by Sam DiGiovanna
On a “normal” day, firefighters, law enforcement officers
and correctional personnel are exposed to more potentially traumatic events
than the average person. In the past decade or so, public safety agencies have
begun to confront this reality, acknowledging that many first responders will
experience post-traumatic stress during their careers. For some, this stress
will become even more problematic, developing into post-traumatic stress
disorder if left untreated.
Because many of the factors that cause critical stress for
first responders are out of our control, we mostly focus on mitigation of
stress after the fact: teaching personnel to recognize the signs and symptoms
of post-traumatic stress and providing access to resources and counseling to
help personnel cope after tragic calls or life-threatening events. More
recently, some public safety agencies have begun to focus on helping personnel
develop resiliency, but for the most part our strategies are largely reactive.
Now, into the midst of this comes COVID-19. At first, you
might not think a virus could have the same impact as a fire in which several
small children die or an incident in which an assailant shoots at you in a dark
alley. But studies following the 2003 SARS outbreak showed that hospital employees
and those in
self-quarantine experienced post-traumatic stress. Some experts are bracing
for similar impact from COVID-19.
In part, this is because PTSD doesn’t require a person to
experience an injury, incident or physical attack directly. Following the
Vietnam war, September 11, the Boston bombing, the Columbine school shooting,
the Las Vegas shooting and other similar events, some people experienced
post-traumatic stress even though they were not present at the events or
directly endangered by them.
COVID-19 is no different. Because it is an invisible threat,
we must remain on heightened alert, without knowing whether we’re safe or being
exposed. For some of us, this constant state of alert will have a profound
mental impact.
Others, of course, will shrug it off—which underscores the
second major factor to remember about post-traumatic stress: There is no “one
size fits all.” A motor vehicle accident involving multiple fatalities may hit
one firefighter hard while another gives the incident no additional thought.
One correctional officer may appear oblivious to the constant harassment from
inmates while another breaks down.
It’s not just fear of catching the virus that can lead to
COVID-19-related critical stress. First responders must also cope with:
- Isolation. Some on the front lines have chosen to completely
isolate themselves from family and friends due to the heightened risk they
have for transmitting the virus. Those who don’t take such drastic
measures still must confront the fear family members have of them. Even
our places of work can become stressful as the bonds of brotherhood must
now conform to social distancing guidelines.
- Inability to help like we used to. We went into public
safety because we like to help people in need. COVID-19 threatens that.
Even as we respond to medical calls, traffic accidents and domestic
violence incidents, we must be careful to limit exposure, keep our
distance and preserve PPE. Where we previously relied on a kind word and a
gentle touch to connect and calm, now we may find ourselves standing to
the side, 6 feet away, feeling ineffective and emotionally distant.
- Employment uncertainty. With so many businesses
shuttered, sales tax is impacted. When sales tax plummets, it impacts the
revenue for municipal services. Public safety leaders are sounding the
call that many officers and firefighters will need to be laid off if our
elected leaders don’t take steps to protect jobs.
- Loss of retirement savings. As the market plummets,
so do our retirement savings. And with the total economic impact far from
clear, it’s possible pensions could even be at risk. If you’ve worked hard
for many years and envisioned a certain type of retirement, having those
goals jeopardized can cause considerable anxiety.
How do you increase your chances of getting through the
pandemic without developing post-traumatic stress disorder? By far the best
thing is to monitor yourself and ask for help early. Maintain activities that
help you manage stress, such as exercise, quiet time and exposure to the
outdoors. If you notice these activities aren’t providing the usual relief, or
if you feel you can’t escape the anxious thoughts, it’s time to reach for
support.
Remember, post-traumatic stress is an injury, not a life
sentence. Like any wound—physical or emotional—you can recover from the
injuries. Together, we will get through this!
Sam DiGiovanna is a 35 year Fire Service veteran. He started
with Los Angeles County Fire Dept. served as Fire Chief for the City of
Monrovia and now is the Fire Chief at the Verdugo Fire Academy in Glendale
Ca. He is also VP of Fire Operations at Cordico www.Cordico.com