Three Key Messages: -- This is important. -- You can do it. -- I won't give up on you. Training ordinary people to do extraordinary things requires an understanding of how we learn. Developing Firefighter Resiliency starts with the basic psychophysical aspects of learning. The fire service has unwittingly used a failure-based training model for many years. Hands-on training exercises are often based on unachievable objectives. Trainers are often not educated about the psychology of adult learning or the effect of stress during learning. Consequently, participants face learning activities with mastery-level skill requirement to succeed when competency has yet to be established. This amounts to a never-ending diet of tests without actual skill development. Accessing knowledge under extreme circumstances cannot be left to chance, because the penalty for failure is severe. This book provides the roadmap for a journey to train, establish relevancy for the lessons, develop competency in the skills, and capitalize on confidence to achieve mastery. We study the impact of a stressful environment on the ability to learn and function.

Developing resilience skills has the potential to shield firefighters and other emergency responders from the negative effects of stressful incidents and situations. Drawing on cutting-edge research, this SpringerBrief proposes strategies to prevent firefighter behavioral health issues using the proactive approach of resilience training. Further, resilience training aims to develop mental toughness and support overall well-being in all facets of the responder’s life. This book emphasizes lessons and research from Positive Psychology. A new branch in the science of how the mind operates, Positive Psychology focuses on developing emotional wellness and preventing behavioral health problems. It does so in part by teaching habits and skills that promote self-efficacy, social support, and realistic optimistic thinking. The program outlined in this book supplements current approaches addressing emotional and behavioral health problems that afflict the emergency response community. Such problems include PTSD, anxiety, burnout, alcoholism, depression, and suicide. The authors present interventions and measures for resilience training backed by research and demonstrated results within education, the military, and other communities. Drawing on her more than 25 years’ experience in working with fire service representatives at all levels, Ms. Deppa understands the importance of considering the fire service culture. Dr. Saltzberg, a practicing psychologist, has taught resilience skills to a wide range of populations, including students, teachers, counselors, and U.S. Army officers. Together, they present a compelling approach to preventing behavioral health problems before they occur.

This is a "how to" book written by a "know how" person for anyone who practices firefighting strategy. Deputy Chief Vincent Dunn is passing on to the next generation of firefighters the lessons ("strategy summaries") he learned from his years of firefighting experience. He describes firefighting strategies for the most common types of fire scenarios and identifies specific firefighting problems presented to an incident commander by occupancy and construction type. More importantly, he explains firefighting solutions and offers firefighting plans, standard procedures, action plans, ideas, guidelines, explanations, key steps, and systems of firefighting procedures. This book is not about tactics. It's about strategy - plans of firefighting, logical ways to solve problems at fires.

In Challenges of the Firefighter Marriage, author Anne Gagliano, the widely read Fire Engineering and FireLife.com columnist, has teamed up with her husband, Captain Mike Gagliano, to share their 30-plus years of personal experience on how marriage can thrive in the chaotic world of firefighting. In addition, they have called upon well-known and respected couples who share their stories of comfort and guidance for firefighter families everywhere. What you will learn: Aspects of this occupation that differentiate it from any other and how these impact marriage Essential conversations every firefighter couple should have The reality of sleep disruption and how to minimize its impact The importance of healthy intimacy in your relationship Why finances can be such a problem and ways to make it a solution Advice on how to deal with time off, kids, firefighter health, and so much more

Firefighter Emotional Wellness: Reconnecting with Yourself and Others is a training exercise for your heart and mind. It’s an excellent, evidence-based self-help book with boots on the ground sharing interviews with firefighters and how they adapt. “You are looking at a critical part of your success as a first responder and human being, and it doesn’t mean that you will have perfect understanding right away – or ever, but what it means is you will begin to find tools that help you grapple with what you have seen.” – Jada Hudson What others are saying “By sharing personal stories of her clients’ emotional wellness struggles, Jada Hudson takes away the stigma of talking about things like depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidal ideation,” said Dr. Thomas E. Joiner, an academic psychologist, author and professor of psychology, Florida State University. “Firefighter Emotional Wellness: Reconnecting with Yourself and Others is a must-read for every academy recruit, newlywed, leader, retiree, spouse, and individual who wants to become or remain emotionally well.” “Jada Hudson’s years of critically important work with counseling first responders has come full circle in this book. Her insight, guidance and examination of the issues facing the men and women on the front lines is both remarkable and humbling. This book should be a must read for any first responder or medical professional.” - Dr. Robert Langman, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago “I highly recommend this book for first responders, peer support programs, chaplains and clinicians,” said Dr. Joel Fay, who teaches intervention, case law, PTSD, Suicide by Cop and Self Care for Sacramento PD CIT. “Jada Hudson brings a considerable wealth of information regarding the mental health and treatment of first responders. She covers a broad range of topics including PTSD, suicide, stress and trauma, resiliency, and treatment. She shares her professional knowledge and writes from her personal experience and the book is richer for it.” “Jada Hudson draws upon her personal and professional experience as well as research and theory in writing Firefighter Emotional Wellness, a book that is timely and important,” says Dr. Stanley McCracken, author, and lecturer (ret.), The University of Chicago. “Just as first responders drill to prepare them for the physical demands of their jobs, reading this book should be considered a preparation for the emotional demands they will face.”

Readers will find that this book is more than a collection of 156 fire service editorial cartoons. Paul Combs is a gifted artist who uses his talent as a tool to express his passion for making a difference in the fire service, the greatest job in the world.

From taking human life to being assigned to the body recovery team of nine brother firefighters, including one of his best friends, U.S. Marine, former Police Officer and Firefighter Travis Howze was plagued with extreme Post Traumatic Stress, Depression and Survivors Guilt from a lifetime of very traumatic exposures dating back to early childhood. Victorious in the fight for his very own life at just three months old, his struggle to survive was just the beginning. Years later, he would defeat the very silent and deadly killer, PTSD, but not before it caused massive carnage and collateral damage to his personal and professional life. From Class Clown to professional Stand-Up Comedian and Speaker, Travis' UNBELIEVABLY GRIPPING, uncensored autobiography is a MUST READ that takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride through the eyes of an emergency responder. Follow Travis through countless horrific events, from funny stories inside of the Firehouse, Patrol Car, and Marine Corps, to Stand-Up Comedy Stages and the dark places first responders have to go to in their mind to survive.This true, hard-hitting story is about staying in the fight. It's about never quitting yourself, always getting up, doing the things you love, and how the power of perspective, attitude, ownership and acceptance can lead to LIFE CHANGING personal growth and a more PURPOSEFUL LIFE.

Scott Thompson, author of The Functional Fire Company, says the functional fire company concept was not created but realized: “I realized, after many attempts at trying to view success in the organization from the top down, that it wasn’t possible. Real indicators of success in the fire service come from the bottom up. A fire department’s success is best judged at the company level.” “Many leaders and senior members have been taught the how but not the why, and they don’t understand the reasons for doing what they do,” Thompson says. “Because firefighting is such a technical activity, we must ensure that we are explaining why we do things while we demonstrate the how. It is essential that we develop critical thinking for solving fire suppression, rescue, and EMS problems.” WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: “Chief Scott Thompson combines his decades of experience and years of observation with today’s leadership skills and provides a path for the successful fire department to follow. The Functional Fire Company will take you step by step from being an ordinary fire department to one which defines excellence. --Rick Lasky, Fire Chief (ret.) Texas “I found both motivation and a guide to implementation in this book. Chief Thompson has provided a deep resource for all ranks from creating culture to setting up training structure. I highly recommend this book to anyone with aspirations of making an organizational impact.” --Brian Brush “Chief Thompson has spent his entire career focusing on training and organizational effectiveness. The Functional Fire Company is his life’s work wrapped up into a playbook which offers insight into how to make your organization perform at maximum proficiency. Experience, perspective and a never quit mentality are evident as Chief Thompson provides a unique view to solving problems in the modern-day fire service.” --Terry McGrath, Assistant Chief, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department “This book offers a living, breathing example that Chief Thompson’s principles truly work. I hope you get as much value from this book as we have received from Chief Thompson’s lessons, and that you take what you learn back to your organization.” --Garrett Rice, The Colony Fire Department (TX) Battalion Chief, A Shift

The stress that comes with being a first responder has been known to lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide. However, few clinicians are informed about these health concerns and how to adequately treat them in this population. Therefore, there is an urgent need for practitioners to understand the latest information regarding treatments that will be useful to this specific population. Mental Health Intervention and Treatment of First Responders and Emergency Workers is an essential reference source that focuses on the latest research for diagnosing and treating mental health issues experienced by emergency personnel and seeks to generate awareness and inform clinicians about the unique circumstances encountered by these professionals. While highlighting topics including anxiety disorders and stress management, this book is ideally designed for clinicians, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, practitioners, medical professionals, EMTs, law enforcement, fire departments, military, academicians, researchers, policymakers, and students seeking current research on psychological therapy methods regarding first responders.

Provides an overview of the various types of disasters that may occur, the myriad of actors that are involved in emergency management, and the diverse theoretical frameworks from which post-disaster activities may be approached. • Includes updated chapters keeping the material fresh and accessible while incorporating recent changes in policy and new research • Highlights lessons learned from such incidents and catastrophes as: Hurricane Katrina, Earthquake in Haiti, Parking lot collapse in Miami, West Texas industrial explosion, Train wreck in Spain, Aurora movie shooting, Times Square bombing, etc. • Examines typical challenges to be expected during response efforts along with tools and techniques to enhance the ability to protect lives, reduce property damage and minimize disruption • Includes an instructor package which contains: Sample Syllabus, Teaching Suggestions, Test bank, and PowerPoints