As firefighters we are trained and ready to do our best to try to save lives and property of people in our community. But are we prepared to deal with the crisis when it’s one of our own? The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation now offers its successful Stress First Aid for Fire and EMS Personnel (SFA) class for free through www.FireHeroLearningNetwork.com, the NFFF’s flagship online learning system.
Stress First Aid teaches seven core actions – Cover, Calm, Connect, Competence, Confidence, Check and Coordinate – which can help responders provide more compassionate care to one-another. By incorporating the steps outlined in Stress First Aid every day, firefighters will learn to recognize stress in themselves and among their peers.
“Those who are most injured are the least likely to recognize how deeply affected they are by the trauma they’ve experienced,” explained Chief Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the NFFF. “We’re beginning to realize that behavioral health is equally important as physical health. This course is an important step to making that connection and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is pleased to be able to make it more accessible by offering it online.”
To access Stress First Aid and other NFFF programs, users simply register with the Fire Hero Learning Network, a process that takes just a few minutes and is free. To get started, go to www.FireHeroLearningNetwork.com.
