The Monmouth County 200 Club, an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to the children of full-time first responders, awarded the 2015 recipients on Aug. 6. The club hosted the event that has become known as "the Scholarship Social" at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como, New Jersey. This year, the 200 Club raised over $100,000 that children of first responders can use for books, living or tuition in college.
"I think it means so much to the recipients and their families when this type of an award goes to the children of first responders," Claire French, former Monmouth County Clerk, told NewJersey.com. "It also means a lot to the community, because our first responders are there for all of us."
Over 320 people attended the event, and French said that the group of individuals who received this year's scholarships were some of the most talented and goal-oriented in the award's history. The Monmouth 200 Club has been participating in the scholarship event for four years, but the national chapter has been involved for much longer. Since 1985, when the club began the event, it has provided over $2 million in scholarships to the children of local police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other first responders.
Firefighters in Midwest City, Oklahoma, recently installed fire alarms for the hearing impaired in about 25 homes across the region. The fire alarms, specifically designed to alert individuals with hearing impairments, were part of a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. One of the recipients of these life-saving devices was 10-year-old Jazmin Williams. Jazmin's hearing and vision are impaired because of a rare genetic disorder she was born with. When she was 5, there was a fire in her family's home and she did not hear the alarm. Luckily, Jazmin's family was able to get her out of the house without any injury, but the experience left her with a fear of fire.
What makes the special smoke detectors different from regular ones is that they flash a strobe light and vibrate when smoke is detected. This way, people like Jazmin will be alerted to danger even if they cannot hear the alarm.
"So now when I know that I have a fire, I know that I'm going to be safe," Jazmin told KFOR News.
Jazmin also said that the firefighters who were working to install these devices in the homes of the hearing impaired were her heroes.
When Category 5 Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf in August 2005, many people were in need of assistance. First responders in the area bravely answered the calls for help, sometimes risking their own lives in the treacherous weather and unstable environments. Ten years later, a group of dental students from Louisiana State University got together to show their appreciation for their service.
On Aug. 9, 150 LSU dental students woke up early to begin cooking a large batch of jambalaya, a Louisiana favorite. Not only did the students intend to feed local first responders, but they also made thank you cards and baggies of dental supplies. As training health care providers, they understand the call to serve the community and wanted to make sure the first responders who risked their lives during the hurricane understood their gratitude.
LSU Health Dean Henry Gremillion told WWL News, "We certainly appreciate everything that the first responders and all the service related people in New Orleans have done to facilitate coming back so strong for this last decade. We want to give back to them and say thank you."
The students packed a total of 250 meals for 12 police and fire stations around New Orleans.
Military servicemembers and first responders have some of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Not only that, but they are more likely to experience a traumatic event than people in other careers. As a result, individuals who serve in the military and work as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and other first responders have a high probability of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental health condition that can greatly affect the quality of an individual's life. AFBA has compiled a list of seven programs designed to help servicemembers, veterans and first responders heal their PTSD.
1. Starlight Military Program
The Stonington Institute launched this program after World War II. The Starlight Military Program specializes in unique treatment for active duty servicemembers and veterans. It offers cognitive therapy and substance abuse programs.
2. Paws for Veterans
One issue many veterans face while dealing with PTSD is the feeling of isolation. Paws for Veterans works to eliminate these feelings by pairing returned servicemembers with a trained dog in need of adoption. The dogs are trained to have a variety of special skills, including therapy and guide dog behaviors.
3. The Station House Retreat
The program was specifically designed by first responders to assist other first responders with their PTSD recovery. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other first responders can come to The Station House Retreat to participate in therapy sessions, exercise programs, meditation and medication management classes all designed to treat PTSD.
4. Homecoming for Veterans
The EEG Institute developed this program to better understand the effects of PTSD on the brain. Homecoming for Veterans provides free neurofeedback and PTSD treatment for former military servicemembers. Not only is this program providing care for veterans, but it is working to better understand the neurological damage they experience in order to improve treatment.
5. Omega Veterans Trauma and Resilience Program
This program was created by health care professionals to help veterans heal from PTSD and other problems that may arise because of the trauma they experienced. Omega offers a variety of seminars and therapy sessions.
6. Princeton House First Responder Program
This inpatient program is designed to provide first responders with whole-body healing methods. It focuses on mental health therapy. The Princeton House First Responder Program teaches first responders who are experiencing PTSD to rediscover the mind-body-spirit connection through fitness, counseling and medication management.
7. Meghan's Foundation
The program was developed with the purpose of providing alternative healing to veterans dealing with PTSD. Meghan's Foundation offers veterans a chance to heal through yoga and meditation as opposed to doctors and medication. The foundation is designed to teach veterans to self-heal and rely on their inner strengths.
PTSD can be a life-altering condition, and many veterans and first responders will be faced with overcoming the challenges of this disorder. Fortunately, there are a number of programs created specifically for individuals in these careers. These programs offer healing, counseling, support and guidance as those coping with PTSD navigate toward healing. The VA also offers a regional-specific list of PTSD help.
Firefighters, police officers, paramedics and other first responders all have careers where success comes from a team effort. These fields are dependent on the ability of the group to work well together. Luckily, there are a variety of teambuilding activities your station can complete to increase your unit performance.
Mine field
This group activity is perfect for improving group communication. The idea is to set up a starting line and a finish line. Then, place various obstacles around an open space. Take turns blindfolding an individual member of the squad. The other members must successfully guide the blindfolded person to the finish line through the debris using only verbal directions.
All aboard
Challenge your squad to this game and you could see major improvements in inter-group patience and problem solving. The rules are simple. Start with a large defined space, usually a sheet. All members of your team must fit into the space. Once this is successfully completed, make the defined space smaller. Continue shrinking the size of the space until your team can no longer find a way to fit into the space.
Group mandala
This exercise is a great way to explore group dynamics and examine structural hierarchy. Begin by having each participant choose an object that represents himself or herself. The group then forms a circle and throws their objects like dice. When all the objects have settled, each person must tell the group how they feel about the position of their specific object and its relation to the others' items. Go through several rounds in which members can adjust their items until everyone is satisfied with his or her object's position. Discuss why the end result made everyone most comfortable.
Winner/loser
As first responders, there are many tough days on the job. This activity can not only help your squad learn to communicate, but it can also teach them to counsel others. Have your team pair up. One member of each pair will begin by telling the other of a bad experience or tough memory. At the end of the story, the partner who was listening must retell the same story using only the positive takeaways.
Toxic waste
First responders must be able to complete tasks as a team. This activity is excellent for coaching a squad to work together toward a successful result. To play, set up a circle at the center of a room. This will represent the "toxic waste radiation zone." In the middle of the circle, place a container filled with water or bouncy balls to symbolize the "toxic waste." Outside the circle, there should be a larger bucket that will act as the "neutralization container." Have an array of bungee cords and ropes outside the circle as well. The group must figure out how to get the toxic waste into the neutralization container without setting foot in the toxic waste radiation zone. This activity can be timed if you would like.
Being a first responder means working well in a team setting. Communication, problem solving and understanding of group dynamics are crucial to a squad's success. The activities above are specifically designed to help improve these areas.
Saint Louis University recently approved reduced tuition cost for firefighters, police officers and other first responders looking to continue their education. This lowered rate will take effect on Aug. 17, the start of the Fall 2015 term. The cost per credit hour will now be $400 for first responders who enroll in the university's School of Professional Studies. The university made the decision to offer the same lowered rate to veterans and active duty military personnel last school year and decided it was time to extend the program to first responders.
The university's president, Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., told PR Web, "At Saint Louis University, we recognize that first responders continuously go above and beyond in their day-to-day lives, and we are proud to recognize their service to our community as part of the Jesuit mission."
Both current and new students are allowed to apply for this program, giving them access to the many courses offered by SLU. More than 20 of those courses in the School of Professional Studies programs are online and designed with busy lifestyles in mind. This makes it perfect for first responders, who often have hectic schedules.
Every so often a story comes along that reminds us that police officers and first responders are good guys with service-oriented hearts. Brian McGraw, a 34-year-old Port Authority police officer, is one of those good guys. In the early hours of the morning of Aug. 4, Officer McGraw was going about his patrol in the World Trade Center Port Authority Transit Hub.
At 2:36 a.m., McGraw and his partners were called over to assist a woman, Marwa Abdrabo, who was on her way to the hospital with contractions. McGraw had previously been trained as an emergency medical technician in Jersey City, New Jersey, and knew Abdrabo would not reach the hospital in time for the delivery. McGraw told The New York Times that his partners counted on him to deliver the baby safely due to his medical training.
After several minutes, McGraw assisted Abdrabo in delivering a perfectly healthy 6-pound-14-ounce girl. Abdrabo and her newborn daughter were sent to the hospital shortly after the birth for standard assessments. McGraw said that it was fortunate that this unusual event occurred in the early morning as it would have been much more difficult to deliver the child in a crowded station. The officer stated it was a day he would never forget.
There is no doubt that firefighting is a tough job. At the end of the day, firefighters want to go home to a safe, comfortable and affordable home. Here are seven cities that are the best for firefighters in terms of median salary, cost of living and quality of life.
1. West Palm Beach, Florida
The median salary for firefighters in West Palm Beach is about $41,000. Not only that, but the cost of living index is 102. With plenty of beaches, restaurants, parks and gyms, this city is the perfect haven for firefighters.
2. Seattle, Washington
This music mecca is also a great place for firefighters to take up residence. The median salary for firefighters is $59,000, which is nearly $10,000 higher than the city's average median income. The only thing keeping Seattle from the No. 1 spot is the slightly higher cost of living.
3. Portland, Oregon
Quiet, safe and hip are all words one could use to describe this bridge port city. High annual rainfall means the city is usually at a relatively low risk for fire. Another bonus is that the median salary for Portland firefighters is $49,000, a good deal higher than the city's average.
4. Austin, Texas
The south Texas city whose motto is "Keep Austin Weird" comes in fourth on our best cities for firefighters list. Austin is one of the few cities in the country to see steady job growth in almost every industry in the last decade. Firefighters who live here average $44,000 in annual salary, and the 51 index cost of living is one of the best on the list.
5. Denver, Colorado
Skiing, hiking and sports teams are just a few of the reasons people flock to this central Colorado city. Firefighters especially love this area because of the high income to low cost of living ratio. Compared to the quality of life, the cost of living in Denver is relatively low. The annual median salary for Denver firefighters is just under $50,000.
6. Kansas City, Missouri
For barbecue and blues-loving firefighters, Kansas City is the place to be. This region has remained financially stable for some time, and the cost of living is among the lowest in the country when compared to the quality of life index. Firefighters in this Midwestern metropolis earn a median annual salary of about $44,000.
7. Buffalo, New York
The cost of living is one of the best in the nation in the city where Buffalo wings were invented. Aside from an excellent food scene, Buffalo is home to a historic waterfront district and is in close proximity to beautiful Niagara Falls. Firefighters who live in Buffalo make about $46,000 per year. An added bonus is that the commute time in Buffalo is one of the shortest in the country.
Long hours and dangerous work are all part of being a firefighter, but just because the job is stressful does not mean life outside the station has to be, too. The cities above offer the best pay, lowest cost of living and best quality of life in the country for firefighters.
On average, 5.9 million viewers tune into "American Ninja Warrior" every week, according to Variety. Those viewers got to witness two Chicago firefighters dominate the competition. Brandon Mears and Dan Polizzi, both heavily muscled and well over 6 feet tall, represented the Chicago Fire Department well on the television game show. Participating in challenging events like wall climbing, bar gymnastics and jumping between beams using only their fingertips, Mears and Polizzi advanced to the semifinal rounds.
"I have a lot of people say, 'Oh, I can do that. No problem,'" Polizzi told the Daily Herald, "but then they come in here and try it and realize how hard it is."
Both men train at the Chicago Ninja Academy and are among the five men from that gym selected to participate in the regional competitions for the show. Only 600 of the 50,000 people who submit audition tapes are selected to participate. Out of all those competitors, Mears is one of the few who made it to the final round. Both men, who called themselves the "Tower of Power," stick to a strict diet of lean meats and protein shakes and exercise for two to four hours six days a week. They use their influence to inspire the local kids who come to their gym to live a healthier lifestyle.
Firefighters give back to their communities every day. They put their lives on the line so that their friends and neighbors stay safe. It is not very often that they are rewarded for their efforts, yet two girls in Aurora, Colorado, wanted to change that.
After firefighters in Aurora saved her mom's life during a severe asthma attack, 12-year-old Trennah Nantkes and her friend, Kyra Dooley, wanted to repay their service. The girls celebrate their birthday close to each other, but this year, instead of asking for presents they asked for donations. Together they received $1,200, but they did not spend it on themselves.
"We're really thankful for [the firefighters] and wanted to give something back to them," Nantkes told Fox 31 News.
Nantkes and Dooley took their money and purchased a new 65-inch flat-screen television, a wall mount and popcorn buckets for the fire department that saved Nantkes' mother's life. The firefighters at the station were astounded at the girls' generosity and were grateful for the purchase.
Neither girl is a stranger to kindness. In fact, this was Dooley's third charity project in two years. She used her previous birthday to raise money for the local Ronald McDonald House and distributed blankets to the homeless at Christmas.