"Sleep disorders plague police officers"

[sgtjosh]

Constant shift change. The human body is not wired for this.

Pick a shift and keep them on it for six months.

And if you are on night shift, you damn well better be taking vitamin D.

No vitamin D=Seasonal Affective Disorder=Suicide.

My station allows us to bid for shifts based upon seniority. Each of our rotations is 3 months. Most guys stick with a shift once they acquire the seniority to ensure stability.

I just got bumped from my shift of choice because of another dog handler having sleep issues on midnight shift.

[kmrtnsn]

Back when I was uniformed we worked rotating shifts, changing every month, days to swings, swings to mids, mids to days. Eventually management capitulated to the union and we instituted a bid for shift system and I was able to spend several years, working my preferred shift, swings. I found the quality of my sleep increased dramatically once I was able to stay on one shift and have some regularity to my life.

[Iraqgunz]

I have insomnia among other things. It's a bitch to deal with.

[sjc3081]

I have sleep apnea and have been using a CPAP since 1997. If you suspect you have a sleep issue get a sleep study. My treatment with the CPAP has improved my health greater than I ever could imagine.

[Alaskapopo]

Since I lost weight and started working out I do sleep much better now than before. No brainer I guess. Shift work does suck. The best thing about my last promotion was I get a stable shift.
Pat

[Voodoo_Man]

I have insomnia among other things. It's a bitch to deal with.

Its not insomnia, its sleep dep.

[StrikerFired]

This is not new information, but most depts just do not care...

Don't care a bit, just as long as you don't complain too much. Hey after all, you are just lucky to keep a job....

[sniperfrog]

I work a rotating 12 hour shift that switches from days to nights every week. This week I work Fri, Sat, Sun day shift then switch to nights for Mon, Tues and Wed. I had to get on Ambien but it doesn't even work anymore.

A few years back when there was shit tons of overtime, guys were working 70-80 hours a week rotating back and forth between days and nights. Kinda sucked but i made alot of money .

I don't think I can sleep more the a few hours without waking up for no reason and I usually only get about 4-6 hours of sleep a night (or day). I am very physically active so I'm not a fatty or anything but alot of guys I work with are.

I think staying in shape definetly helps. I sometimes go to the gym at 4:00 AM before work (which starts at 5:30) on dayshifts which helps get me through the day.

[Voodoo_Man]

Don't care a bit, just as long as you don't complain too much. Hey after all, you are just lucky to keep a job....

understatement.

[dmaxfireman]

Just some insight from a career fireman who works a 3 on 3 off schedule.

I work 3 day shifts from 7a - 5p then 3 full days off, then 3 nights from 5p - 7a followed by 3 days off then back to the beginning.

I work in the one of the busier engines where I am and sleep patterns are almost non-existent. We fight for 24hour shifts where we can have just one night of interrupted sleep then 3 normal nights instead of 3 interrupted nights in a row.

Being 'allowed' to sleep between calls at night actually makes the sleep pattern worse for us.