No one will ever know for sure if a 38-year-old described as an amazing mom and excellent trauma nurse fell asleep at the wheel when her car drifted into oncoming traffic and was hit by a truck in 2019. But Julie Marlow had just finished a 12-hour overnight shift at a hospital in Wakefield, England and authorities say she may have dozed off on her way home, according to an article in the Daily Mail. She died a few hours after the accident.
The nurse’s tragic death - while an extreme case - can serve as a stark reminder that as medical professionals we need to get proper rest. We need to care for ourselves just as we care for others.
It’s safe to say that most of us have at least occasionally found ourselves sleep-deprived after working a long shift. I live approximately 30 miles from work, and the commute can take an hour each way. With a stressful, demanding job and little time for proper meals, I can find myself feeling a little sleepy during my drive home.
The potential dangers and risks of driving drowsy are frightening. The National Safety Council estimates that drowsy driving accounts for about 100,000 crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1.550 fatalities each year.
Some people report being unaware of fatigue and falling asleep until it’s too late to avoid a collision. A study done by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 25 percent of the drivers in fatigue-related accidents did not feel sleepy prior to the crash. These are some scary statistics!
For sure, people in all walks of life can find themselves faced with driving with too little sleep. As nurses, we need to be acutely aware because we work in a profession where the need for patient care is 24/7, 365 days a year. Many of us work when the rest of the world is asleep.
Add to the overnight shifts, the stresses of the covid pandemic and such everyday responsibilities as child or elder care. No wonder we can find ourselves overwhelmed and lacking proper rest.
The Centers for Disease Control indicates that people who snored or usually slept six or fewer hours per day were more likely to fall asleep at the wheel.
Is this you?
It’s me some nights returning home from working 12 hours at the hospital.
Experts say drivers with untreated sleep disorders, and those who use medications that make them sleepy put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk.
We need to recognize and understand the warning signs of driving drowsy. Most of us already know the red flags, but let’s review them as a refresher.
Just like with an ailing patient, we need to look for symptoms. The most common are yawning, rubbing your eyes, or blinking frequently. Other signs are feeling restless or irritable, difficulty remembering the past few miles driven, missing your exit, and drifting from your lane.
Many roads have rumble strips near the edges of the pavement to wake fatigued drivers. Some newer car models are equipped with such safety systems as automatic braking if you close in too fast on a car ahead of you or alarms if you drift out of your lane.
Of course, we can’t depend on those safety nets so it’s best is to avoid fatigued driving altogether. But unless you take public transit, you might still unexpectedly find yourself having trouble staying awake on the drive home.
Tips to Help You Stay Alert
As part of my research for this article, I checked with numerous sources for tips on staying alert when you are behind the wheel.
Here are some of the most common suggestions.
1. Healthy sleeping habits
We need to stick to a schedule with at least seven uninterrupted hours of sleep a day. Adhering to consistent times to go to bed and wake up is best. The best place to sleep for most of us is a dark and quiet bedroom. I personally sleep with the television on but my cell phone on silent. Lastly, no caffeine or alcohol before bedtime will make for better sleep.
2. Add some stimuli if driving and still find yourself drowsy.
Open a window, turn up the music or opt for a blast of A/C to help awaken the dull senses. The lively sound and the cold air may help keep you awake.
3. Coffee helps but….
Many of us use caffeine to help us stay alert. AARP says some scientists recommend what they call the “caffeine nap” where first you have some caffeine and then take a 15-minute nap. The brain gets just enough rest during the 20 minutes or so it takes for the cup of Joe to kick in. The stimulant effect of caffeine begins just as the nap is ending. Of course, not every nurse has the time – not to mention a suitable place – to sleep during their breaks on the hospital campus.
4. Power naps
So, we talked about caffeine and naps, but let us talk about the possibility of stopping for a catnap on the way home. Many experts say that taking a nap anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes can provide immediate improvement to rejuvenate yourself to complete your drive. There are typically plenty of places to pull over, but make sure you choose a safe and public place.
5. Watch your medications
As nurses, we know that certain medications can cause drowsiness, especially if you’re not well-rested. Always check your medication for side effects. Medications can affect us all differently.
6. Food
Finally, don’t eat heavy foods before you drive due to glucose being released quickly into the bloodstream. Instead, eat nuts, berries and yogurt. Stay away from the sugars and foods high in carbohydrates. Eating regularly is a problem for me, but just eating a little snack helps me stay awake.
Hopefully, these suggestions will help you stay awake and arrive home safely.
Don’t become a statistic!
References
Candy Sagon, (November 01, 2011), The Caffeine Nap: Drowsy Drivers, Coffee Then Sleep,
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (March 31,2020), NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Hours.
Lena Borelli, (March 2, 2022), Drowsy Driving Statistics and Facts 2022
