4 Health Tips for 911 Dispatchers for 2014

Posted by Kathleen Utley on Jan 2, 2014 3:46:00 PM

   

XybixHealthTipsWorking as a public safety personnel is stressful due to the nature of the job. When the stress interferes with your health, daily performance, or your ability to manage and delegate tasks, then it is time to take action. Be introspective when dealing with stress. Stress management is the hallmark of a competent and reliable worker. Incorporating these four health tips can help reduce stress and boost your morale, allowing you to prosper as a public safety professional.

Don't Be Afraid to Socialize

Being social does not require you to be an extrovert that feeds off of communication. But most people can benefit from the occasional, constructive chatter amongst coworkers. Do not deprive yourself of good company. If you have a reliable connection with a coworker, then talk to them about your objectives and how you are going to finish them. Momentarily pulling away from your current project to participate in social interaction can revitalize your efforts, boost morale, and can also make you look like someone who is eager to work as a team.

Keep Your Workstation Free of Germs

As a public safety professional, you are going to come into contact with different people. This will increase the chance of germs transferring between people, potentially contaminating your work area. If you are sick, then you will compromise your overall well-being at work and at home. To keep germs and sicknesses at bay, make it a habit to wipe down surfaces with disinfecting wipes. Do not share food with your coworkers and avoid touching your face with dirty hands. Xybix also offers anti-microbial worksurfaces, that can help prevent the spread of germs like the flu virus, E. coli, and bacteria that can cause staph infections. 

Consume Food That'll Boost Energy and Productivity

Caffeine tends to be a dietary requirement for many – and for good reason. If you work in the public safety industry, then working odd or long hours is the norm. Caffeine can help re-energize you and improve concentration. The good thing about caffeine is that it is found in many products like coffee, dark chocolate, and energy drinks. Just do not overdo it, too much caffeine can cause indigestion.

Although it may sound silly, fix yourself a nice slab of fish to bring to the workplace. The protein in fish can help increase satiety, allowing you to focus at the task at hand instead of hunger pangs. A diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids is also linked to improved memory.

Health and Exercise in Workplace

Remeber to move! All too often we are so focused on the job, that we forget the simple task of movement. There many benefits to getting the body moving throughout the day. An NBCNews.com article found that workers who exercised during the day had better time management skills, mental performance and improved ability to meet deadlines. Also, busy professionals who exercise during the day feel more productive. Xybix offers the latest in "at work" exercise; providing an industry leading first in health for public safety professionals. Xybix's recent launch of treadmills desks and bikes for workstations gives users an easy way to add movement to their busy work day.

Hopefully you already have some healthy habits in place. If you do - great! Just add these four health tips to your arsenal for 2014.  If you have yet to get on the health "bandwagon", now is as good of time as any. We can help bring better health into a Comm Center near you!

Xybix Health Treadmill

Topics: Employee Health, Dispatch