!['The fire service is a culture unto itself.
Words such as “Brotherhood”, “Sisterhood” and “Family” are not used loosely in the firehouse.
Whenever a firefighter is severely injured on the job the hallways of the hospital are lined with members of their department who stand watch and attend to every need of the family.
When a firefighter dies in the line of duty, every firefighter from that department or station stands watch on scene until the body is recovered and carried respectfully to the waiting ambulance.
The send-off and funerals of a Firefighter who dies line of duty are among the highest honor any person could receive.
Yet in spite of their dedicated service to their communities, few people in the civilian world are ever aware of, or ever even seem to be concerned about the physical, mental, and emotional struggles of Firefighters.
The average or normal person cannot and will never be able to share the Firefighter experience. They can’t ever imagine what firefighters do or see.
Truth is Firefighters regularly experience much grief and traumatic stress.
It’s hard for firefighters to ever willingly share their personal struggles, the demons who haunt their dreams and the unresolved personal conflicts that contribute to the rising statistics of substance abuse, divorce, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), and sadly even suicide in the fire service community.
So… when in trouble, who is there to rescue the “Rescuer”?
The Firefighter often ends up having to “self-rescue”.
“For me personally, I decided to treat my condition, my discomfort with alcohol. The ease and comfort that came from a bottle was a welcome house guest. I could turn off the noise, shut out the visions and thoughts with at first a few beers and in the end gallons. … Only by chance did my wife discover my suicide attempt, without her intervention my effort would have been a success”. (Casey, 2012)
If ever asked publicly if they are ever disturbed emotionally or mentally by traumatic calls, emphatically Firefighters will state they are tough and strong.
Firefighters have been taught early on to “suck it up” and not talk about their problems with anyone.
If ever they were to reach out to their fellow firefighters to talk about these calls and their troubled feelings they are often shunned or ridiculed for being weak or unable to handle the emotional strain of their job.
"Can't take the heat? Get out." is the most often response.
No one in the fire service wants to be labeled as unfit or suffering from some form of mental illness. The stigma is too much to bear.
“I was a bad ass firefighter, a seasoned veteran, even looked up to. How could I be seen as weak? Simply put, I couldn’t. So I pushed on, I drank more, worked more and everything around me began to crack and fall apart”. (Casey, 2012)
Firefighters are often some of the first to arrive on the scene of accidents, suicides, and acts of violence assault and battery, rapes, bombings, school shootings.
They respond to floods, earthquakes, and airline crashes where the death toll and property destruction is overwhelming. They care for victims of domestic violence and child abuse.
Firefighters extricate mangled bodies from motorized vehicles following an accident and provide medical assistance to homeless patients on the streets of inner cities.
At times, they must physically restrain patients who are combative due to mind-altering drugs. Likewise, they are often the ones to comfort parents and family members when a child or loved one has died.
Moreover and all too often they must silently and by themselves cope with grief following the critical injury or worst yet the death of a fellow firefighter in the line of duty.
In the last several years, suicides within the fire service have been increasing at an alarming rate. It is hard for anyone to know exactly how many suicides have actually occurred.
Gary Ludwig, a well-respected fire service professional, states “No one truly tracks the number of suicides among paramedics, firefighters, or even police officers. Some say the reason why is because suicide overall is underreported. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) only tracks on-the-job deaths – not those that occur off the job”.
Some firefighters may receive help shortly after a traumatic call in the way of a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) or visiting with a department chaplain. A few departments have taken a step further and implemented programs that include information on PTSD and suicide prevention.
Experience is that the majority of Fire Chiefs do nothing to help their firefighters cope with grief and traumatic stress. They continue to lead with the mantra “tough it out and go on”.
Many departments do not have a program in place that provides information on PTSD and suicide prevention. Some firefighters have lost their jobs or have been turned away from their department because they suffer from emotional trauma due the stress of the calls they have been on.
In most cases, a firefighter who has died by suicide is not honored by his department for their years of service and dedication to their community as they would have, had they died in a fire. Additionally, many families of the deceased are not offered the same empathy, emotional support or assistance because their loved one died by suicide.
“Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and even suicide are very real and vastly under-appreciated threats to the safety and careers of our first responders. And it’s time the rest of us acknowledged it, de-stigmatized those conditions and gave front-line staff better tools with which to cope”. (Cornies, 2012)
To train to become a firefighter is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your neighbors. Few civilians appreciate the many sacrifices they make or the toll it takes on their body, mind, and spirit. Firefighters consistently come in contact with many elements of stress and trauma.
They deal with life-threatening situations and witness human tragedy and death regularly. While trying to cope with the carnage, the stress, and the nightmares, they return again and again to fight fires and save lives.
They struggle physically, mentally, and emotionally to survive the horrific calls. Then return home to self-medicate to forget.
For many of them, this is their normal day.
It doesn't have to be this way.
We all need to do a better job of becoming more aware and active, to do our own part (whatever that may be) and help erase the shame, the stigma of our Brother and Sister Firefighters struggling with and healing from mental health issues.
Stay safe and be well!
Peggy
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About the Author:
Peggy Sweeney is a former member of the Comfort (TX) Volunteer Fire Department and a former EMT-B.
She has written and taught countless workshops for coping with grief and trauma including “Grieving Behind the Badge” program for emergency response professionals.
www.grievingbehindthebadgeblog.net/
She is the President of @[704348856255890:274:The Sweeney Alliance]
She has written numerous award-winning articles and is the editor of “Grieving Behind the Badge” newsletter.
Peggy is a mortician and bereavement educator.
------
Thank you Peggy... From the bottom of this Brotherhood's heart... thank you for your mission to save the lives of first responders.
You help make the #BrotHERhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Photo credit: TonysKansasCity.com'](https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-0/p110x80/12744252_1101812739852382_1708814689585360657_n.jpg?oh=2a973b8cec69373934cb95fbafd22255&oe=576577A7)
!['#BrotherhoodFunny
#BrotherhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]'](https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-0/p110x80/12744013_1101313293235660_1460814675425964317_n.jpg?oh=2591062bd5ebb642c461f3177c93e8eb&oe=57607660)
!['Our heroes of yesterday have lost their luster.
Almost daily the headlines remind us of how unwise it is to put our faith in sports legends, movie stars, politicians, captains of industry.
So where are the role models today for our sons and daughters?
Here’s a suggestion...
There is a group of people we tend to take for granted. There is no special day set aside in their honor, none that we know of. No organized national recognition of their importance to every community in the world… large and small.
Without much fanfare, they put their lives on the line daily to do the job. There is much to admire about these men and women. From part-time volunteer to full-time big city professional… from probationary trainee to Chief of the Department.
To even qualify for this difficult and demanding work, they have to be physically fit, strong, dedicated, intelligent, resourceful and highly motivated. Unselfish as well… because they're certainly not in it for the money.
At a time when many of us bemoan the lack of heroes, we should look down the street to the men and women who protect you… and your neighborhood from ever-and-always-present dangers.
Role models for our kids?
They've been there all along.
May God bless and protect our Firefighters.
Author: Unknown
#BrotherhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Photo Credit: Jamie Holcomb Photography'](https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-0/p110x80/12742631_1101260656574257_6304309686543002818_n.jpg?oh=129712ea8c1fc9a0b19287bea3e051a7&oe=576786DB)
!['* Vote 2016
They build them... we buy and use them.
Who is your favorite Fire Apparatus Manufacturer and why?
We'll get a tally / consensus by the end of the week and declare a winner!
#BrotherhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]'](https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtl1/v/l/t1.0-0/p110x80/12744532_1099958170037839_8066902456054056656_n.jpg?oh=28a2dd093b98c9cc2cc0baaec1c98317&oe=575730A5)
!['It is with deep regret and much sadness to inform our Brotherhood of the passing today of one of our greats.
Our heartfelt thoughts, prayers and well-wishes come from around the world to the family, friends and colleagues of Dublin Fire Brigade Firefighter/Paramedic and Honorary Member of the FDNY, Ian "Frodo" McCormack, Bdg:- 1170, B-Watch.
"Brotherhood of Fire" helped cover the story of true Brotherhood last October 2015 when Frodo achieved a life dream and became an honorary FDNY Firefighter:
https://www.facebook.com/FireBrotherhood/photos/a.271254712908193.74148.187557941277871/1035347866498870/?type=3&theater
Ian had a long and hard fight with wicked cancer but with amazing strength and his beautiful spirit, at every opportunity… he put a smile on the faces of all those around him.
“Frodo” has been an inspiration for Ireland Movember every year.
Rest easy Frodo, we have the watch.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
@[140438009315996:274:Dublin Fire Brigade]
@[106917035996993:274:Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band]
@[514259825327516:274:Dublin Fire Brigade Movember Team]
@[304603755728:274:New York City Fire Department (FDNY)]
#BrotherhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]'](https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-0/p110x80/12728992_1098965743470415_5799021640755949014_n.jpg?oh=b92b083f41d429c6a75bd2e40275d6b7&oe=57573336)
!['Meet the woman fighting against a law that would help Ohio firefighters stricken with job-related cancers.
Ohio Municipal League has their "lobbying" connections... the "Brotherhood" has our own.
Let's expose Susan and out ALL the people who would rather see Firefighters die from cancer than pay for the much needed life-saving treatments and health care.
"They" will eventually read this post... please let them know how you feel about this issue.
For the full story click here:
http://www.statter911.com/2016/02/19/you-need-to-see-this-story-about-ohio-firefighters-with-cancer/
#BrotherhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]'](https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-0/p110x80/12745776_1098403423526647_2096048156300977819_n.jpg?oh=414ebbfa9419e6700546a07a58fa7afa&oe=576B65F1)
!['Interior Attack vs. "Hitting it Hard from the Yard"
“There's more than one way to fight the same fire.
Staffing, ability level of the staff, amount of the readily available water are just a few factors in attack decisions.
Hitting hard from the yard is not the only option.”
Danny Stratton
Fire Captain
Camden Fire, NJ
Photo credit: Dave Hernandez
For this and other great discussion go to this very well run facebook page @[145599388938697:274:Holding 1&1]
#BrotherhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]'](https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlp1/v/t1.0-0/p110x80/12705735_1098101360223520_5571115428259458590_n.jpg?oh=6b3027bad27c45acfa9d750964cdb95f&oe=5762C2F2)
!['Old school and badass.
#Brotherhood Strong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]'](https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/l/t1.0-0/s280x280/12742601_1097756320258024_7856611251550809312_n.jpg?oh=7911312a83cf613fac9bd2a3ed736298&oe=57260A21)
!['Firefighters...
are at the same time the luckiest and most tormented of souls.
For they witness the best, and the worst humanity has to offer.
If you see a Firefighter, please smile, wave and even best... thank them for what they do.
Simple, sincere and grateful words is one of our best rewards.
* Has a Firefighter ever "been there" for you, your family or friends?
Leave a comment.... We'd love to learn how.
#BrotherhoodStrong
Brotherhood of Fire
Photo: Shiloh Powell - @[1391064781125050:274:Supporting Alaska's Fire Service Through Imagery]'](https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-0/p110x80/12744504_1095914197108903_6944935037575594668_n.jpg?oh=56ebbe38810e8fc179cdd385c4b5bede&oe=575D7721)
A car fire my crew and I were on last shift...
Rare opportunity for me to just sit back, watch (i.e. film) and let a firefighter do his work.
Magnesium firework show saved for the "Grand Finale"
...See More
It does not get more tragic and sad...
2 year old Kaleenah Muldrow’s body was found hidden under a bed shortly after the fire had torn through the Brooklyn, NY third-floor apartment .
Police sources said Kaleenah was left in the apartment by her stripper mother, who had gone out earlier to party.
...See More
The fire service is a culture unto itself.
Words such as “Brotherhood”, “Sisterhood” and “Family” are not used loosely in the firehouse.
Whenever a firefighter is severely injured on the job the hallways of the hospital are lined with members of their department who stand watch and attend to every need of the family.
...Continue Reading
Our heroes of yesterday have lost their luster.
Almost daily the headlines remind us of how unwise it is to put our faith in sports legends, movie stars, politicians, captains of industry.
So where are the role models today for our sons and daughters?
...See More
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