Ex-driver becomes a nurse and rides an ambulance with an emergency psychologist – Cities

A first aid driver’s dream of owning his own ambulance seemed impossible, but a decade later, it became a reality in the midst of the pandemic and brought an unprecedented service to Mato Grosso do Sul: emergency psychological support. Rafael Jara, 44, was behind the wheel and provided basic support, such as resuscitation and immobilization, but realized that a lot of care could be better, including in cases of people in emotional crises, which was already in short supply and increased with the pandemic.

crisis the health The world was the time for Ambulance Driver, who graduated in Nursing in 2016. Amidst stressful transitions, Jara managed to buy her first ambulance, with great difficulty, in 2020. It was the first from Anjos Remoções.

“It is very expensive. I only had my wife’s car to sell and give up, an amount not even half paid, until a businessman, for whom I already worked, made an offer and paid a large part of it in installments, in 2020. Then, I was able to buy the second car From him, she is today a mobile intensive care unit,” says the nurse.

Jara’s wife, psychologist Gisele Oliveira, 48, embraced the nurse’s dream and ended up adding a differential amid demand, which is only growing with the pandemic.

Mato Grosso do Sul has only about five leading companies doing removals, being an alternative to the public service provided by Samu (the mobile emergency service), which is often overburdened.

emergency psychology – Jara realized that a large part of the repetitions and requests for removal and assistance, in fact, were crises of anxiety and panic. The need is enormous, we are a psychopathic country, third in the ranking of suicides in Brazil, in second place there are more divorces, and therefore anxiety disorder multiplies”, highlights Gisele.

According to the psychologist, it is still very uncommon for residents to seek psychological help, which eventually leads to emergency situations.

“We still need to develop this culture further. We attend many cases of grief, PTSD, elderly people with depression or nervous breakdowns, who cannot go to the office and patients who have had accidents or had a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) nor We accept the fact that they cannot go back to work, nor cooperate with physical therapists,” he says.

Pandemic cases are increasing due to anxiety, fear of illness, uncertainty about the future, and mourning for the relatives who died of COVID-19. As a nurse, Gaara witnessed the crises of co-workers. “If there had been a psychiatrist at the time, it would have been so much better,” he says.

“The family is very relieved when we arrived with the ambulance and the psychiatrist. Although the doctor, nurse and firefighters are qualified to help, nothing beats emergency psychiatric assistance. There are cases when the patient is aggressive and verbally restrained, and a conversation with the psychiatrist is necessary. Jara comments on this. : “The mechanical fixation is not good, and sometimes it can even be very harmful to the patient.”

The psychiatrist explains that emergency psychological support is primarily a welcome and qualifier to listen in a crisis situation, when an individual experiences paralysis in the life process, invaded by a feeling of confusion and loneliness.

“It’s psychological help when a particular problem arises, so that it doesn’t turn into a mental disorder or a chronic illness,” he explains.

protected area – In seven months, driving the streets of the capital and state, the couple’s company is already facing new challenges, along with drivers, nurses and medical partners.

After attending a nursing home where a lady fell and the company they paid for didn’t come to the place, Jara realized she could provide another service.

After the fall, the old woman grew up inappropriately. Thus, the idea of ​​creating a protected area arose, where it is available 24 hours a day and still provides first aid training to employees of companies and institutions.

“We also cover events. Everything is always humane, respectful and very responsible, which is not always the case in companies that provide this service. When I was a driver, it bothered me a lot, but I couldn’t do anything. Today he proudly says.

Jara remembers that it is important to check that the company is not secret, before calling an ambulance. “People can ask to see the health permit. It’s quite bureaucratic to get the licenses and many companies are operating underground, but this is a risk that can cost a life.”