As soon as workers arrive on the scene, Incident Commanders are taught to monitor their members for stress and also for exhaustion (which contributes to the stress experienced). Crews are rotated at regular intervals to provide proper rest time with fresh crews rotating in to the site to continue the work at hand. After the scene is secured, all rescue personnel have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of programs to assist them with their feelings and with sadness. These include the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing program, access to licensed mental health professionals, organization-affiliated chaplains/clergy and employee/member assistance programs (EAP/MAP).
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It is essential that we take care of the family members of rescuers who may be away from home for an extended period of time. While not soldiers in the literal sense, the emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters and police officers are "America's First Line of Defense." We are on the frontlines daily, working, to the best of our ability, for the safety of individual citizens as well as for public safety and national security.
Our families also participate in this noble calling by having to endure prolonged absences in times of emergencies and disaster, worrying about our well being and having to fend for themselves while we are out serving others. They are truly the "unsung heroes" of the emergency response world.
