When You Did the Best You Could: Finding Peace After Difficult Calls
“You’re responding to the worst event of someone’s life. There’s nothing you could have done by the time you respond to this call to change
“You’re responding to the worst event of someone’s life. There’s nothing you could have done by the time you respond to this call to change
“His life was defined by one moment … he felt imprisoned by the helpless feeling of not knowing how to heal.” This quote from Dan
When you first stepped into your uniform, fresh from training, every call was about protocols and procedures. Your mind ran through checklists, calculated drug doses,
Every first responder knows the feeling, that moment when a call comes in and your body instantly shifts into high gear. So why is it
When Smokey Bear said “Only YOU can prevent forest fires,” he wasn’t just talking about campfire safety. He was talking about personal responsibility. Today, I
Picture a brand new house with perfectly clean windows. Every surface gleams without a single streak or smudge. That’s how you started life. You saw
As a first responder, you’ve likely heard the term “resilience” thrown around in training sessions and department meetings. But what does resilience actually mean, and
As a first responder, you’ve dedicated your career to helping others in their darkest moments. You run toward danger when everyone else runs away. You
When you’re rushing to a call or standing at the scene of a fatal accident, your body responds in ways that have kept humans alive
As a first responder, when was the last time you received genuinely positive feedback about your performance from a supervisor? If you’re like most, you
In the high-stress world of emergency services, resilience is an essential survival skill. Yet in the first responder community, discussions about resilience often focus on
You know how your vehicle has warning lights that tell you something needs attention? Your body and mind have warning lights too. As a first
When we talk about suicide in the first responder community, it’s crucial to understand that suicide isn’t about wanting to die, it’s about wanting unbearable
In the high-pressure world of emergency services, stress is inevitable. The demanding nature of first responder work creates unique pressures that can eventually lead to
The nature of emergency response work exposes first responders to levels of trauma, suffering, and human tragedy that most people will never encounter. Witnessing critical
Let me share something personal with you. In 2011, I lost my dad. I was angry — angry at God, angry at my mom for
Think back to your first few shifts as a first responder. Remember that mixture of adrenaline, focus, and the mental checklist running through your head
In the demanding world of emergency services, encountering traumatic events isn’t a matter of if, but when. As a first responder, you’ll witness situations that
As a first responder, you’re no stranger to facing fear. You rush toward danger when others run away. But what about the internal fears that
May is Mental Health Awareness month, but I’ve been reflecting on whether posting about it today is enough. The truth is, mental health awareness deserves