Promoting Wellness & Preventing Fatigue
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Maritime Training Services Inc.
In case of any conflict between the
requirements shown in the movie and
the company's safety management
system (SMS), please follow the
company's SMS requirements
Promoting Wellness &
Preventing Fatigue
From watch keeping to running drills,
to working in the engine room,
seafarers are asked to do a lot each day.
This puts a strain on our wellness
but what does wellness actually mean
and why does it matter?
Wellness is a lot more than simply
not being sick.
Wellness is becoming aware of and making
choices toward a healthy lifestyle.
You are in control of your own wellness.
Here are some tips for how
to promote wellness in your life.
Eat healthy food, such as whole grains,
fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.
drink a glass of water when you wake up
and keep yourself hydrated.
Don't sit for too long.
The body likes to move.
Give it what it needs.
Take breaks to refresh your body and mind.
Get regular medical checkups, such as
an annual physical and age-appropriate tests.
Do some sort of stretching each day.
Be social.
Spend time communicating
with friends and family.
Get rid of extra stuff you don't need.
Try out new activities.
Do something nice for someone.
Bring positive energy into the room,
instead of taking it away.
Get seven to nine hours of sleep
per night and avoid fatigue.
For generations, being a fatigued seafarer
was seen as part of the job.
If you signed up to be a seafarer,
then you signed up to be tired.
However, as more and more
seafarers recognize the hazards
and threats posed by fatigue,
this attitude is changing.
Here are some tips for how to
combat fatigue in your life.
Understand the consequences.
Fatigue causes depression, obesity,
heart disease and other illnesses.
Tired people die sooner.
Mitigate environmental factors, such as
ship motion, temperature, humidity,
light, weather and noise.
Get enough quality, continual sleep.
Six one-hour naps do not have the same
benefit as one six-hour period of sleep.
Avoid chemicals that affect sleep.
Caffeine nicotine and alcohol
can all contribute to sleep problems.
Take steps to reduce stress,
such as those outlined in the wellness
section of this program.
Seek medical attention if you think
you have a sleep disorder.
Changing our habits and lifestyle is
difficult, however, the benefits are enormous.
When we promote wellness and reduce fatigue,
we become healthier, live longer,
become more productive
and look and feel better too.