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Updated: Dec 12, 2025
08:36
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
12.5K
Should public safety shift workers be allowed to nap while on duty?
P Daniel Patterson1,2, Matthew D Weaver3,4, Francis X Guyette1
1Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|August 8, 2020
Summary
Intra-shift napping can combat fatigue and improve wellness for public safety personnel, including emergency medical services (EMS). Despite concerns, evidence supports napping as a vital fatigue mitigation strategy.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Science
- Public Safety
Background:
- Fatigue and sleep deficiency are significant issues for public safety personnel, impacting safety, health, and retention.
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel frequently experience severe fatigue due to long shifts and multiple jobs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define intra-shift napping.
- To summarize evidence for and against napping during shifts.
- To outline applications of napping for fatigue mitigation in public safety.
Main Methods:
- This commentary reviews existing scientific literature on intra-shift napping.
- It focuses on the application and implications within Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Main Results:
- Intra-shift napping offers benefits such as reduced sleepiness, improved inter-shift recovery, decreased anxiety, and mitigated blood pressure alterations.
- Potential drawbacks include public perception issues and sleep inertia-related performance deficits.
Conclusions:
- Despite potential negative consequences, scientific evidence supports intra-shift napping as a key strategy for fatigue mitigation and workplace wellness.
- The benefits of napping extend to all sectors of public safety beyond EMS.
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