First Responder Wellness

Join your community tonight, August 6th, to celebrate National Night Out 2024! Together, these events bring police and community partners to a fun, family filled evening. Check natw.org to find a city event near you. We hope to see you there!

Police Week (May 12 - 18) is a time to commemorate our law enforcement officers and honor the sacrifices they make. We are incredibly thankful to those who put their lives on the line everyday to serve and protect us. Take a moment this week to thank an officer and recognize their incredible courage and commitment to our community.

For public safety and first responders, dealing with stress and trauma is part of the job. But because of high exposure to traumatic situations, it may be difficult to find healthy ways to cope. Many people turn to alcohol to self-medicate to wind down. This can be a slippery slope with 20%-24% of first responders struggle with an addiction, which is twice the rate of the general population.

In support of Alcohol Awareness Month (April 2024), we wanted to share the "CAGE Questionnaire" that is a screening tool that can be used for a self-assessment or to share with someone who may be struggling. First Responder Wellness is always here to help. Call 888.443.4898 or email [email protected].

Thank you to the amazing men and women across the nation for your commitment, service and sacrifice. We celebrate all of you not only this week, but every day. Thank Dispatchers for all that you do!

As we head into the second day of First Responder Wellness Week (March 25 – 29) that focuses on SLEEP, we wanted to share the 10-3-2-1 tip to improve sleep.
No caffeine 10 hours before sleep.
No food or alcohol 3 hours before sleep.
No more work 2 hours before sleep.
No more screen time 1 hour before sleep.

Share your comments about what you do for a restful night’s sleep.



https://www.firstresponder-wellness.com/avoid-the-consequences-of-lack-of-sleep/

We are kicking things off to show our support of First Responder Wellness Week (March 25 – 29, 2024). Wellness is the act of healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes - - so that instead of just surviving, you are thriving.

Wellness is an active process. It is a conscious, self-directed, and continuous process. As you think about your life, you can use the 8 Dimensions of Wheel for a self-inventory. Are there areas where you are thriving, while other areas are not getting your attention? An ‘unbalanced life’ is like driving on a flat tire. It may not take you where you want to go.

Share your comments about what you are doing to keep your “wellness balanced”.

NEW CLASSES ADDED FOR 2024: Wellness Coordinator Training Course. This robust 5 day, 40 hour, 25 module course based on the 8 dimensions of wellness. This course will fast track your new or already existing wellness program by 3-5 years with all of the information that will be shared.

Register Online: https://rb.gy/1bw6ym

Thank you Stephanie Kiesow for your life long dedication to your career in law enforcement and for raising awareness to improve workplaces and boosting individual wellness. We are honored to have you with our family of companies (First Responder Wellness, The Counseling Team, Shift Wellness) as a Public Safety Advocate. Together, we can continue to make a difference in our community and in the lives we touch everyday.

Learn more about Stephanie's book, WORKICIDE: How to Overcome a Career-Related Decline in Mental Health and Reignite Your Passion for Work and Life on Amazon.

We are honored to receive the recognition as being a Patriotic Employer that was awarded by the Department of Defense / Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The ESGR's mission is to develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees.

Who knew that Red, White and Blue could be so cute ? ! Reagan (trained by the Stars & Stripes therapy dog group) is sending heartfelt wishes to everyone for a fabulous 4th of July!

We commend the remarkable courage of our law enforcement community and honor the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their fellow Americans.

We're giving heart filled gratitude to the nursing team at First Responder Wellness - and to all of the caregivers and frontline workers across the nation. Your compassion, optimism and kindness is appreciated everyday!

Register for courses that are led by our culturally competent trainers. You can visit our website to learn more about the training and certifications and qualifying credits (ICIS, POST, STC, etc.).

The Counseling Team International
https://rb.gy/lbdw1

You can also email [email protected] if you are interested in hosting training at your department.

Together we can continue to raise awareness and support. Thank you Shauna Sprinter for the great article about first responder mental wellness - read the full article at https://rb.gy/8k0x

Learn more about proactive and reactive behavioral health and resilience resources exclusively for public safety. Email: [email protected]

Developing an effective care plan for first responders’ mental wellness There are three common elements that can drive the best outcomes

Reagan is wishing everyone a Happy St. Pawtrick's Day! Hoping your day is filled with things that bring you joy!

Thank you Henderson Firefighters Benevolent Association and Henderson Fire Department for a great golf tournament. It is honor to be part of your event to provide charitable assistance to your community.

Thank you International Association of Chiefs of Police for having Dr. Stephen Odom, Founder & Chief Clinical Officer, First Responder Wellness, and Andy McCurdy, Deputy Chief, Sumner WA Police Department at your 2023 Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium. They will be presenting Retire Well - - that will highlight strategies and provide tools for former officers to rediscover their identity, purpose, security, and acceptance upon retirement.

First Responder Wellness will also be exhibiting Booth #51.

We still have a few seats open for our Basic Peer Support 3-day course on March 13-15, 2023. This event will be held at the in Placerville, CA. This course is POST Plan IV, STC, and ICEMA certified.

Register at HTTPS://BIT.LY/3AJTG5U or email us at [email protected] to learn more.

Are you heading to Public Agency Risk Management Association - PARMA Annual Conference feeling overwhelmed with workers' compensation claims? Get a fresh take on proactive prevention at our panel discussion lead by Dr. Stephen Odom, Founder & Chief Clinical Officer, First Responder Wellness. Hope to see you in Sacramento!
Learn more about our programs. Website: firstresponder-wellness.com Email: [email protected]

We still have some spots open for our 3-day Basic Peer Support training on February 15-17, 2023 in Lake Forest, CA .POST Plan IV (7180 22650) STC (0874 047427) ICEMA (62 2032)

Go to: HTTPS://BIT.LY/3AJTG5U or visit thecounselingteam.com to learn more. Orange County Fire Authority

Thank you North Las Vegas Police Department, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Henderson Fire Department, Henderson Police Department, Clark County School Police, Las Vegas Department of Public Safety, Las Vegas NAMI and Local EMS for providing us the opportunity to meet with you in Las Vegas, NV. LVMPD Clark County Fire Department Henderson County Fire Dept

Thank you San Diego Sheriff for your continued support of programs to further strengthen well-minded leadership and resilience for public safety.

Great event in San Diego last night with Conrad Weaver, director and producer of PTSD911. Conrad has dedicated over three years of his life to tell the story of the heroes behind 911. Thank you also to San Diego Police Department and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department for your continued support in your departments to create cultures of wellness to uplift the whole health of responders and proactively address post-traumatic stress injury.

Thank you SoCal PARMA for the opportunity to be part of the speaker panel: The Tragically Common Pairing, Alcohol & PTSD and the Remarkable Will to Heal and Recover. Public Agency Risk Management Association - PARMA

We still have a few spots open for First Responder Spouses to register for our upcoming Sage Retreat. This 4-day retreat provides a safe space for connection, insight, education, self-awareness, and support as we explore the costs and rewards of being the spouse/partner of a First Responder. Enjoy the experience of walking a new path, exploring practices in self-care, compassion and setting goals to improve your life, your relationships, your marriage, and your family.

The Sage Retreat is held at Eagle Creek, which is our retreat center located among the San Jacinto Mountains in Idyllwild, California. This large property was originally a working horse ranch that has modern amenities, yet still has a rustic charm. Eagle Creek is nestled among majestic pines, hiking trails and natural wildlife habitats. Convenient travel by 2-hour drive from Orange County, or via the Palm Springs airport.

Learn more www.shiftwellness.com/sign-up or email our team at [email protected]