How an app aims to address first responder sleep deprivation

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) — It’s First Responder Wellness Week and local agencies are raising awareness of how daily exposure to traumatic event can leave a physical and mental toll on emergency personnel.

“Every single shift that our firefighters work they are exposed to somebody having their worst day,” said Wilmington Fire Chief Steve Mason.

Mason said while the work of a firefighter is greatly rewarding, it comes with a cost.

“If you spend 15, 20, 30 years in this career you have cumulative sleep deprivation,” Mason said.

Mason said their firefighters, like those at other stations, work 24 to 48 hour shifts.

Long shifts at a station where a call can come in at any moment, can prevent firefighters from getting adequate rest.

Mason said lack of sleep turns into a domino effect leading to poor mental health and possible injuries on the job such as strains and sprains.

“It has impacts on cancer, it has impacts on cardiovascular health, on mental health, sleep is incredibly important and quite honestly our shift work is probably the biggest thing that we do that you know makes your sleep habits terrible,” Mason said.

“I share 700 open murders with a partner, he and I share those cases, that’s 700 grieving families,” said Matt Heffner.

Heffner, a cold case homicide detective based in Charlotte said solving cold cases is a big responsibility and the pressure can lead to poor sleep habits. Though, Heffner found refuge in NuCalm, an app that uses soothing sound to calm brain waves.

“I was waking up ready to go rather than waking up, looking at that clock, praying that I could just get one more hour,” Heffner said.

“Why NuCalm is here was to address the brain phiseology of complex trauma, trauma and addiction. They are all related,” said James Poole.

Poole, CEO of NuCalm said their app naturally overrides the “fight or flight” response on an algorithm of electrical signals prompted on the app.

“We use an advanced software underneath music and use your ears to present your brain with precise signals and then we modulate the frequency of the human brainwave,” said Poole.

For Mason, if firefighters get adequate sleep, it makes all the difference.

“It’s really good for morale because firefighters are feeling good if they are feeling good they are going to do their jobs better,” said Mason.

Click here to learn more about NuCalm.