From managing life-or-death situations to witnessing critical incidents, first responders face immense pressure on a daily basis. These stressors can impact their physical and mental well-being.To protect and empower them, building first responder resilience is crucial.
It’s essential to incorporate a physical and mental approach. By maintaining an ongoing focus on first responder wellness, organizations can help their team perform their best while reducing burnout or experiencing mental or physical distress.
Here are some helpful ways to incorporate resilience training for first responders:
Physical Training
Given the physical demands of the job, emergency personnel will benefit from fitness training. Ones that focus on stamina, strength, and mobility exercises that’ll prepare them for high-stress situations. Training programs that include controlled breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques can provide a great source for stress management.
Mental Health Support
Without the proper mental health support, repeated exposure to trauma can lead first responders to experience mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
To build resilience, it’s important to emphasize mental health support including: counseling, stress management, peer support, and access to licensed mental health professionals.
For mental health support for emergency personnel, QuickSeries offers a variety of resources available in pocket guide and eGuide formats including a Peer Support Resource guide, a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder handbook, and Stress Management for Emergency Personnel (EMS) pocket guide.
Get in touch with an Account Manager today to discuss how we can help you reach your goals and to request a sample.