk is increased tenfold.
Am I tired? adequately rested? Acute fatigue is the tiredness felt after long periods of physical and mental strain, including strenuous muscular activity, immobility, heavy mental workload, strong emotional pressure, monotony and lack of sleep. Consequently, coordination and alertness, necessary components of safe performance, can be reduced. This can be prevented by adequate rest, sleep, regular exercise and a proper nutritional diet
Chronic fatigue occurs when there is not enough time for full recovery between episodes of acute fatigue. Performance continues to drop off, and Judgement becomes impaired so that unwarranted risks may be taken. Recovery from chronic fatigue requires a prolonged period of rest.
Am I feeling emotional? Upsetting events, such as a serious argument, death in the family, separation or divorce can cause emotions such as anger, depression and anxiety which can lead to taking risks that border self destruction.
Illness
Do I have an illness / have I fully recovered? Illnesses can cause fever and distracting symptoms that can impair judgement, memory, alertness, and the ability to make mental calculations or read charts completely. Although symptoms from an illness may be under control with a medication, the medication itself may affect performance.
Medication
Have I been taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs? Performance can be affected by either prescribed or over-the-counter medications, as well as by the medical conditions for which they are taken. A number of medications such as tranquilizers, sedatives, strong pain relievers, and cough-suppressant preparations, have primary effects that may impair judgement, memory, alertness, coordination, vision and the ability to make mental calculations.
Stress
Am I under increasing pressure? Stress from the pressures of everyday living can affect Doctors performance, often in very subtle ways. Difficulties at work or at home can occupy thought processes enough to markedly decrease alertness. Distractions can interfere with judgement then unwarranted risks are taken.
Alcohol
Have I been drinking within eight hours? Within 24 hours?. The misuse of alcohol can impair Doctors performance and make them a potential risk to patients. Studies have shown that at blood concentrations of 80 mg/100 ml (the legal limit of driving), the risk of an adverse event occurring is 50 per cent more likely. At 100 mg/ 100 ml, the accident risk is increased tenfold.
Fatigue
Am I tired? adequately rested? Acute fatigue is the tiredness felt after long periods of physical and mental strain, including strenuous muscular activity, immobility, heavy mental workload, strong emotional pressure, monotony and lack of sleep. Consequently, coordination and alertness, necessary components of safe performance, can be reduced. This can be prevented by adequate rest, sleep, regular exercise and a proper nutritional diet
Chronic fatigue occurs when there is not enough time for full recovery between episodes of acute fatigue. Performance continues to drop off, and Judgement becomes impaired so that unwarranted risks may be taken. Recovery from chronic fatigue requires a prolonged period of rest.
Emotion
Am I feeling emotional? Upsetting events, such as a serious argument, death in the family, separation or divorce can cause emotions such as anger, depression and anxiety which can lead to taking risks that border self destruction.