By Nate Dodgson
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There are reputed reasons why first responders are so esteemed and valued. They are real-life heroes, often-times sacrificing everything, including their own safety and lives, in order to help and save the lives of others. When there’s an emergency, first responders act and assess the problem. They treat those who require emotional and/or physical aid. First responders are the Band-Aid of society. They take an oath promising to serve the public as well as uphold their training and ethics.
That being said, first responders are not immortal and they have basic needs and vulnerabilities like every other person does. In fact, studies find that first responders not only face challenges relating to stress and risks of infection, but they are especially prone to mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, burnout, substance abuse, and even compassion fatigue. The selflessness, sacrifice, and nobility of first responders doesn’t nullify all the risks and potential danger associated with the occupation. First responders are exposed, up-close and personal- in the thick of it- when it comes to major incidents and disasters. The tax and toil of their position can be exhausting and detrimental to their own quality of life and health. Sound familiar? In many ways, first responders are subject to the same, but not all, horrors one would expect military service members to experience.
But how can a first responder project compassion fatigue if they’ve taken an oath? The answer remains in what was related earlier: First responders are human beings with respective needs just like you and me. University of Washington advises staff such as “physicians, caregivers, and volunteers who help others” to address compassion fatigue by “being kind to yourself, be aware and educate yourself, practice acceptance, understand that those close to you may not be there when you need them most, exchange information and feelings with people who can validate what you’re experiencing, clarify your personal boundaries, express your needs verbally, and take positive action to change your environment.”
Other than “talking with someone you trust and taking care of yourself”, it is furthermore encouraged to alleviate compassion fatigue by “giving yourself time, to know your own limits, and to focus on the good you are doing.
