scholarly journals COVID-19 symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity in a large survey of first responders and healthcare personnel, May-July 2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara J Akinbami ◽  
Lyle R Petersen ◽  
Samira Sami ◽  
Nga Vuong ◽  
Susan L Lukacs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
First Responders ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Antibody Positivity ◽  
Large Survey

Abstract A SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey among first responder/healthcare personnel showed that loss of taste/smell was most predictive of seropositivity; percent seropositivity increased with number of COVID-19 symptoms. However, 22.9% with nine symptoms were seronegative, and 8.3% with no symptoms were seropositive. These findings demonstrate limitations of symptom-based surveillance and importance of testing.

Supporting the Mental Health and Well-Being of First Responders from Career to Retirement: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Erin Smith ◽  
Greg Dean ◽  
Lisa Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Holistic Approaches ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Introduction: First responders are at greater risk of mental ill health and compromised well-being compared to the general population. It is important to identify strategies that will be effective in supporting mental health, both during and after the first responder’s career. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the PubMed database (1966 to October 1, 2020) and the Google Scholar database (October 1, 2020) using relevant search terms, truncation symbols, and Boolean combination functions. The reference lists of all relevant publications were also reviewed to identify further publications. Results: A total of 172 publications were retrieved by the combined search strategies. Of these, 56 met the inclusion criteria and informed the results of this overview paper. These publications identified that strategies supporting first responder mental health and well-being need to break down stigma and build resilience. Normalizing conversations around mental health is integral for increasing help-seeking behaviors, both during a first responder’s career and in retirement. Organizations should consider the implementation of both pre-retirement and post-retirement support strategies to improve mental health and well-being. Conclusion: Strategies for supporting mental health and well-being need to be implemented early in the first responder career and reinforced throughout and into retirement. They should utilize holistic approaches which encourage “reaching in” rather than placing an onus on first responders to “reach out” when they are in crisis.

Posttraumatic Stress and Alcohol Use Among First Responders

2020 ◽  
pp. 32-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia J Smith ◽  
Maya Zegel ◽  
Brooke A. Bartlett ◽  
Antoine Lebeaut ◽  
Anka A Vujanovic
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Empirical Foundation ◽  
Research Domain

Developing research suggests that the co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a significant clinical concern across first responder populations. This comorbidity is difficult to treat and marked by a more costly, complex, and chronic clinical course when compared to either disorder alone. Significant associations between PTSD/AUD comorbidity and various psychological, behavioral, and physical health outcomes among first responder samples have been documented. This chapter provides a theoretical framework and empirical review of the literature relevant to PTSD/AUD in the context of firefighter, police, and other first responder populations (e.g., emergency medical technicians). Future directions, utilizing varied methodologies and assessment tools, and focusing upon varied first responder populations are enumerated to build upon this preliminary, yet clinically meaningful, empirical foundation. This research domain has great potential to inform specialized, evidence-based clinical care for first responders.

Trained Lay First Responders Reduce Trauma Mortality: A Controlled Study of Rural Trauma in Iraq

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 533-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mudhafar Karim Murad ◽  
Hans Husum
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Trauma System ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Trauma Outcomes ◽  
Randomized Clinical Study ◽  
Transit Times

AbstractIntroduction:Recent studies demonstrate that early, in-field, basic life support by paramedics improves trauma survival where prehospital transport times are long. So far, no case-control studies of the effect of layperson trauma first responders have been reported. It was hypothesized that trained layperson first responders improve trauma outcomes where prehospital transit times are long.Methods:A rural prehospital trauma system was established in the mine and war zones in Iraq, consisting of 135 paramedics and 7,000 layperson trauma first responders in the villages. In a non-randomized clinical study, the outcomes of patients initially managed in-field by first-responders were compared to patients not receiving first-responder support.Results:The mortality rate was significantly lower among patients initially managed in-field by first responders (n = 325) compared to patients without first-responder support (n = 1,016), 9.8% versus 15.6%, 95% CI = 1.3−10.0%.Conclusions:Trained layperson first responders improve trauma outcomes where prehospital evacuation times are long. This finding demonstrates that simple interventions done early—by any type of trained care provider—are crucial for trauma survival. Where the prevalence of severe trauma is high, trauma first-responders should be an integral element of the trauma system.

Narrative Therapy to Address Trauma for Emergency Medical Services and Firefighters

2020 ◽  
pp. 243-257
Author(s):  
Amanda C. DeDiego ◽  
Isabel C. Farrell ◽  
Andrea M. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Narrative Therapy ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Peer Perception

First responders, including Emergency Medical Services personnel and firefighters, support community members in times of crisis. When responding to emergencies, first responders often experience both direct and vicarious trauma. Over time, the pace and intensity of a career as a first responder leads to poor health habits and high risk for mental health issues including posttraumatic stress disorder. Due to concern about peer perception and mental health stigma, these professionals are less likely to seek mental health supports to manage and process trauma. This chapter explores Narrative Therapy as an ideal option for mental health treatment of first responder trauma, providing a collaborative approach to therapy using the natural coping strategy of storytelling.

Narrative Therapy to Address Trauma for Emergency Medical Services and Firefighters

2021 ◽  
pp. 503-517
Author(s):  
Amanda C. DeDiego ◽  
Isabel C. Farrell ◽  
Andrea M. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Narrative Therapy ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Peer Perception

First responders, including Emergency Medical Services personnel and firefighters, support community members in times of crisis. When responding to emergencies, first responders often experience both direct and vicarious trauma. Over time, the pace and intensity of a career as a first responder leads to poor health habits and high risk for mental health issues including posttraumatic stress disorder. Due to concern about peer perception and mental health stigma, these professionals are less likely to seek mental health supports to manage and process trauma. This chapter explores Narrative Therapy as an ideal option for mental health treatment of first responder trauma, providing a collaborative approach to therapy using the natural coping strategy of storytelling.

Violence Resembling Terrorism: Adaptive Challenges and Technical Problems in First Responder Collaboration

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (37) ◽  
pp. 94-122
Author(s):  
Tero Ihatsu
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
First Responders ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Adaptive Challenges ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Flexible Management ◽  
Technical Measures

In situations that involve violence resembling terrorism (VRT), flexible management and collaboration between authorities are the keys to successful operations. As previous researches have stated, poor communication and poor procedures are the main challenges. All challenges should be divided into adaptive challenges and technical problems, in order to gradually help the first responders to conquer them. If their differences are not recognised, first responders tend to try and solve adaptive challenges wrongly by using technical measures. In this paper, the selected incidents are examined through a multiple-case study. The findings are tied to Heifetz, Grashow, and Linsky’s model of adaptive challenges and technical problems. It is concluded that without adequate training and guidelines, first responders tend to maintain old practices, which can compromise the efficiency and safety of rescue operations.

Design, creation, and deployment of a sampling kit for hazardous material investigations

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Steven M. DeLisi, MS ◽  
Michael F. Martin ◽  
Timothy R. Croley, PhD
Keyword(s):  
First Responders ◽  
Environmental Crime ◽  
Federal Agencies ◽  
The State ◽  
Hazardous Material ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Legal Cases ◽  
Physical Evidence ◽  
Great Utility ◽  
Chain Of Custody

Response to a hazardous material (HAZMAT) incident and/or an environmental crime often involves a legal investigation. Our laboratory, in collaboration with a number of state, local, and federal agencies, developed and deployed a sampling kit designed specifically for first responders to expedite both collection and transportation of physical evidence to the state laboratory for identification, while maintaining chain of custody. These kits have been used for sampling and transport of samples for a number of legal cases and have shown great utility in and among our local first responder community.

scholarly journals The Power of Cross-Disciplinary Teams for Developing First Responder Training in TBI

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo L. Shackelford ◽  
Amy Cappiccie
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Training Curriculum ◽  
First Responder

Misunderstanding of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leaves first responders ill-equipped to handle encounters involving subjects with brain injury. This paper details a cross-disciplinary project to develop and disseminate a training curriculum designed to increase first responders’ knowledge of and skills with TBI survivors. The article aims to assist other professionals in understanding the process of working within a cross-disciplinary team to develop and disseminate a training curriculum. Lessons learned based on the development of such a curriculum for first responders working with persons with TBI will be valuable to training coordinators and serve as best practices for implementing similar training programs for specialized learner groups.

scholarly journals Third-Party Doctrine Principles and the Fourth Amendment: Challenges and Opportunities for First Responder Emergency Officials

Laws ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Klaus Schmidt ◽  
Katrin C. Varner ◽  
Agrey D. Chenga
Keyword(s):  
Fourth Amendment ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Third Party ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
The Third ◽  
Legal Implications ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
The Third Party ◽  
Practical Experiences

The unresolved issues between the Fourth Amendment and the third-party doctrine provide first responders with challenges in their approach to meet the needs of any emergency they may be called for. A first responder needs to provide help quickly, and often this does not leave much time to think about the legal implications of some of their actions. With the rise of the Internet, the challenges of terrorism, and WikiLeaks, first responders are no longer sheltered from the legal implications that the use of information from online and other secondary sources may have. Specifically, privacy concerns may be raised when first responders use social media either as a tool to gather information about evolving emergencies, or to engage in the process of monitoring those media to detect potential threats to the safety of the country and its citizens. This paper will address some challenges first responders face when considering the third-party doctrine principles and the Fourth Amendment in their rescue efforts. What are some liability and legal concerns in the context of what first responders encounter when responding to potential threats? The paper will also include a discussion of practical experiences with the Fourth Amendment and third-party doctrine principles and explore liability issues related to first responders’ use of information.

scholarly journals Adherence to Psychological First Aid after Exposure to a Traumatic Event at Work among EMS Workers: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11026
Author(s):  
Marine Tessier ◽  
Josianne Lamothe ◽  
Steve Geoffrion
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Support ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
First Responders ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Stress Reactions ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
First Responder ◽  
Psychological First Aid ◽  
Peer Helpers

Managing post-traumatic stress reactions in the first few days after exposure to a potentially traumatic event in the course of one’s work remains a challenge for first responder organizations such as Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence-informed approach to reducing initial distress and promoting short- and long-term coping strategies among staff in the aftermath of exposure. PFA provided by peer helpers is considered a promising solution for first responder organizations. Unfortunately, first responders may encounter stigma and barriers to mental health care. Therefore, a deeper investigation is needed regarding adherence over time to implemented PFA intervention. The purpose of this study is to qualitatively explore factors that influence adherence to PFA intervention of recipients and peer helpers. EMS workers (n = 11), working as PFA peer helpers for one year, participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis; intercoder reliability (κ = 0.91) was also used. Researchers identified four themes and 11 subthemes influencing adherence to PFA intervention: (1) individual perceptions and attitudes of peer helpers and recipients about pfa intervention; (2) perceived impacts on peer helpers and recipients; (3) organizational support to pfa intervention; and (4) congruence with the occupational culture. Study findings herein suggest that it is conceivable to act on various factors to improve adherence to PFA intervention among peer helpers and recipients within EMS organization. This could lead to enhanced understanding of the challenges involved in sustaining a peer led PFA program for first responders.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document