Emotional Trauma and Minnesota’s Fire Service

By Dr. Margaret Gavian, Medical Director, MnFIRE

Stress, and particularly traumatic stress, is an occupational hazard of being a firefighter.

All first responders have a particularly high exposure rate to traumatic stress inducing incidents. Doing chest compressions on an unconscious child, working to free a mother trapped in her vehicle after a collision, being with someone as they die, or recovering a body from a variety of unpleasant situations, are the daily realities of this job.

Industry leaders agree that being a firefighter today is vastly different than it was in years past; firefighters are being asked to do more with less, and with the net effect being more exposure to traumatic incidents, more stress, and more fatigue. Call volume has increased beyond fighting fire, with more medical and mental health calls, and increased exposure to motor vehicle accidents, violent crime, and medical complexity.

Providing round the clock service, firefighters often witness trauma in a disrupted sleep state, already fatigued. This is true for both career and non-career firefighters. Non career firefighters are often busy serving their community at night, only to have to work their “regular” job during the day while continuing to fulfill their roles as parent, friend and spouse. More than 90 percent of Minnesota’s fire service is non-career.

Support and services available to Minnesota’s 22,000 firefighters is scarce, leaving the burden of care on the individual and resulting in an overall department loss. Additional systemwide solutions are vital to keeping firefighters on the job and able to fulfill their deep commitment to service. They’re also essential to reducing turnover and healthcare costs when stress related disorders become chronic and to alleviating the havoc mental health disorders can wreak on families, children, and generations to come. If we expect firefighters to show up for us on our worst days, it is our responsibility to care and assist them on theirs.

Funding for additional training and development of behavioral health programming is critical. Focus on prevention, education, access to quality services and ongoing support is crucial. Existing mental health awareness training and peer support is a positive start, but so much more is required to provide our firefighters with the internal gear they need to protect themselves from the emotional risks of doing what we ask of them.

Another suicide, broken family or hero suffering in silence is simply unacceptable. We can and must do something before burying another public servant.

Note: This blog post is excerpted from “Beyond the Fire: The Mental & Emotional Cost of Being A Firefighter,” from MnFIRE’s Taking the Lead report. The full article can be found here.

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Congrats to our latest training survey Streamlight Survivor flashlight drawing winner – Kevin Lagos of Saint Paul Fire Department!

Curious about how no-cost MnFIRE trainings can benefit your department? See options here! mnfireinitiative.com/training/
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Congrats to our latest training survey Streamlight Survivor flashlight drawing winner – Kevin Lagos of Saint Paul Fire Department!

Curious about how no-cost MnFIRE trainings can benefit your department? See options here! https://mnfireinitiative.com/training/

As we close out Safety Stand Down Week, Day 5 focuses on Training, used to access existing behavioral health training and develop a long-term plan for keeping behavioral health in the department’s training cycle.

We offer a variety of trainings at no cost to all Minnesota fire departments. From emotional wellness to fitness & nutrition plus many more, you can learn and grow alongside other firefighters in your department. mnfireinitiative.com/training/

Thanks for following along with Safety Stand Down Week!

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Empower is the topic for Day 4 of Safety Stand Down Week. This day encourages firefighters to get help if they need it, reach out to those they see who are struggling, and embrace behavioral health initiatives into the department culture.

With the MnFIRE Assistance Program, we make it as easy as possible for Minnesota firefighters to get the help they need. Just call 888-784-6634. mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/#MAP

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As we continue recognizing Safety Stand Down Week, Day 3 centers on Strategies. Use this day to think about specific strategies your department can implement to focus on behavioral health, and review standard operating procedures and guidelines to make sure they fully incorporate behavioral health.

Through the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program, Minnesota firefighters can receive help and no-cost resources for the challenges that come along with their service. This comprehensive firefighter well-being program includes physical, mental and emotional health benefits: mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/

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It's Day 2 of Safety Stand Down Week: Educate! It's focused on educating personnel on the signs and symptoms of behavioral health challenges and that it is okay to reach out for help when needed.

We encourage all Minnesota fire departments to become "MnFIRE Aware" of their occupational health risks through MnFIRE training. Preparedness starts with education, and we're here to facilitate! mnfireinitiative.com/training/

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