Major Concerns for First Responders Regarding Family Stress

Major Concerns for First Responders Regarding Family Stress
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Major Concerns for First Responders Regarding Family Stress
Abstract
Research regarding first responders and stress issues is often narrow and never stretches to include their families. However, according to new research, family stress can also be a hindrance to the humanitarian work that is often done by first responders. Family stress can interfere with one’s proficiency if not dealt with appropriately, and for first responders, this would result in loss of lives as well as the escalation of once minor disasters. It is natural for one to worry about their family’s well-being especially if one’s actions or daily activities have the potential to cause direct or indirect harm. Issues of PTSD in children, being absent during important occcasions, heightened concern as well as exposure to second-hand accidents, fires, and accidents have been identified as the major family stress concerns for first responders. Dealing with the above could be hard, but the repercussions of letting the status quo persist could hamper the entire first response mechanism.
Introduction
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the phrase first responder as “a person (as a police officer or an EMT) who is among those responsible for going immediately to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance.” The phrase was first used in 1970 and primarily includes police officers, the firefighters as well as medical practitioners or Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). These people make their way to accident scenes, fire breakouts, and any other emergency incidents that warrant their presence. Their significance in the society should never be taken for granted because they often put themselves in harm’s way for people that they do not know, and on most occasions, their actions go unnoticed. The first responders’ bravery is something that only a few people are blessed with, and unlike the larger society that chooses to call for help if an accident or incident occurs, they rush to the scene and immediately salvage the people in danger. Humanity has its vices but what first responders do embodies everything that is good about being human. However, the work that they do often affect them and in her article titled First to respond, last to seek help, Shallcross (2013) illuminated on some of their problems.
Stress and trauma have been cited as the major issues that affect the first responders, and psychologists and medical professionals have proven this to be true. In her piece in the True Jersey, Forland (2013) revealed that when interviewed, first responders often have the following to say after an incident: “People think you’re trained for that, but you’re not.” The above line speaks volumes of the expectations that the community has and the challenge that faces the first responders to live up to these potentials. The community, however, needs to understand that they are human first and are thus affected by the scenes of the incide...