Have you ever eaten at a restaurant with anyone in law enforcement? Chances are you may have noticed they will always sit in a position that offers an unhindered view and put their back to a wall. After extensive training and years of experience, this practice becomes habit. Being on constant alert to the surrounding environment becomes second nature. This awareness provides a continual sense of control as they most likely will not be surprised if a situation occurs. But does this sustained vigilance come with any negative affects? The answer is yes. Health concerns, relationship struggles, and job performance ...
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People serving in the Public Safety sector are used to acronyms. Codes for various situations, responses, and treatments exist in every department. If you transfer from one department to another, it can almost feel like you have landed in a foreign country. One acronym that everyone is familiar with these days is PTSD-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. While many people have heard the term, there is a misconception about what PTSD represents. PTSD is the result of a single or chronic exposure to a traumatic event. This event(s) can range from car accidents, shootings, abuse, rape, or any situation where you ...
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Serving as a First Responder comes with many responsibilities. Ongoing training, grueling shifts, and increasing call volumes are only a part of picture. Per the CDC, the fatality rate for EMS personnel is 2.5 times those of other occupations¹. And according to a 2015 estimate, there are 241,600 full-time EMS workers². With the changing landscape of healthcare and new developing roles of EMS staff, exposure to injuries and illnesses can be expected to increase. Working in the prehospital setting, EMS crews are exposed to inclement weather, volatile scenes, contagious diseases, hostile patients and bystanders, vehicle collisions, and a host of ...
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