As a First Responder, instructors encourage you to bury the effects of witnessing and responding to trauma.
This can lead to burnout, complacency, desensitization, and distance from your family and peers.
As a First Responder, instructors encourage you to bury the effects of witnessing and responding to trauma.
This can lead to burnout, complacency, desensitization, and distance from your family and peers.
“My wife and I were in public safety for 20 years. When we were trained, we were taught that what we experienced in the field was something we just had to get over. As a first responder, you’re told if you can’t handle it, you’re in the wrong line of work.
As a First Responder, Chaplaincy is very important because it’s contrary to anything our first responders are taught. The idea of processing and being made whole at the end of your shift is something that you’re not taught at school.
I want to take that concept back to the people I work with.”
“It was not until one of the senior chaplains at my local fire department took the I.F.O.C. class, that the door opened where we could help set up the program for volunteer chaplains.
He realized the training I.F.O.C. had was superb. We were first used to assist the county with donations during the Doghead fire in Tijeras, NM. Since then, we have assisted the fire department in callouts.”
– David, I.F.O.C. Chaplain
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