Public safety professionals work together in life-and-death situations. During natural or transportation disasters, industrial accidents, shootings, suicides or dozens of other instances, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics are called upon to assist both injured and uninjured people. Although often romanticized in television series and in films, the real-life tasks of public safety professionals are usually unpleasant--restraining violent individuals and removing accident, homicide, and suicide victims from death scenes--and always highly stressful. They are frequently subjected to additional stress when their efforts are criticized by family members of the injured or deceased. Although stress can be harmful, even fatal, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics can have more productive and satisfying lives when they learn to positively control stress, rather than be controlled by it. This English language bibliography consisting of more than 700 references, covering the time period 1945 to early 1989, can help these and other professionals manage stress more effectively. Source publications, all of which are annotated, include books, articles, conference proceedings, theses, government publications, and dissertations. The bibliography section is composed of six chapters addressing psychological and physiological factors, the family, substance abuse, accidents, and suicide, with references arranged alphabetically by author surname. A list of acronyms and author and subject indexes complete the work. Of paramount importance to police officers, firefighters, and paramedics as well as their families, this bibliography will provide legislators, physicians, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and sociologists with extensive and substantial documentation on the stress-filled work lives of these public safety professionals.

Public safety professionals work together in life-and-death situations. During natural or transportation disasters, industrial accidents, shootings, suicides or dozens of other instances, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics are called upon to assist both injured and uninjured people. Although often romanticized in television series and in films, the real-life tasks of public safety professionals are usually unpleasant--restraining violent individuals and removing accident, homicide, and suicide victims from death scenes--and always highly stressful. They are frequently subjected to additional stress when their efforts are criticized by family members of the injured or deceased. Although stress can be harmful, even fatal, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics can have more productive and satisfying lives when they learn to positively control stress, rather than be controlled by it. This English language bibliography consisting of more than 700 references, covering the time period 1945 to early 1989, can help these and other professionals manage stress more effectively. Source publications, all of which are annotated, include books, articles, conference proceedings, theses, government publications, and dissertations. The bibliography section is composed of six chapters addressing psychological and physiological factors, the family, substance abuse, accidents, and suicide, with references arranged alphabetically by author surname. A list of acronyms and author and subject indexes complete the work. Of paramount importance to police officers, firefighters, and paramedics as well as their families, this bibliography will provide legislators, physicians, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and sociologists with extensive and substantial documentation on the stress-filled work lives of these public safety professionals.

In the wake of disaster emergency responders are first on the scene and last to leave. They put concern for the lives of others over concern for their own lives, and work tirelessly to recover the bodies of the missing. Their heroic actions save lives, provide comfort to and care for the wounded and inspire onlookers, but at what cost to themselves? We now know that rescue workers who are exposed to mutilated bodies, mass destruction, multiple casualties, and life-threatening situations may become the hidden victims of disaster. The traumatic consequences of exposure can profoundly impact emergency responders, radiate to their families, and permeate the emergency organization. This much-needed new book, based on the authors' original research and clinical experience, describes the consequences of trauma exposure on police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics. Weaving data collected in large-scale quantitative studies with the personal stories of responders shared in qualitative interviews, this much-needed account explores the personal, organizational, and societal factors that can ameliorate or exacerbate traumatic response. Stress theory, organizational theory, crisis theory, and trauma theory provide a framework for understanding trauma responses and guiding intervention strategies. Using an ecological perspective, the authors explore interventions spanning prevention, disaster response, and follow-up, on individual, family, group, organizational, and community levels. They provide specific suggestions for planning intervention programs, developing trauma response teams, training emergency service responders and mental health professionals, and evaluating the effectiveness of services provided. Disaster, whether large-scale or small, underscores our ongoing vulnerability and the crucial need for response plans that address the health and well being of those who confront disaster on a daily basis. In the Line of Fire speaks directly to these emergency response workers as well as to the mental health professionals who provide them with services, the administrators who support their efforts, and the family members who wonder if their loved one will return home safely from work tonight.

This publication describes in detail, and by example, the stresses that EMT's and Paramedics experience in the Emergency Field. This book includes the real life stories about, and solutions to stress from a seasoned Emergency Responder. From 1992 to the publication of this text (2013), Stanfill's life has, and continues to be focused largely in the Emergency Arena. Originally as an Emergency Worker, followed by Behavioral Science with concentrations in Burnout, and Critical Incident Stress Management, she continues to help Emergency Personnel, comprising of EMT's, Firefighters, and Paramedics, additionally Doctors, Nurses, and Police Officers. Specific information on Burnout and Critical Incident Stress Management is offered in this small paperback, and it also contains explanations of every day tension that can occur in the EMS, which includes frustration from disrespect, mistakes made in the field, and annoying partners. This writing is but an introduction to stress in the EMS, and a treatise of basic stress management for the First Responder. These brief chapters on solutions to Emergency Field Strain are revealing and very beneficial for the individual experiencing high levels of pressure, and/or devastating events. This is a remarkable book for creating satisfaction through experiences in Emergency Care.

If you are a police officer, firefighter, EMT, ER nurse, or soldier, or you love one . . . This book can save your life Suicide, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and many more emotional and stress-related problems plague the first-responder community. Hundreds of thousands of these brave public servants have unwittingly become victims of the professions they once loved. However, the suffering that results from a professional life of sacrifice and service can be prevented and mitigated. As a law-enforcement veteran, police captain Dan Willis has witnessed the damage of emotional trauma and has made it his personal mission to safeguard and enhance the wellness and wholeness of police officers, firefighters, EMTs, emergency-room personnel, and soldiers. Bulletproof Spirit offers field-tested expertise designed to be used by all first responders — and their families — to heal themselves and continue serving with compassion and strength.

Police, firefighters, and paramedics are highly exposed to traumatic events and experience markedly higher rates of PTSD than others in the community, also facing distinct organizational challenges that complicate their stress reactions. Often, this results in needs not addressed in manuals developed for people who have survived single traumatic events. This book provides an overview of theoretical and empirical frameworks for understanding PTSD in first responders and outlines practical, evidence-based approaches to assess and treat PTSD in these populations.