5 Things You Can Do To Support Firefighters

As the tragedy in the Back Bay of Boston has shown us, the brave men and women from all firehouses go into dangerous situations daily and sometimes give the ultimate sacrifice. When these tragedies occur, which includes the wildfires in Arizona last year, as well as many others, the community responds with great admiration and dedication through the sadness. But how can you support them year round? 1-Talk positively about them: When I hear residents of our country, as well as others, complain about firefighters, it makes me sick to my stomach. Sure, just like any other occupation, there are some "bad apples". Please do not spoil the whole bunch in your head. Most firefighters who don't see this work as a way of life are usually weeded out within the first years. Sometimes it makes the news, just like the tragedies, but how many successes are exposed? Not many. You'll see a dramatic rescue here or there, but their success rate is probably in the 99% range. Where is the talk about these accomplishments? Remember, what you don't hear about is because the men and women in firehouses are doing their job in an admirable and accomplished way. 2-Thank them...daily: these guys never ask for thanks, but they deserve them. They'll say it's nothing but it takes dedication and heart to do what they do. The ultimate sacrifice is one thing, but what about all other sacrifices they do regularly, including time with their family, friends, missing holidays (FYI...there is no holiday for these guys and gals), their sleep patterns, and also their willingness to answer all calls the exact same way: with enthusiasm and wanting to do the right thing. How many of us do this or know people in other fields that do this daily? 3-Make sure their budget is adequate: The firefighters have been one of the hardest hit professions in municipal, town, city, state, and federal budgets in the past 10 years. When these cuts occur, this stresses a system that has already been pretty stretched. We take their willingness to do what they do for granted and that they'll "deal with it". And they do, but at what price? Longer shifts, less firefighters to do the same job. Do not take these cuts lightly. They are cuts that we should all fight for the essential services they provide. 4-Join a Critical Incident Stress Management or any debriefing team: The firefighters will always count on their brothers and sisters for support but we can make a difference. These debriefing teams can and will support firefighters in their time of need and help them get through these difficult times. This last tragedy happened in Boston but it affected many (if not all) firehouses in this country. Joining these teams is helpful, as they will train you on how to support them in time of crisis and help them cope with these losses. For more info: http://icisf.org/ or http://cisresponse.com/ 5-Give to memorial funds: For this latest tragedy, a Lieutenant Walsh - Firefighter Kennedy Memorial Fund has been created at https://www.bosfirecu.com/ and I encourage everyone to give a few dollars for their kids and families. They took care of us when we needed them, let's take care of them after their sacrifices. Other funds (including for the Arizona firefighters) can be found at http://firehero.org/yarnellhill/. Giving generously to funds may seem simple but it means so much to the families and the brotherhood of firefighters. It is important to think of the financial stress this can put on families. 5 ways, which one(s) will you choose?