One of the most important roles of a leader is to take care of their crew.
That means if you’re a company officer, you need to be aware of your crew members’ emotional state.
We’ve all heard that this job can lead to PTSD, and I certainly hope that you accept that. It’s proven, and it’s a fact just like falling from a ladder can cause a broken arm or leg.
As a leader, it’s your responsibility to be looking for signs of emotional trauma.
Then, you can take steps to help.
My guest to explain how to do that is Jared Meeker. He’s a fire chief in a combination fire department in upstate New York, and has over 30 years’ experience in the fire service.
He teaches incident command skills for fire officers and career survival skills for all first responders.
If you feel you need help: Share the Load Support Program for Fire and EMS
Jared’s article: Leadership’s Role During Traumatic Events
Jared’s article: When the Stress Bucket Overflows: A Firefighter’s Story of Pain and Healing