|
|
| The Walking Dead |
| By Ted Tudor |
| Published: 10/07/2019 |
I never worked as a Correctional Officer (CO). So why would I write a story for corrections staff to read?
I volunteer for Desert Waters Correctional Outreach, and have listened to many COs’ heart-stopping stories. Most of my working years were spent as a professional truck driver. And now I realize that corrections staff and truck drivers share some work-related issues.Three of the work-related issues corrections staff and truck drivers have in common are: long hours, poor working conditions, and lack of respect. In this article I will speak of the effects of working long hours. Yes, lack of sleep impacts workers and those around them. When I started as a truck driver I was usually required to put in fifteen-hour days and generally sixty or more hours per week. There were a few times that over one hundred hours per week were logged. There were many weeks of well over sixty hours per week logged. One company that I worked for guaranteed that we would put in at least sixty hours per week. I understand what it is like to work long hours in stressful conditions around people that do not like you, mingling with those that wish you were not there, and people who do hateful things to you. This I understand and have experienced. I also know what long hours without sleep has done to me and how dangerous it was for me and those around me. In the 1960’s I drove regularly between central Ohio to the Chicago area and returned to my home base in Ohio. Most of the time I would make three round trips per week and sometimes four. Depending on where I picked up and where I delivered, it would take eight to ten hours of driving time to make it one way. This was in addition to the time spent in pickup and delivery. In order to log this time legally, we would sometimes have to push the pencil faster than what we actually drove. In reality I have been without sleep over 24 hours many, many times in my working years as a truck driver. At that time almost all of the highways were two-lane roads and the roads between Chicago and Ohio went through several small towns. Some had traffic lights, some did not. I have driven through some of those towns more than once and several miles down the road I’d be suddenly wondering, “Where am I going and where am I? How did I get here without going through the town of Larwill, Pierceton, Plymouth or other towns? Did I run through red traffic lights, stop signs? Did I run anyone off the road?” I once woke up in the right traffic lane with the engine running full speed and the truck was out of gear and not moving. I don’t know what happened during parts of some of those road trips. I have also hauled in the oil fields of the western US. At that time the legal system did not enforce the laws concerning the hours worked in the oil fields. Many weeks the logged hours hovered around one hundred hours. By the grace of God, I am still alive. During some of those long hours I’ve experienced losing control coming off a pass, running over cattle in the road, waking up bouncing across the sage brush and ending up on dirt roads in the middle of nowhere, not knowing where I was or where I was supposed to be going. Once I was so tired, I draped myself across the steering wheel with a lit cigarette between my fingers so that I would wake up shortly. I woke up sometime later with the ashes of the cigarette on the floor and water blisters between my fingers. I was so out of it, I slept through the pain of having my skin burn without waking up. And I have done some really dangerous, stupid road rage stunts that I do not want to think about. From what I have shared above you would think that I am not a safety-conscious driver. Wrong. In my adult years I have tried to be a professional, courteous and safe driver. But when extremely fatigued, I have seen in myself and others that the mind and body do not operate properly. Sometimes they hardly operate at all. Several months ago I saw a person standing on a walking cast in a public place. I walked up to him and asked him how he had injured himself. He said he had fallen asleep at the wheel and wrecked. Yes, he is a CO and he was going home after working overtime. In the past month I’ve also heard of a situation where a CO was going home after working over-time, fell asleep as the wheel and killed someone. How many in the past year have caused injury or death because of sleep deprivation? How many COs have recently pushed the pencil on logs because of sleep deprivation? How many COs have not really done the job that they said they did do–because of sleep deprivation. And how many people have been hurt because of this? How many COs have been disciplined or lost their jobs because of sleep deprivation? How many lawsuits have resulted because of errors? How much did that cost to the agencies where these COs worked? Very recently a high profile person detained at a jail died, apparently by suicide. The two COs who were in charge of that person reportedly were working overtime. What happened? How does all this affect COs’ personal lives? From experience I can say that when you work long hours on a regular basis, you do not have much of a personal life. Oftentimes I arrived home after 12 to 15 hours on the job, only to find the house empty. Everyone had gone to an event, as they did not even know if or when I would be home. In some ways this could be a relief, because I was only going to be at the house 3 to 5 hours before having to head back to work. And I needed those hours for sleep. When you work extremely long hours, you and your family does not have a normal lifestyle. The house where your spouse and children live feels like a secondary place to spend time. I actually was more tuned in to what was going on at work than what was happening with my family. Wherever I went when off duty, my mind was still partially on duty, and I was irritable and hard to get along with. If you don’t believe that this could be happening to you too, just ask those around you. And what about your health? Oh, WOW! Just watch that newly hired CO start to pack on the pounds. And watch the mental changes as they happen. I know some of this might be due to other sources of stress on the job, but how much of that is due to the stress of not getting enough sleep, especially if the new hires start on the night shift? Sleep deprivation can be a killer. What can YOU do about it? Who is responsible for it? What needs to be done? This article as been reprinted with permission from the September 2019 Issue of Correctional Oasis, a monthly e-publication of "Desert Waters Correctional Outreach". Ted Tudor has been a volunteer at Desert Waters Correctional Outreach since its inception in 2003. He has worked as a truck driver and a truck driver trainer for 30 years. Ted is the author of the "Professional Truck Driving Manual" Volumes 1 & 2. |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
I read your blog frequently and I just thought I’d say keep up the amazing work! nearest walmart
Super-Duper site! I am Loving it!! Will come back again, Im taking your feed also, Thanks. WordsPorn
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. Thanks... detectives privados contacto
nice post, keep up with this interesting work. It really is good to know that this topic is being covered also on this web site so cheers for taking time to discuss this! corporate photo booth
I am glad you take pride in what you write. This makes you stand way out from many other writers that push poorly written content. Stradivarius violin for sale
Best work you have done, this online website is really cool with great facts. Signage Maker
i am always looking for some free stuffs over the internet. there are also some companies which gives free samples. best liposuction houston
Great post, you have pointed out some excellent points, I as well believe this is a very superb website. bathtub and tile refinishing
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback. manhattan printing
I was reading your article and wondered if you had considered creating an ebook on this subject. Your writing would sell it fast. You have a lot of writing talent. water softener for business
Fantastic blog you have here. You’ll discover me looking at your stuff often. Saved! skip bin hire sydney
You make so many great points here that I read your article a couple of times. Your views are in accordance with my own for the most part. This is great content for your readers. cash buyers in maryland
This is very interesting content! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your points and have come to the conclusion that you are right about many of them. You are great. car shield
This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post. apostador deportivo
Hi, I find reading this article a joy. It is extremely helpful and interesting and very much looking forward to reading more of your work.. Grow indoors
Very useful info. Hope to see more posts soon!. amazon keyword tool
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. tuinontwerper eindhoven
I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to understand. Unlike other blogs I have read which are really not that good.Thanks alot! denied I-751 lawyer
Thank you for helping people get the information they need. Great stuff as usual. Keep up the great work!!! slip and fall attorney
Really a great addition. I have read this marvelous post. Thanks for sharing information about it. I really like that. Thanks so lot for your convene. striping and re-coating
I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You. Athletic personal training
Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting? I'm pleased I discovered it though, ill be checking back soon to find out what additional posts you include. Digital Forensics
Great things you’ve always shared with us. Just keep writing this kind of posts.The time which was wasted in traveling for tuition now it can be used for studies.Thanks life insurance lawyer
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well.. pet business software
I learn some new stuff from it too, thanks for sharing your information. How to get rid of constipation
I have read your article, it is very informative and helpful for me.I admire the valuable information you offer in your articles. Thanks for posting it.. dj perth
This was really an interesting topic and I kinda agree with what you have mentioned here! convention
this is really nice to read..informative post is very good to read..thanks a lot! Mobile Notary Service Downtown Dallas, Tx
Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place.. painting company carlsbad
Please share more like that. Male therapists near me
Thanks for sharing nice information with us. i like your post and all you share with us is uptodate and quite informative, i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job. apostille
I read a article under the same title some time ago, but this articles quality is much, much better. How you do this.. spa chairs for sale
The post is written in very a good manner and it contains many useful information for me. Zahnmedizin Bern
It is the best platform where I visit regularly to take information about my study issues. https://www.theacademicpapers.co.uk/dissertation-writing-services-uk.php
Its a great pleasure reading your post.Its full of information I am looking for and I love to post a comment that "The content of your post is awesome" Great work. OMA Online Makeup Academy
The website is looking bit flashy and it catches the visitors eyes. Design is pretty simple and a good user friendly interface. sewer repair
I am very happy to discover your post as it will become on top in my collection of favorite blogs to visit. White Noise Fan
Thanks for sharing this useful info.. vitamins and supplements
Hey what a brilliant post I have come across and believe me I have been searching out for this similar kind of post for past a week and hardly came across this. Thank you very much and will look for more postings from you. tighten skin
That is really nice to hear. thank you for the update and good luck. male modeling agencies in New York
Anyone seeking high-quality Essay Writing Help Online will want to hire a qualified writer to handle their Custom College Essay Papers on time and offer the best Custom Essay Writing Assistance .
The firm gives cost-effective Nursing Research Paper Services that are impressive and you do not have to drain your pockets in the quest of Nursing Research Paper Writing Help and all your Academic Nursing Research Paper Writing Services.
An allergy refers to a sensitivity of our immune system towards some substance, which produces respiratory, digestive, nervous or skin alterations. upsers | www.upsers.com | upserscom
Walking on the street is not the safest thing in the night. I think you should have to cover a story related to it, so that people will follow it when read here.learn2chalk.com
An exciting article, after which I want to relax and get distracted, so now I’m going to play in the online casino Nightrush. I hope I am lucky today and I will win the largest amount possible.
I know what you might be thinking: “No way, Azur Lane on PC?” Well, here we are with a PC version alright – and this time, you won’t even need an emulator! Get to play the game directly onto your desktop without any hassle at all. azur lane
Kronospoker Situs Judi Online, IDN Poker, IDN Poker Mobile, Agen Poker Terpercaya Indonesia untuk permainan Poker Online, Domino Qiu Qiu, Cemeqq, Capsa Susun dan Super10
I have watched the walking dead and didnt like it at all. Regards,
CodyCross Zoogeschäft Lösungen
Thank you for the articles and good content for studying the information. เว็บพนันบอลไม่ผ่านเอเย่นต์