First responders are special people. Most don’t think about money or glory; rather they are motivated by the reward of providing safety and relief, doing all they can to help others.
While some might consider first responders superheroes, just like the rest of humanity they have a very real vulnerability: mental health. Few go into the profession thinking about how the job will affect them mentally. As a public servant who cares, I feel mental health should be held to the same standard as physical fitness.
Let’s face it, we all have triggers. Whether it’s daily stress or the horror of what first responders encounter at a fire, automobile crash or domestic violence, it affects us. We mostly click into survival mode, pushing the pain and gore into a corner of our conscious, reacting to the situation with as little emotion as possible. Seeing repetitive tragedies is hard on anyone and it takes a toll. Those emotions can and do resurface and we can react in a couple of different ways. Some find positive ways to cope, others cope in self-destructive ways. I am urging all of us to be aware of “triggers” that warn someone is having trouble: they are quick to anger, suffer depression or exhibit self-destructive behavior like taking undue chances or turning to drugs or alcohol. We need to be aware that these are signs of post-traumatic stress. I thought nothing could bother me but I have since learned that no one is immune, but many will deny it. If we weren’t affected by all this, we would be narcissistic; but most first responders aren’t.
First responders are coping the only way they know how. They see and experience things that most others don’t. Here’s the problem; we must address the issue but most public servants are terrified to seek help. Why?
Many are fearful of persecution and losing employment. Those who admit they need help are often looked upon as mentally weak and “damaged.” While there has been a shift of thought in this area, too often admitting that the job is getting to them leads to castigation and forced retirement.
I have seen my fair share of tragedy and I am the first to admit it affected me. I was always happy-go-lucky, but the job has changed me. I realized I couldn’t do this on my own so I decided to get help. I have been seeing a psychotherapist for ten years. At first, I was very embarrassed. Now, I want to help others get the help they might need too. Three years ago, I invited a mental health professional to talk to our staff members. The turnout was not that great and I was hurt. I was told, “Jeff, it went well and we will come back. We touched a few and it made a difference.”
I learned help can come in many forms whether it be a support group, a church pastor, a trusted friend, your partner or someone on your crew. It’s time we put this on the table and say enough is enough, otherwise more public servants will just walk away from the job, self-medicate or commit suicide. Personally, every suicide I read about hurts me. I lost a cousin to suicide. He was a very prominent surgeon, he was my age, and it devastated my family.
I will offer one other piece of advice: use exercise and hobbies to deal with stress. Don’t let your job define your life. I find climbing is the one sport that lets my brain rest. I can only think about the rock or ice, the route, and the next move; my mind is free of everyday noise. I also actively pursue therapy and I talk with my wife. Many I know have used Eye Movement Desensitizing Reprocessing (EMDR) to treat PTSD. Whatever works for you – bowling, bike riding or hitting the gym – get going and help your mind through physical activity.
I hope writing this article will make more of us stop and pay attention. Know the warning signs: loss of interest in activities, self-medication, poor hygiene, isolation and depression or anger. Other signs are a change in one’s empathy and compassion. Those of us working as first responders need to notice those on our crew who might complain when the tones drop if they suffer from night terrors or even cry; it’s a sign our brother or sister needs help. We need to show empathy and compassion to each other and extend a hand. Let’s also not forget our retired or disabled public servants. Call and invite them to the station for a meal. Make time for them. Too many of our brothers and sisters are getting divorced and committing suicide. Let’s change the stigma and turn around the statistics.
Health and wellness must include taking care of our public servants’ mental health. It’s a concern for all of us, no one can do it all themselves. We can listen and offer advice, but if we try to become everyone’s problem solver we end being affected ourselves. We need to change the culture and make professional help available. Our leaders sometimes forget about life in the trenches. I don’t blame them; they most likely have dealt with the same issues but now they fight different battles. Their concerns are budgets, staffing, equipment upgrades, etc.
Slowly, more of the public safety leadership is addressing the issue of PTSD and the mental health of their crews. I urge more of those leaders to make a commitment to mental health. Please lobby to bring this issue to the forefront before you read about one of your people doing something rash. A proactive mental health program is also needed to reduce PTSD and worker burnout.
Jeff Bryan, Firefighter/EMT-I
Jeff Bryan is a firefighter who doesn’t let adversity keep him down. Jeff returned to full time work in March 2015, just slightly less than a year after his right leg was amputated below the knee. Jeff, who is a firefighter and EMT Intermediate with the Ute Mountain Fire Department in southwest Colorado, refused to let the amputation keep him down. He was released from the hospital on his 50th birthday. He says there were two ways to go: give up and feel sorry for himself or push forward and beat it – he chose to move beyond and conquer it.
As soon as he was able, he started bicycling, ice climbing, paddle boarding, swimming and yoga. As far as anyone can determine, Jeff is the only firefighter in Colorado to return to fulltime active duty after a leg amputation. Jeff does not want to be known as the firefighter who lost a leg, but the guy who works hard to stay in shape and be the best EMT/firefighter he can.
Jeff provides insight and commentary on issues facing firefighters, EMTs and other first responders.
Have you ever stood on the side of a busy road or highway? It can be a bit intimidating as traffic roars by; you can feel the wind of speeding cars and trucks and the sting from dust and pebbles thrown as they fly past. Now imagine that you are a first responder, law enforcement officer or maintenance worker trying to do a job, often just off of or in busy lanes of traffic.
Every day the people who protect us put their safety and lives on the line when they get out of their vehicles to help a stranded motorist, block a lane of traffic, clear up debris or provide first aid to someone hurt in a crash. This should be a reminder that we all need to be more careful as we drive along the byways and highways on our daily commutes or while on a special trip. Over the next hill or around the next curve could be an unexpected situation with a first responder or law enforcement officer who might be in a vulnerable situation while trying to help others.
Just such a situation recently turned deadly for 33 year old Colorado State Trooper Jamie Jursevics who was hit and killed while assisting people involved in a crash off I-25. Another driver, who has been charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter, slammed into Trooper Jursevics. She died at the scene leaving behind a husband and an eight month old daughter.
The pain that Jursevics’ family is enduring is felt by hundreds of others every year. The National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund reports that between 2005 and 2014, 134 officers died after being struck by a vehicle. In addition, hundreds of highway construction and maintenance workers were also struck and killed while on the job.
We all owe the men and women who keep our roads safe our undivided attention. This means not being distracted by cell phones or other electronic devices, never driving while overly tired or after consuming alcohol or taking certain prescription drugs, and slowing down when we see emergency vehicle lights either in traffic or off to the side of the road. It’s hard to imagine the horror of being distracted and causing injuries or death.
That’s why all 50 states now have Move Over laws on the books, to try and protect the men and women who protect us. Move Over laws require motorists to slow down, change lanes or move over as far as possible when approaching an emergency vehicle. More of us need to be informed about those laws, though; with surveys showing that 71 percent of Americans still have not heard of Move Over laws.
The American Safety Council reminds us to be extra vigilant when we see an emergency vehicle and to:
Pull as far to the right as possible to let them pass
Stay at least 500 feet behind them
Move as far over as possible when nearing a stopped emergency vehicle with lights activated and slow to a speed not more than 20 miles less than the posted speed limit
The men and women who swear to serve and protect us, as well as ambulance drivers, tow truck operators and construction workers deserve all the extra safety we can give them.
San Mateo, CA, October 8, 2015 – October is an important month for firefighters across the country. Not only is it Fire Prevention Month, but it’s also when they pause to remember fellow comrades at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial in Maryland.
In 2014, 84 men and women in the United States lost their lives in the line of duty. Despite that, thousands of dedicated fire personnel continue to put on the uniform and charge into dangerous situations to help others.
Too often, their heroics and sacrifice go unnoticed. That’s why California Casualty created Nominate A Hero, a program to encourage others to highlight those who make our communities better. First responder Heroes of the Month include California fireman Joe Benton who suffered serious injuries fighting an outbreak of wildfires and is now a fire inspector, and firefighter/CPR instructor Robert Stevens who volunteers at the local school district and also helps aspiring firefighters apply and study for the firefighter exam. To honor a hero you know, go to www.nominatemyhero.com.
California Casualty is also encouraging the public to join them in donating to relief funds aimed at helping firefighters who lost homes while selflessly protecting their communities during the disastrous California fires. Information can be found here at CSFA website.
“We think it’s important to say thank you and support the courageous men and women who protect us,” said Mike McCormick, California Casualty Sr. Vice President.
Learn more about California Casualty and its 40 year partnership with firefighters at www.calcas.com/firefighters.
By Mark Goldberg, Communications Specialist with California Casualty
September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. A lot of people don’t like talking about it, but it’s time more of us did.
The topic got a lot more personal for me this July when a good friend and retired firefighter, Tim Casey, took his life. Tim had written for the California Casualty blog about his life as a firefighter and the scars (both physical and mental) he carried from his 30 years as a first responder (read here).
I knew Tim had his struggles; he admitted that he was a recovering alcoholic, haunted by the things he saw on the job. He battled PTSD and the desire to drown those images in a bottle of booze. But it appeared things were looking up for Tim. He was engaged to a wonderful woman, was very involved in spreading awareness about first responder suicides and was teaching at one of the local universities. The last time I talked with Tim he seemed up-beat and happy; but I guess the demons were stronger than I or many others knew.
His funeral was moving, but it left me feeling sad and empty. I came away determined to do what I could to help carry on Tim’s mission to alert others about the growing epidemic of firefighter and first responder suicide. Unfortunately, I feel a lot like Sisyphus, struggling to push a giant rock up a hill. Here’s why:
A new study from Florida State University found half of the 1,000 firefighters they surveyed said they had suicidal thoughts at one or more points in their career. Approximately 15 percent reported one or more suicide attempts.
A January, 2015 article in USA Today cited National Fallen Firefighters Foundation statistics that a fire department is three times more likely to experience a suicide in a given year than a line-of-duty death. They added that PTSD, depression, substance abuse and suicide are still too common.
And that’s a problem; firefighter ranked number one in CareerCast’s annual survey of the most stressful jobs in 2015, just ahead of soldiers. CareerCast described the profession as, “dangerous in ever-changing conditions, with work not limited to battling blazes; firefighters also assist with medical emergencies and natural disasters.” I can only imagine how the searing image of injury and trauma can impact a person.
And that daily stress, combined with limited opportunities to talk about it, is taking a toll – as evidenced by the number 336. That’s the number of active and retired firefighters in the U.S. who are known to have taken their lives since 2012. It’s what many in the profession call “the hidden dirty secret.”
It was a little discussed topic by fire departments until Captain Jeff Dill created the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA). Dill started the nonprofit after hearing about the emotional impact the World Trade Towers disaster had on firefighters in 2001, and talking with first responders about lack of mental health resources for those returning from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Captain Dill thinks the number of firefighter suicides that get reported is only the tip of the iceberg. He formally began the nonprofit in 2011 to directly educate firefighters/EMS personnel and their families about behavioral health issues such as depression, PTSD, anxiety and addictions, as well as firefighter suicides.
We recently had a chance to talk with Chief Dill about the FBHA and the mission of suicide prevention among the men and women who protect us. Dill also knew Tim Casey.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and FBHA.
I am a recently retired fire officer with over twenty-five years in the fire service, Master’s Degree in Counseling and founder of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) I can tell you from experience that looking into ourselves is very difficult.
FBHA is the only known organization that tracks and validates firefighter & EMT suicides in the U.S. We never use names or organizations unless families give us permission plus we take the information known and present workshops across N. America to educate our brothers and sisters.
How does FBHA reach out to Fire/EMS?
We help fire/ems departments learn how to recognize when a coworker is struggling and how to reach out to that person. We had two themes for our workshops until recently. The two were “Challenge With Compassion” and “Be Direct”. The premise was if you see someone struggling, acting different or hear things from them then you need to Challenge with Compassion and Be Direct in your approach. We know that people actually see us better than we see ourselves so listen to them when they tell you “you’ve changed”. I have added the term that so many people have now heard this past year in our workshops and that is we must do an “Internal Size-Up”. This simply means, what is going on in your life? Could these issues become monumental to the point that we become depressed, anxious, create suicidal ideations or become addicted to some type of vice? At times we subconsciously begin to act in ways that only others can see. So when someone says to you “what is going on with you?” please do not take offense, take a look at your life!
Why is it so hard for first responders to ask for help?
In every workshop we deliver we talk about Traditional Brainwashing. This quite simply means we become a product of our training, experiences and historical beliefs. From our first days in either fire or EMS academies we are taught everything to become confident and competent firefighters and EMT’s. Yet, the greatest error is the lack of behavioral health. The instructing of horrific things you will see and how they might play out in your life for a lifetime. The stress, anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, PTS and relationships that might go south leading to a high rate of divorce are all real issues we face yet never taught because it is a negative for our traditions! We are afraid to talk about it because we are taught not to.
When things are going rough for you then the greatest thing you can do for yourself is to listen. When people, who see us from a different point of view than ourselves, notice that something is different then maybe it is time to look at our lives by performing an Internal Size-Up. This means seek professional help, talk to a chaplain, peer support or just a friend.
We, in the fire and EMS service, must remember we are human beings first. We are performing to standards that the general public will never understand. We are seeing things the general public will never see. So listen to others because maybe they are seeing things in us we will never see!
Stay safe!
We thank Chief Dill for his words and his time.
So, what can we do? First, take the time to ask questions and offer help to a first responder who appears to be stressed, depressed or hurting. In one of his articles for California Casualty, Tim said if someone had really taken the time to press him, to ask him what he was feeling, he probably would have cracked and exposed his hurt.
North American Firefighters Veteran Network – 24 crisis line for addiction, anxiety, stress and more, firefighterveteran.com
American Academy of Experts in Trauma Stress – collaborating with organizations to meet the needs of victims and survivors, https://www.aaets.org
The Code Green Campaign – advocating for mental health awareness and educatio for first responders on how to provide care for themselves and their peers, https://codegreencampaign.org
The Sweeny Alliance; Grieving Behind the Badge – committed to providing emergency responders and their families training programs, educational material and grief support related to post-traumatic stress and suicide prevention, https://grievingbehindthebadgeblog.net/
In 2004, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) invited fire organization leaders to a summit on preventing line-of-duty deaths. A document titled “16 Firefighter Life Safe Initiatives” was drawn up to promote health, safety and cultural changes in the firefighting community. Number 13 calls for better access to psychological support and counseling for firefighters and their families addressing the occupational stress they face, and to counter the growing incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder cases.
The goal of organizations like the NVFC, NFFF and the FBHN is to raise awareness of the problem and to find support for every firefighter and first-responder in need. But, if we don’t talk about the problem, we can’t solve it.
If you know a first responder, maybe someone you love, start the discussion. Ask them what they are feeling, how they are dealing with the stress of the job, and offer help. If you’re thinking there’s not a good time to bring up the subject, remember that this is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. Too many good men and women, our protectors, are ending up as statistics in the battle against suicide.
Jeff Dill, Founder of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance – NPO (FBHA)
FBHA was established in 2011 to educate firefighters and fire officers on suicide awareness and prevention. He travels the country discussing the data collected on the number of firefighters and EMS personnel who tragically have taken their lives. Through FBHA workshops, attendees are educated through role-play, discussion, and communication skills on how to recognize signs and symptoms of those in distress.
Jeff holds a Master’s Degree in counseling, and recently retired as a Captain from Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois. He is a member of the American Counseling Association, National Board of Certified Counselors, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Jeff also sits on numerous committees including the Florian Program, IAFF, National Volunteer Fire Council, NFPA, as well as a consultant for the Western Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Coalition.
In 2013, on duty deaths caused by sudden cardiac events accounted for 35% off on-duty deaths. That’s not including others who sustained damage to their hearts and cardiovascular systems but died off duty.
It should come as no surprise that the overall killer of American men is also the number one cause of death for firefighters—both on duty and off. What should come as a surprise is that in many ways, heart disease is preventable or at least manageable. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)’s 2013 annual report listed 37 firefighter deaths (out of 100) due to stress or exhaustion, a broader category including not just heart attacks but also strokes, or other similar medical events. Of those 37 on-duty deaths, 36 were heart attacks.
In fact, for the average American, heart disease is the number one killer. One in every four deaths in America is the result of heart disease. It’s no surprise then that an occupation that puts such strain on the body would see an increased risk as well (more than 1 in 3). It important to note the difference between career firefighter deaths caused by cardiac arrest and those of volunteers is staggering. In some years, more than 50 percent of all volunteer firefighter deaths were caused by cardiac events according to the NFPA.
A fatality of this sort doesn’t mean that the firefighter was in poor shape; the nature of the job contributes to the risk factors. But what can be said with certainty is that maintaining proper fitness can greatly affect the risk of heart disease, making it essential for such an at-risk group.
Heart health is about habits. And there are several things that you can do today to improve your own health, as well as the health of all the firefighters in your department.
Get your checkup…and stay up-to-date
The first step is to keep a close eye on your health—making sure that you are regularly getting checkups with your doctor and that you are following medical advice and getting the care you need. The basic checkup exam can provide clues to your doctor regarding the health of your heart.
You heart can be damaged by high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It’s critical that you get both levels checked by a doctor on a regular basis. For your blood pressure, you should get checked at least every two years, according to the Mayo Clinic. If there are any risk factors present or your blood pressure rises, you’ll want to increase the frequency with which you get checked. You need to get your cholesterol checked less often, at least once every five years, unless there are additional risk factors.
Make exercise a priority
Exercise is an absolutely crucial aspect of heart health. Exercise strengthens your heart, lowers your blood pressure, and can help decrease stress and boost your mood. Effective exercises include walking, running, biking or swimming. Anything that ups your heart rate and keeps it elevated for a period of 30 minutes will work.
Look at the American Heart Association’s Physical Activity Guidelines and think about how you can adopt them to stay healthier. In short, they recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, or 30 minutes, five days a week.
Implementing change is always the hardest part. NVFC suggests that all departments adopt NFPA 1500: The Standard on Fire Department Occupational Health and Safety Program. They have created a step-by-step guide for implementation to help departments get started.
Watch what you eat
Also look at how—and what—you’re eating. Switch to whole-grain where you can, and eat more omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in foods like fish and walnuts. More generally, try to eat foods that are closest to their natural form. As a rule, these will be better for not just your heart, but you’re whole body.
Also consider how you can improve the diet of your fellow firefighters at the station. You can find options, such as oatmeal or black beans, which are both heart healthy and soft on the budget for on duty meals. But you can also leverage other members of your community. You may even be able to get a dietician, a nutrition student from a local community college, or even a local chef to donate some time at the station to help guide the on-duty diet.
Take advantage of firefighter-specific heart health programs
Experts recommend that fire departments provide wellness and fitness programs that emphasize continued health of firefighters. These programs should include annual evaluations of physical performance.
You should familiarize yourself with the resources available to you. For example, the National Volunteer Fire Council’s Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program offers a number of resources for departments including information on how to implement a health and wellness program for your department, as well as offering workshops and training on building motivation for health in wellness in a department.
There’s a lot of data that suggests you can better manage heart related illness and death. With such a large percentage of on-duty deaths due to cardiac arrest, it makes sense to mitigate those risks where possible. More importantly, that effort put into prevention can save lives and improve the quality of life for firefighters.
We’ve often wondered how they do it. We are talking about cooking for the crew at a fire station. Think about it; it’s hard enough preparing food for a family, but it’s even harder for a couple dozen men and women who might have to bolt at a moment’s notice. Any firehouse cook knows preparation and cooking time has to be easy, the meal nutritious, and it must be as good later that day or night as it was fresh out of the oven. We are not talking about the typical “5 Alarm Chili,” but quick, healthy meals that will nourish men and women in a physically and mentally demanding job.
While there are myriad recipe sites, we culled (we wish we could have tasted) through a half dozen to come up with these top 10 Firehouse Recipes:
Fettuccine with Ham and Chicken (submitted to thefirestations.com recipe page by Lake Jackson Volunteer Fire Department Chief Eileen Williams), https://thefirestations.com/recipe.htm
Chief 53 Salad, also submitted to thefirestations.com recipe page by Snohomish County Fire Dist. #26’s Linda Larson, https://thefirestations.com/recipe.htm
California Casualty understands that fire personnel work hard to protect their communities. That’s why we created the Work Hard/Play Hard contest, where one lucky first responder will win a custom Harley-Davidson FLHP Road King or $25,000. Don’t miss your chance; the entry deadline is October 7, 2015 with a winner announced later that month. The complete rules and entry form can be found at www.gocalcas.com/harley.
Auto and home insurance isn’t something that should wreck your appetite – contact a California Casualty advisor today to learn about quality insurance designed for firefighters with exclusive benefits not available to the general public. Call today for a policy review or comparison at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com/FireFighters.
