Allen Curreri considers how first responders could benefit from widespread implementation of mindfulness programs.

1. Under Fire: How First Responders Use Mindfulness to Manage Stress
What happens when we take heroism for granted? For the average civilian, the approaching wail
of a siren is both a sign of danger and of hope; the promise of rescue in the face of disaster. For
firefighters, leaping from a howling truck and into potentially life-threatening danger is rote -
an expected part of the job at hand. First responders are paraded in children's books and at
career fairs as the brave and ever-confident public heroes who spurn anxiety and fear. We tend
to envision the dramatic parts of a firefighter's job: rescuing a child from a blaze, or enabling the
safe evacuation of a collapsing building. In the face of that drama, though, we often forget that
first responders encounter potentially traumatizing situations with far greater frequency than
ordinary civilians. According to a study conducted in 2016, the ​prevalence of PTSD among
emergency service workers​ is estimated at 17%-22%; this number stands starkly against the
expected lifetime prevalence of 1%-7% within the general population. Clearly, the public
conception of first responders as unflappable saviors is off-base.
Unfortunately, this trend towards promoting an image of infallibility continues within the fire
station as a cultural trend as those within the profession are subtly discouraged from showing
signs of work-caused vulnerability or anxiety. As ​Randal D. Beaton and Shirley A. Murphy
explain in a chapter of the text ​Compassion Fatigue: Coping With Secondary Traumatic Stress
Disorder In Those Who Treat The Traumatized​, “This ‘conspiracy of silence’ norm is generally
functional and productive because, without a certain amount of self-deception, firefighters
might be overwhelmed by their fears.” As the authors suggest, firefighters face a catch-22: they
either face their pain and risk hesitating during deployment, or keep their anxieties hidden and
delay their psychological recovery. However, the oft-chosen latter option is only a temporary
solution. Studies have demonstrated that under the current culture,​ firefighters with PTSD
suffer from long-term emotional disorders, damaged relationships, professional burnout,
alcoholism and substance abuse, and truncated careers. Hiding pain under a mask of bravado is
not a sustainable solution to the problem at hand.
We need to implement a cultural shift towards acceptance, and make certain that our first
responders have the tools they need to manage their trauma before its effects become critical or
long-lasting. Those tasked with helping our firefighters should consider implementing
mindfulness programs to equip responders with coping skills, increased emotional awareness,
and greater resilience against stress. This idea isn’t unprecedented; previous studies in which
mindfulness workshops​ were introduced to firefighters found that “mindfulness was associated
with fewer PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and alcohol problems
when controlling for the other study variables.” Additionally,​ increased social support​ from
coworkers and family was found to lessen PTSD symptoms in sufferers. Thus, we must establish
educational programs for those within and beyond the firehouse to equip first responders and
their loved ones with the skills they need to weather the impact of post-traumatic stress
disorder.

2. We can’t afford to brush off our the secondary trauma our first responders face on a daily basis.
To make a real difference, we need to conceptualize and implement long-term solutions which
destigmatize mental health concerns and equip responders with the mindfulness skills they need
to remain strong in their roles.