The most dangerous part of a long shoot day isn’t the stunt, the ladder, or the rigging. According to set medic [Name], it’s often the drive home.

“Everyone respects the dangers they can see,” [Name] says. “But tiredness doesn’t look dangerous. It just looks like someone saying, ‘I’m fine.'”

[Name] has worked as a set medic on [Show/Film] and [Show/Film]. So I asked what she wishes everyone on set knew about long days, from the first coffee to the last mile home.

Drowsy Driving After Long Shifts

Our industry knows this risk too well. Over the years, people have lost their lives driving home after long days on set. As a result, the drive home is the first thing [Name] talks about.

The numbers back her up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration counted 644 deaths in drowsy-driving crashes in 2024, and it says the true number is likely higher. Most of these crashes happen between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon. In other words, they happen right when many productions wrap.

Even worse, tired drivers can slip into microsleeps lasting four to five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that’s more than 100 yards traveled while asleep.

“If you’re drifting over lane lines or hitting the rumble strip, you’re already too tired,” [Name] says. “That’s not a warning sign. That’s the alarm.”

What to Do Before You Drive Home

So what actually helps? First, [Name] recommends a plan before wrap, not after.

“Know how you’re getting home before the day starts,” she says. “Carpool, call a ride, or ask production about a room if it’s a late wrap.”

If you do get sleepy on the road, NHTSA suggests one to two cups of coffee, then pulling over somewhere safe for a 20-minute nap. However, coffee alone isn’t enough, because it won’t stop microsleeps.

“Nobody has ever regretted pulling over,” [Name] adds. “Plenty of people have regretted not doing it.”

Water, Food, and the Long Day

Next comes the body. On a long day, [Name] sees dehydration constantly, especially on exterior shoots.

“Keep water on you, not just at the craft table,” she says. “And eat real food early. A granola bar at hour ten isn’t lunch.”

She also watches for the quiet signs: headaches, dizziness, and irritability. “When someone snaps at a colleague, sometimes they just need water and a sandwich.”

Sleep and the Turnaround

Adults need at least seven hours of sleep a night, according to sleep medicine experts cited by the CDC. Still, a short turnaround can make that nearly impossible.

“Protect the hours you do get,” [Name] says. “Dark room, phone across the room, and no scrolling through dailies in bed.”

When the days stack up, she says, it’s worth speaking up. “Saying you’re too tired to drive safely isn’t weakness. It’s professionalism.”

What’s in a Set Medic’s Own Bag

Of course, I had to ask what [Name] carries for herself. Her non-negotiables: [electrolyte packets], [a refillable water bottle], [blister pads], and [a travel pillow for the passenger seat].

“I take care of everyone all day,” she says. “So I try to practice what I preach.”

Take Care of Each Other

If you take one thing from this, let it be this: offer the ride, check on the colleague who’s been yawning since dinner, and make a plan before wrap.

And if long days are wearing you down, you don’t have to handle it alone. The Entertainment Community Fund offers health and wellness support for entertainment professionals.

Tell me: what does your department do to look out for each other after a long day? I’d love to share the best ideas.

With love,
Leah

This article is for general information and isn’t medical advice. If you have health concerns, please talk to your doctor.