The University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson EMS Council, which serves seven countries across the region, collaborated for a new program that aims to treat "stress injuries." 

Stress injury (or also called repetitive stress injury) is an injury occurs because of recurrent overuse or improper use, according to Medicinet. One of the most common stress injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome, which often results from a trauma of repetitive work. 

When there is an emergency, men and women who respond usually witness the terrifying moments. The paramedics, policemen, and firefighters are usually the ones who go to the accidents and even crime scenes.

Andrew Baxter, Charlottesville Fire Department Chief, said they were the ones running into the burning building, while everyone is running out to save their lives. Meanwhile, Dr. Forest Calland, a trauma surgeon, told NBC 29 that pre-hospital care providers are at risk for stress injury. An estimated 15% of emergency responders suffer from complication, some have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

The collaboration project of UVA researchers and Thomas Jefferson EMS aims to ensure that those people who respond during emergency situations are healthy. UVA School of Nursing Professor Dr. Richard Westphal said it is important that the community supports those individuals and their families.  

Dr. Westphal had spent some time studying how the military treats soldiers who suffer from psychological illnesses like PTSD. According to him, "the culture of responders is not that different from the military, fire, police, EMS."

One of the important roles of UVA Researchers is to help get jurisdictions on board with their program. Tom Joyce said having an opportunity to get this high quality of a program is something  that they should not miss.  

The Thomas Jefferson EMS Council, along its partner, UVA researchers are hoping that all seven counties it serves will help them in this new peer-to-peer outreach program. As of now, some of the protocols are in the work, and the goal is to roll it out later this year.