First responders often describe their units as "teams." This is an excellent analogy because it inspires trust and comradery in a difficult work event. However, no team is successful without a strong and reliable leader. If it is your job to be that leader, here are a few tips to help your improve in your role:
1. Give respect
You have likely heard the old adage, "You have to give respect to get it." This is especially true for first responders who must rely on each other in a stressful environment. You must establish an atmosphere of respect between your co-workers and treat their concerns and opinions with the time they deserve so they will be willing to do the same for you. Creating a mutual air of respect can translate into a smoother operating system in the field.
2. Inspire optimism
Inevitably, situations will arise that lower the morale of your team. It is your job to be a pillar of optimism. If your co-workers notice that you approach every day with a positive attitude, they will be more likely to follow suit. Try to encourage your team to practice positivity regularly. This may build a healthier mentality amongst the group.
3. Be prepared to shoulder responsibility
One of the greatest attributes of a strong leader is the ability to step up whenever needed. This can mean accepting the praise for a job well done and remaining humble. Yet, it can also mean accepting the blame for a mistake made by the unit. As a leader, it is your job to prove that you are willing to take the criticisms and compliments without letting it effect your ability to perform your duties.
4. Communicate with your co-workers
People are less likely to follow someone they do not feel comfortable opening up to. As we noted in a previous blog post, it's important to establish open communication with your team. Let them know that you are there if they need to talk. You should also be willing to share with your co-workers sometimes. This is not a display of vulnerability. It is an expression of trust.
5. Lead by example
Everything you do is being scrutinized by your team. From the time you show up to work until the time you go home, they are looking to you as a role model. However you want your unit to behave, that is how you should act. Come into work a little early and stay until the job is done. Keep your uniform and equipment in excellent condition. Bring with you the attitude that every day is a clean slate, and you have the power to make it a success.
Because first responders have such challenging careers, it is important that they have someone in their team to look up to. If it is your responsibility to assume a leadership role, make sure you become the strongest leader you can. Your team is counting on you for support and guidance. By understanding what defines a good leader and adhering to those qualities, you can be the leader your co-workers need.
Recently, Beaufort County in South Carolina has been witness to historic flooding. Heavy rains and thunderstorms flooded the area, but the dangerous conditions and high waters did not stop local first responders from suiting up for work.
According to WNCT 9 News, the water in some areas was over several feet deep and filled with debris. None of the areas have been declared disaster zones yet, so the emergency workers plan to continue searching for residents in need of help until the announcement is made.
The first responders who spoke to the news source said that going into the flooded areas was more than just about rescuing those in trouble. It was also a scouting mission to gauge the conditions and report back to other rescue crews. These efforts will help protect residents and other first responders.
"We just want to make sure everybody is safe going to, during a call, and then come back from the call," Brian Lanning, a captain with Chocowinity Fire, told WNCT 9 News.
The emergency professionals are working through the rain and storms to make sure everyone gets to safety, and they have requested that everyone take the situation seriously and act with caution.
First responders understand tight knit communities and stressful job situations. Perhaps that is why these professionals are often the first to offer support to veterans. In Dearborn, Michigan, the firefighters and police officers show their support every year at a charity softball game.
The first responders use the proceeds from this event to sponsor veteran support groups like the American Legion Michigan Wounded and the Returning Warrior Program. Both programs help veterans with their transition to life after service. The goal this year was to raise $13,000 for these organizations.
According to Press & Guide, the first responders formed one team called Guns n Hoses and challenged the team of veterans from as far back as World War II.
"The best part about this game is the comradery between the departments," police officer Jason Skoczylas told the news source. "Competition brings out the best in people, makes you work hard, keeps you physically active and we're having fun, it's fun to get together like this."
Rainy skies and chilly weather hindered attendance slightly, but supporters still showed up to cheer on the local heroes and encouragethe returned servicemembers. The game was a close one with the teams being tied for most of the game, and the participants told Press & Guide that it was a fun time.
New Carlisle, Ohio, is a town known for its patriotism. Every year, the community hosts the Heritage of Flight Festival, a 3-day community gathering that celebrates the area's flight history. This year's event, which also marked the celebration's 11th year, featured a ceremony called The Blessing of the Badges. Dozens of local first responders showed up to have their badges prayed over by a local chaplain. Firefighters, first responders and emergency medical service workers lined up in hopes of receiving divine protection on the job.
The blessings took about 40 minutes and were slightly formal.
However, when the event was over, the first responders took to the streets to cut loose and perform a fun dance routine. The popular song "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" blared through the square while 20 of the 75 first responders in attendance performed a dance number to accompany it.
The Dayton Daily News reported that the Clark County Sheriff's deputies and Bethel Fire Department members were some of the first members to start the routine.
Spectators smiled and filmed the uniformed men and women shaking their groove things. Check out the video of the first responders' dance here.
First responders serve their communities on a daily basis, but because they are so busy protecting their friends and neighbors, they do not always have a chance to bond with them. The people of Nolanville, Texas, wanted to change this by organizing the town's first civilian vs. first responder baseball game.
"The goal of the event is to bring awareness to the community of National Night Out, to promote our event, and to strengthen first responder-community relationships," Nolanville Police Department corporal Heather Worsdale told the Harker Heights Herald.
As part of National Night Out, a nationwide event intended to get families out of their homes and to encourage bonding with the first responders in their communities, the baseball game will be held on Oct. 5. Firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service workers from Nolanville and the surrounding areas formed the first responders' team while local residents of every age made up the civilians' team.
The event will be held in the city park and is free to anyone who is interested in attending. There will also be block parties, food vendors and family-friendly activities in addition to the baseball game.
On May 10, the Delmont Volunteer Fire Department in Delmont, Pennsylvania, lost a newer portion of its fire station and much of its equipment to the Mother's Day tornado that swept through the area. According to The Argus Leader, the EF-2 twister destroyed 17 miles of the town in just 30 seconds. Recently, an anonymous donation was made to help the fire department rebuild the section it lost.
A couple from Sioux Falls addressed a letter to the state fire marshal talking about the destruction they had witnessed after the tornado. The letter included a gold coin with an estimated value of $1,300.
"Sometimes it is the small things that are so important," read the note that came with the donation. "Not many people do the small things. We can't do much, but maybe this will give other people who can't do much a realization that if we all do a little – bit things will be accomplished."
The firefighters of the Delmont Volunteer Fire Department plan to use the money to purchase new fire suits, equipment and make the final repairs to their station.
The members of the crew told the news source that they were extremely grateful for the donation.
Firefighting is no easy job. In fact, it is one of the world's most dangerous professions, and firefighters put their lives on the line daily for the safety of others. However, many firefighters do not make a salary high enough to support their families.
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam told New4Jax.com that the average state employed firefighter in Florida makes $27,000 per year. That number is almost half of what the average teacher in Florida makes.
"Our firefighters are demonstrably underpaid relative to their peers in other southeastern states," Putnam told News4Jax.com.
Putnam and a group of other state officials are pushing for a pay increase for the state's firefighters. He and his supporters believe higher pay would lower the turnover rate in state firefighters and help develop more experienced stations. The agricultural commissioner and the others are hoping for a $2,000 salary increase for Florida firefighters.
According to WCTV News, the officials got a pay increase approved by the state Legislature earlier in the year, but Florida governor Rick Scott vetoed it, stating that no one group of state workers should receive a raise.
Putnam and the other officials plan to continue lobbying for the first responders.
For 75 years, the West Ridge Fire Department in Erie, Pennsylvania has been keeping the community safe and protecting the local residents of Millcreek Township. The station's website reported that the Zuck family purchased the first firetruck and organized the department in Sept. of 1940. They were committed to keeping the agricultural area safe and free from disaster. It now protects the second-largest municipality in Erie County.
On Sept. 27, the station opened their doors to the public for tours and an anniversary celebration.
According to YourErie.com, the crews invited people to tour the station house and ask questions about their daily life. They also allowed the younger members of the community to climb into the fire trucks and explore the inner workings. Some of the kids even got to man the fire hose and witness a medical helicopter land on site.
In tradition with keeping the community safe, the firefighters of West Ridge Fire Department held fire safety classes and did medical training for the adults.
From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the fire crew welcomed each guest and shared their happiness surrounding their anniversary.
Every year more than 200 firefighters from around the country travel to Portland, Oregon, to participate in the city's Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge. This year, the event took place on Sept. 27, and the firefighters who were involved used the challenge as an opportunity to raise money for cystic fibrosis patients.
The firefighters who accept the challenge are not just climbing stairs, though. According to Fox 12 Oregon, they will be climbing 40 flights of the U.S. Bancorp Tower in full gear.
"It's one of those psychological races," Gresham firefighter Jeremy Forrest told KOIN 6 News. "It's mind numbing because you're going in circles and straight up."
Many of the spectators are in support of the firefighters cause as they have family members or friends who are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and the participants themselves are happy to help their community in any way they can.
Last year alone, the Portland Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge rose $190,000. KOIN 6 News reported that the event has raised almost $1 million since retired Portland firefighter Wes Loucks started it in 2008. Loucks' grandsons had cystic fibrosis, and he is committed to finding a cure.
The Mayo Clinic stated that post-traumatic stress disorder is caused by "a psychologically traumatic event, such as war, a natural disaster, or any situation that invokes feelings of helplessness or intense fear." Veterans and first responders both experience things in their daily lives that can lead to PTSD. It is important for friends, family members and colleagues of these heroes to be aware of the signs and symptoms of PTSD, so they are able to recognize it in their loved ones and seek the appropriate help.
1. Trouble sleeping or night terrors
Sleep is a time of vulnerability for the mind. The person experiencing PTSD may have trouble getting rest because flashbacks of the traumatic event can occur during sleep. Partners or roommates of those with PTSD should watch out for signs of frequent tossing and turning, sleep walking or talking and night sweats, as these can all be indications that your loved one is experiencing PTSD.
2. Social withdrawal
Veterans and first responders coping with PTSD may be less inclined to interact with friends and family than they were previously. They may neglect to return phone calls, refuse to participate in social activities and alienate themselves from relationships. If you noticed your loved one excluding himself or herself from social engagements he or she previously enjoyed, your loved one may be dealing with PTSD.
3. Unwarranted anger or aggression
PTSD can sometimes change the brain chemistry in a way that increases the temper and aggressive tendencies. If your loved one is coping with PTSD, he or she may lash out at you or others without reason. A tendency toward violence or an argumentative demeanor may suggest that your former servicemember or first responder is dealing with PTSD.
4. Feelings of hopelessness
While your loved one may not always communicate these feelings, they are relatively simple to spot. For example, if the veteran or first responder seems to give no thought to his or her future, seems to have little interest in the world around them and will not commit to anything ahead of time, they may be experiencing PTSD.
5. Physical and emotional numbness
If your loved one's smile no longer lights up a room and they seem unattached to their daily lives, he or she may be dealing with depression from PTSD. Another sign to look out for is a lack of motivation for physical activity or care of physical appearance.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported that 11 to 20 percent of veterans will experience PTSD and a similar percentage of first responders will also be faced with this mental disability. PTSD can lead to more serious issues like substance abuse, self harm and depression. However, PTSD is not unbeatable. With the proper treatment and support, veterans and first responders stand a good chance to overcome their trauma and return to their normal lives. Family members, friends and co-workers of these brave individuals must stay educated on PTSD. Remaining vigilant for signs of the mental disorder in their loved ones ensures they can get them help if they need it.