This Guest Blog post is from the National Volunteer Fire Council. It is the featured article in our Firefighter & EMT News Resource: Flashpoint. To sign up to receive Flashpoint in your inbox once a month, click here!
Prevent Tragedy by Focusing on Behavioral Health in the Fire Service
Behavioral health. It’s a subject not often talked about in the fire service, but it affects every department and emergency responder in some way or other. In a culture that frequently brushes aside how they are feeling, this is a hard subject to tackle. Yet behavioral health issues are just as serious as physical health and safety issues, and can be just as deadly if left unaddressed.
Behavioral health can cover a wide spectrum of health issues for firefighters and emergency responders. These can include stress or anxiety, sleep problems, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and addiction, to name a few. If left untreated, many of these issues could result in serious or life-threatening physical health disorders, such as heart disease or high blood pressure. Some could also lead to safety concerns as firefighters are less prepared to do their jobs safely and to the best of their ability if they are battling one or more of these issues. In many instances, untreated psychological conditions could lead to firefighter suicide, a tragedy for the firefighter, their family, the department, and the entire fire service community.
Firefighters and EMTs respond to the worst crises – fires, traffic accidents, family abuse, shootings, and more. At the same time, they are balancing the needs of the fire department, their families, other outside interests, and in the case of volunteers, full time jobs. Add to the mix unpredictable sleep schedules, potential for unhealthy eating habits and lack of time for proper fitness, and a culture where talking about one’s feelings or difficulties may not be accepted, and it is no wonder that emergency responders have an increased risk for having one or more behavioral health concerns.
What Can Be Done
It is critically important that department leadership makes behavioral health as much of a priority in the department as physical health and safety. Having resources available to firefighters and EMTs who need help, creating a culture where talking about issues is encouraged, and breaking the stigma associated with behavioral health issues can provide the support a firefighter needs to seek treatment and prevent tragic outcomes such as suicide.
Mandatory behavioral health training is a critical first step in adopting a proactive approach within the department. Having effective retirement planning procedures in place is also important as many firefighters suffer from stress, depression, loss of identity, or other negative effects when faced with leaving the fire service after dedicating their lives to it.
Other proactive measures include having an Employee Assistance Program available to all department members, having workshops where counselors or other qualified entities (CISM teams, chaplains, training officers) address potential issues and how to recognize signs and symptoms of distress, and encouraging all fire academies to include at least four hours of behavioral health training for cadets.
Resources Available
In recent years, the fire service has started to become aware of how serious behavioral health is for emergency responders. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (www.ffbha.org/) has collected information on 334 firefighters and 18 EMTs/Paramedics that have committed suicide. Departments have also begun to notice the wide range of negative outcomes that can result from ignoring behavioral health.
Fortunately, many resources are available to help departments and individuals address these issues and prevent potential negative outcomes.
Check out some of these resources- and click on the blue title to link to them!
This toll-free hotline is available to all firefighters, EMS personnel, and their families who need immediate assistance with any problems affecting work or personal life, such as stress, depression, alcohol or drug addiction, financial management difficulties, critical incidents, relationship problems, work-related concerns, and more. Trained firefighters and counselors familiar with the fire and emergency services are available 24/7. Call 1-888-731-FIRE (3473) for help.
Initiative 13 of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Life Safety Initiatives focuses on the psychological wellbeing of firefighters and their families. The new Initiative 13 web site contains important resources, training, and research, including the new model for exposure to potentially traumatic events and stress aid for fire and EMS personnel, which recognizes that not everyone responds the same to traumatic events.
This report from the National Volunteer Fire Council explores the various behavioral health concerns faced by first responders and identifies resources and best practices for mental wellness and suicide prevention.
The National Volunteer Fire Council, with support from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), developed this online training course focusing on suicide awareness and prevention. The course contains three modules that examines the signs and symptoms preceding suicide, highlights available resources for departments and individuals, and discusses the healing process when coping with a firefighter suicide. New students must create an account before registering for the course.
The focus of the 2013 International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week was behavioral health. This web site provides a lengthy resource and training listing to help firefighters and their departments focus on behavioral health and well-being.
Like extreme heat warning, ice-cream melting, mind numbing, AC-bustingHOT.
It’s a heat wave
Kids and Cars:
On average, 38 children die in hot cars each year from heat-related deaths after being trapped inside motor vehicles.
Even the most attentive and caring parents make mistakes- including accidentally leaving or locking a child in a car. Sometimes, children climb into unlocked, parked cars in the driveway without parents realizing they have done so. Regardless of how it happens, children left in hot vehicles in the car are in grave danger within a matter of minutes.
Here are some tips for making double & triple sure that your child is safe and cool this summer:
No exceptions: No matter how brief your errand or how quick your stop, NEVER leave a child in the car. Under any circumstances, even with the windows cracked or completely rolled down. There is no safe amount of time to leave a child in the car.
Get involved if you are a bystander: If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 911 immediately. If they are in distress due to heat, the National Highway Safety Administration recommends getting them out as soon as possible.
Remind Yourself: Tell yourself out loud to remember the child; give yourself visual cues; place your purse or briefcase in back by the child- so when you go to get it when exiting the car, you are reminded; place the diaper bag in the seat next to you where you can see it; place a stuffed animal in your child’s car seat- move it the front seat next to you when the child is in the car. Oftentimes, child car seats are behind the parent’s seat, out of sight. If you are changing up routine (for example, if Parent 1 usually drives the child in the morning, but today Parent 2 is doing so), it is easy to forget. New parents have a lot on their minds. Remind, remind, remind.
Prevent kids from wandering into the car: Don’t let children play in your car, lock your car doors and trunk, and keep keys out of any child’s reach. That way, you minimize the risk that they climb into your car without you knowing they have done so.
Make it routine: Make it a habit to physically open the back car door and check for anyone left behind every single time you get out of the car.
Have back up: Make arrangements with your child’s day care center or babysitter that you will always call if your child will not be there on a particular day as scheduled. That way if you forget and they are absent, they will alert you.
Pets and Cars:
Aside from annoying my friends and coworkers, this heat wave has also caused a changed in my relationship with my dog.
Usually, I take him everywhere.
Like most dogs, mine loves to ride in the car… and I loved letting him tag along with me . But no longer.
I always knew enough to realize I shouldn’t leave the dog in the car for longer than “just a minute.” But I would leave him (with the windows cracked) while I ran to return a movie or grab a coffee.
But in the summertime–and especially in the midst of a heat wave–“just a minute” is too long to leave the dog in the car.
Just check out these numbers from the Animal Protection Institute on how hot it gets inside your car while you’re running an errand for “just a minute”:
(The ‘Indoor/Outdoor’ and ‘Oven Thermometer’ categories refer to two different types of thermometers used to measure temperature in the car)
Think cracking the windows solves the problem? Think again:
What can happen if you your pet does get overheated?
According to PETA, just 15 minutes in an overheated car can lead to brain damage or death.
PETA also has a great list of warning signs that your dog is overheated (and what to do about it) and tips for what to do if you spot a dog inside a car on a hot day. Check them out here.
So long story short: Until it cools wayyyy down, leave your dog at home with the AC on full blast. If it’s too hot outside for you, it’s too hot to leave the puppy out there.
If I haven’t convinced you yet, maybe Simon Cowell and PETA can:
Consider your pet a part of the family? California Casualty understands. That’s why we want to help you protect them year round. We’ve partnered with Pets Best to offer insurance policies for your pet! Check them out here! Feed them, love them, insure them.
With kids home from the summertime, chances are they’ll be spending more time on family computers.
As kids spend more time online, the question of how to keep them safe is paramount.
There is a federal law in place, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), to help keep kids safe online. It requires websites to explain privacy policies, get parental consent before collecting or using a child’s personal info, and prohibits requiring a child to provide more personal information than necessary to play a game or enter a contest.
But even with this law, a child’s best protection online is you.
Here are some tips for keeping them safe:
Talk with your kids! Make sure they are comfortable talking with you about their internet use from the start. Talk about internet safety, rules, ways to stay safe, and when to alert you about something that happens online.
Set up some basic rules. Examples may include: never trade any photographs, emails, or personal information including name, address, school name, or location; Use only a screen name (with no full names or birthdays); Never agree to meet any person from online in person; Never respond to threatening messages- instead tell a parent; Tell a parent or adult about any scary or uncomfortable exchanges.
Become computer literate: Learn how to block objectionable material, check internet history, and monitor your child’s internet use
Talk with your child about cyberbulling! Make sure they know to never respond to cyberbullies, to alert you of any cyberbullying, and to not participate in any cyberbullying themselves (for more information and resources, click here)
Keep the computer in a common area. This way, your child can use the internet while you’re around to keep an eye on their activity
Share an email address so you know who your child is communicating with online
Bookmark their favorite sites and teach them how to find them there. This minimizes time spent ‘surfing’ the entire Internet and minimizes the chances of children accidently finding themselves on the wrong page
Spend time together online and show by example how to safely and appropriately use the internet
Teach kids not to click on ads or download anything from the internet without permission. Make sure your computer is protected against spyware and viruses.
If your child is on social media, teach them how to do so safely. Keep an eye on who their ‘friends’ are so you know who has access to their profiles, teach them how to use all the privacy settings available and make sure they are not posting any personal information online.
Monitor your credit cards and phone bills for unfamiliar account charges
Find out what online protection is in place at day cares, friends’ homes, or anywhere else your child may be accessing the internet
Remember that Internet technology is mobile. Make sure to monitor cell phones, gaming devices and lap tops.
Take your child seriously if he or she reports any threatening, suspicious or uncomfortable online exchange
Forward copies of these exchanges to your internet service provider or call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (800-843-5678) if you are aware or become aware of any suspicious or inappropriate online materials targeting or depicting children. Contact the FBI or local law enforcement if your child is ever targeted or threatened online.
Be aware of warning signs such as: your child turning off the computer suddenly when you enter the room, withdrawal from family life, reluctancy to talk about online activity, long hours online- especially at night, phone calls from strangers or unsolicited gifts in the mail.
A recent study showed that a huge majority of people believe texting and driving is highly dangerous – and the number of accidents that result from it back that up. So why, do you think, people still do it?
This Guest Blog post by blogger Firefighter Wife is the featured article in our Firefighters’ News Resource: Flashpoint. To sign up to receive Flashpoint in your inbox once a month, click here!
Why is my Fire Wife such a Grinch?: A Guest Blog post by Firefighter Wife blogger Lori Mercer
I’ve been married to my firefighter for over 10 years now. He’s been a firefighter for all that time. It’s all I know. And when we were young with infants in our arms and toddlers constantly underfoot, I was a hot mess of a young fire wife. I would stand at the front door at 6 am with an already fussy baby in my arms praying the 3-year-old would sleep another hour. And I’d cry as he walked out with his evil gear bag. I’d cry about why he was leaving to go have breakfast at the fire house instead of spending 10 more minutes with me. Later that day, I would imagine the wildest rescue accident possible, starring my firefighter as the victim. And when I couldn’t reach anyone at the station phone, I’d turn on the local news to confirm it wasn’t really happening. I’d fall asleep before he’d call at night and wake up angry. Convinced some toxic malice overtakes him at the firehouse and he falls out of love with me while there, refusing to call and say good night.
Yes, these are real life thoughts in the head of a young fire wife. You can chalk it up to postpartum hormones or 29-year-old learning-to-be-married selfishness. But now, only 11 blink-of-an-eye years later, my 40-year-old wisdom has finally got a grip.
Oh how I wish I could bottle my lessons up in magic fairy dust and send one to every new fire wife out there.
Maybe, just maybe, some of you can relate to these crazy fire family dynamics. And nothing makes the fire wife grinch come out on attack like the holiday season. Oh how can the holidays frustrate a fire wife. Let me count the ways.
12 Hours of Overtime
11times being asked where your husband is while single-mom-ing the church Christmas party
10 gifts still left to wrap by yourself on Christmas Eve
9 -to-5ers bragging about 14 days off work with their family
8 little gifts to find for the guys on his crew
7 dozen cookies to bake for the neighborhood cookie exchange
6 text message photos from the store to figure out which gift is best for the father-in-law
5 upset family members because you can’t attend family Christmas on the day planned because he’s on shift
4 different plans to explain why Santa is arriving the morning of the 24th instead of the 25th
3 hour drive, by yourself, with kids in tow and car packed to the hilt, to celebrate Christmas without him at your parents
2 bickering kids who are missing their Daddy
1 tired firefighter who took a very hurt baby girl out of a mangled car at 1 am and doesn’t want to hear you whine about any of these minor annoyances
You’re a mean one, Mrs. Grinch! Is that really all I can think about? Does my firefighter really want to hear the replay AGAIN of how we’re going to pull off Santa’s arrival on the 23rd? Or another play-by-play of the conversation with the sister-in-law? Is this ringing any angelic bells for you?
Want to know some secrets that will melt your ice queen’s heart this holiday season?
Maybe not but I’m going to tell you anyhow. Here’s a little background info on what might be running around her pretty little head:
The first few years of our marriage, I spent fighting and resisting the firefighter family system. I literally grieved the holiday traditions I shared growing up with my family. I struggled to find a rhythm when one year it was Christmas on the 23rd and another on the 26th and every 3rd year we could actually travel together. I craved our own set of family traditions for the holidays and took the control freak approach to planning perfect family memories for those 12-hour periods he was home and awake on a December weekend. Putting up the tree. Driving around to see the lights at night. Baking and decorating cut out cookies with the kids.
It became forceful and stressed as I tried to fit my family traditions into the new firefighter lifestyle.
Here’s the clue. She is GRIEVING. Not rejoicing and fa-la-la-ing.
She might know only her family life traditions and yearns for sharing that with you. But like everything else in marriage, it’s new and different, and especially really weird with this wacky fire service schedule. And you only get one chance a year to test it out. Then next year, it’s different again. And some crappy years, she loses you for Thanksgiving AND Christmas AND New Year’s. And some really, really crappy years it’s Leap Year and happens twice in a row.
Here’s what NOT to say to a wife in this delicate state:
“You know I have to go to the station. Why is this different than any other day?”
“It’s no big deal. I’ll be home tomorrow and we’ll celebrate then.”
“Go on and enjoy yourself at my family’s Christmas without me.”
“Don’t wait for me. You can put the tree up with the kids.”
“I’ll call/text you a lot.” (And then don’t. Because firefighters have busy days. But broken promises do more damage than the hope they hold.)
“When you visit me at the fire house, it will be just like we’re all together for Christmas.” (No. It’s not just like that. It’s like celebrating with you and 8 other prankster boys. )
“Why don’t you cook up a nice dinner for you and the kids at home on Christmas day?”
“The kids won’t even notice what day we open gifts.”
So what *should* you do and say?
You’ve got to be on her team. To join in the cause. Simply recognize her efforts. Be understanding of those feelings. Help her grieve. Ask her how she’s feeling and brainstorm ideas for how to make it all work. If you really want to wow her, surprise her with thoughtful new traditions specially designed for your little fire family. Special ornaments. A firehouse recipe you make at home. Be present with her on your off days and enjoy some holiday cheer together.
Basically, remember the Who’s in Whoville who loved Christmas a lot. The truth is, it’s not about when or where or how you celebrate. Because Mrs. Grinch, Christmas, means a little bit more. You’ve already got the keys to heart and only you know best how to make it grow.
(PS – If she’s still a hot mess, you might want to hook her up with a bunch of other understanding fire wives in our private community at FirefighterWife.com. It’s been said multiple times that this group has helped many women understand their firefighters better and improve their marriages!)
Lori Mercer is a fire wife and mother of 4 running the Firefighter Wife community with a goal to strengthen fire marriages and be an encouragement to fire wives. She owns Picture Your Life, her Consulting Business for Internet Marketing and Web Development. Currently she cannot wait until July 25, 2013 for the first annual “Flame Fest” Fire Wife Gathering where she will finally meet in person so many amazing fire wives from the online community. Basically, she’s on fire for fire families and long over the Fire Wife Grinch stage.
Read more at the Firefighter Wife Blog! Click here! To find her on Facebook, click here! To follow the Firefighter Wife on Twitter, click here!
