Dialing Down the Donuts

Resist the Sweet Temptations of the 911 Center!

By: Tom Scanlan

Picture the scene. A room of 911 dispatchers rises from their chairs in an eruption of cheers, their computer mice and headsets haphazardly strewn about. They clap, hoot, and swoon at the sight of me and the items in my hands.

What justifies my triumphant entrance into a usually stressful environment?

A two-gallon jug of cyanide and a plastic sleeve of red Solo cups!

The director winks at me. "You brought in poison. Good move, Tom."

The 911 phone rings and dissipates the revelry like early-shift brain fog, settling the room into its dutiful, slightly edgy atmosphere. I put the dozen donuts and box of Munchkins on a Xybix desk and go to my station to log in.

You're thinking that bringing in sweet treats for your crew is terrific. Maybe you're the munchkin donut king or queen who knows that the way to a telecommunicator's heart is filling their tum-tums with fatty, sugary foods! So why, you ask, is this party pooper implying we must change the unhealthy culture in our centers? Because fatty, sugary foods, despite the brief sugar highs and cheap dopamine, have short- and long-term effects on performance and health.

Short Term Effects

Energy spikes and crashes

Fueling our bodies with poor nutrition (including those Celsius and Bangs!) requires frequent refueling with more bad food. Like we grow accustomed to habits, our bodies adapt to the fuel sources we put in them; we crave sugars, fats, and cheap carbs. The crash we know well causes fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.

Cognitive Impairment

Studies show high-sugar and saturated-fat diets impair executive function, memory, and decision-making. A 2017 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that even a single high-fat, high-sugar meal reduced focus and reaction time, which are critical in our stressful field. Anyone who has worn the headset knows that the most stressful part of the job is performing when you're off your game and lacking confidence.

Stress Amplification

Everyone has heard of the stress hormone cortisol. High, unregulated cortisol levels cause weight gain, high blood pressure, mood changes, and even severe conditions like Cushing disease. Our jobs cause our bodies to produce more cortisol than the civilian population, and high-sugar, high-fat intake worsens the issue by triggering inflammation and destabilizing mood. Let's be honest: one aspect of this job is the constant battle against burnout and (forms of) depression. Don't bring a donut stick to a sword fight!

Long Term Effects

Chronic Fatigue and Burnout

A poor diet high in processed sugars and bad fats disrupts sleep and metabolism, increasing fatigue. Like the interest in your retirement fund, this kind of nutrition compounds burnout risks. It also lowers sustained performance and resilience to our unique stress factors. Long-term consumption increases the risks of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues. A healthy diet is a long-term investment in your future. Live long enough to enjoy your hard-earned retirement, my people!

Cognitive Decline

Research links high-sugar, high-fat diets to hippocampal damage. Translation for us humble dispatchers: junk food does ju-jitsu on the parts of your brain responsible for memory and learning. Career-wise, this can stall skill development and self-sabotage promotion opportunities. And none of us wants beat-up brains in our golden years, do we?

Reduced Stress Coping

A 2019 British Journal of Health Psychology study connected workplace junk food consumption to higher stress and lower job satisfaction in high-pressure roles. Chronic intake of those donuts, pastries, and candy bars Julie or Jimmy insist on bringing in can alter your brain chemistry! Specifically, dopamine regulation, which is damaged enough already by scrolling social media on our phones 24/7.

Conclusion (Call to Action)

Next time you're at your workstation and hear that glazed cake donut uttering its siren song, resist!

Next time you want to make a kind gesture at your center and treat your staff, make the decision not to poison your co-workers!

Next time you longingly contemplate your retirement, factor in the steps you must take to get there healthy and vibrant! You want to spend your hard-earned retirement cruising on ocean liners, not hospital gurneys!

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Tom Scanlan, CMCP, is a Communications Supervisor at the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Emergency Communications Center in Foxborough, Massachusetts—the official 911 provider for the New England Patriots and Revolution! He is happily married and has two daughters. His hobbies include lifting or training for a marathon and listening to podcasts when he's not working overtime. He starts conversations about challenging issues facing our 911 centers using humor and research.

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