Jeffrey Mitchell, a volunteer firefighter in the suburbs of Baltimore, came across the accident by chance: A car had smashed into a pickup truck loaded with metal pipes. Mitchell tried to help, but he saw at once that he was too late.

The car had rear-ended the truck at high speed, sending a pipe through the windshield and into the chest of the passenger—a young bride returning home from her wedding. There was blood everywhere, staining her white dress crimson.

Mitchell couldn’t get the dead woman out of his mind; the tableau was stuck before his eyes. He tried to tough it out, but after months of suffering, he couldn’t take it anymore. He finally told his brother, a fellow firefighter, about it.

Miraculously, that worked. No more trauma; Mitchell felt free. This dramatic recovery, along with the experiences of fellow first responders, led Mitchell to do some research into recovery from trauma. He eventually concluded that he had stumbled upon a powerful treatment. In 1983, nearly a decade after the car accident, Mitchell wrote an influential paper in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services that transformed his experience into a seven-step practice, which he called critical incident stress debriefing, or CISD. The central idea: People who survive a painful event should express their feelings soon after so the memory isn’t “sealed over” and repressed, which could lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.

In recent years, CISD has become exceedingly popular, used by the US Department of Defense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Israeli army, the United Nations, and the American Red Cross. Each year, more than 30,000 people are trained in the technique. (After the September 11 attacks, 2,000 facilitators descended on New York City.)

Even though PTSD is triggered by a stressful incident, it is really a disease of memory. The problem isn’t the trauma—it’s that the trauma can’t be forgotten. Most memories, and their associated emotions, fade with time. But PTSD memories remain horribly intense, bleeding into the present and ruining the future. So, in theory, the act of sharing those memories is an act of forgetting them.

Read the full article on Wired.com.

Via Officer.com

The newly reopened September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of $2.8 billion started taking applications Monday.

The fund is intended to help people who became ill after working at ground zero and others whose sicknesses can be tied to the site. Residents, workers and others can apply, including those whose claims to the first fund were denied.

“Everybody who is eligible should apply for this,” said John Feal, a leading advocate for injured first responders.

The deadline for applying for help is Oct. 3, 2013, or two years from the time a person learns that a physical injury or sickness resulted from exposure to ground zero. The program will run for six years.

Congress established the fund after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It operated for two years, giving $6 billion to victims’ families and $1 billion to the injured. Last year, Congress passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to reopen the fund and provide additional help to people affected by the disaster and its aftermath.

The new federal law allocated $2.8 billion for compensation and $1.5 billion for medical monitoring and care.

Many illnesses common among people exposed to the site are presumed covered by the fund, such as lung disease and chronic sinusitis. But it won’t cover cancer, despite the protests of first responders who have been diagnosed with the disease and believe it’s linked to their time clearing smoldering debris from the site.

Federal officials say too little scientific evidence exists linking cancer to exposure to ground zero. Next year, officials plan to review which illnesses should be covered.

Read the full article on Officer.com.

Read more about the Victim Compensation Fund on their newly launched website.

You can also find more information on the USDOJ site.

This Sunday marks ten years since 9/11.

It’s a time for remembrance. Nearly 3,000 people were murdered. Each loss creates an unfillable void for family, friends, our fire service and first responder community, and the nation.

It’s a time for reflection. Right after 9/11, as a country, we stood as one. That sense of oneness has looked and felt increasingly fragile over the past two years of economic and political turmoil in our country.

It’s a time for renewed solidarity: to recommit ourselves to a belief in that oneness that we felt so strongly 10 years ago. The challenges we face in each of our communities and in the nation can only be solved through believing in oneness not divisiveness. Divisiveness is what our enemies hope for.

We must also recommit ourselves to the defense of our country – and to its core values. On 9/11, we were attacked by radical Islamist forces not for a specific policy, but for who we are. Remember: in 1993, under a different president from a different party, there was another deadly terror attack on the Twin Towers. It’s America – and what we stand for – that’s the target.

I thank each of our first responders for putting your lives on the line daily to keep our families and communities safe. I hope our nation never experiences anything like 9/11 again, but if we do, know that we as a company are doing everything we can to keep you safe and ready to respond to whatever challenge you face.

Stay Safe.

Jacob Javits Convention Center (No Sport will begin before 2pm)

• Air Rifle: Rescheduled from Saturday to Monday 8/29 at 2pm.
• Badminton: Moved to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
• Basketball (5×5): 2pm START. Please check the website and email for updated schedule
• Bench Press: Meeting at 4pm in Room 1E-09 (Combat Room) on the Lower Level. Competition to start on Tuesday
• Body Building: THE EVENT HAS BEEN REVIVED. We will start with weigh-ins at 2pm. Athletes should check into the Body Building room at the back, right corner of the Athletes Village.
• Boxing: 2pm Weigh-ins and 4pm Athletes Clinic and Competitors Meeting in the Special Events Hall (Heroes Hall).
• Darts: 2pm start in the Special Events Hall (Heroes Hall).
• Judo: There will be a Judo meeting at 1pm to decide the future of Judo. Please be there. The meeting will be held in 1E-02
• Orienteering: Rescheduled to Thursday 9/1. Check the website for details
• Rowing – Indoor: Check-in and weigh-in at 3pm. Competition starts at 4pm
• Road Race: We are making an attempt to reschedule for Friday 9/2, however, this will not be a ½ Marathon, more likely to be a 10K
• Soccer – Indoor: Captain’s Meeting at 1pm on the court. Competition begins at 2pm
• Stair Climb: Tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 3rd.
• Table Tennis: 2pm Start
• Taekwondo: Weigh-in Monday, 8/29 at 5pm. Competition rescheduled from Sunday to Tuesday 8/30.
• Volleyball – Indoor: 2pm Start
• Wrestling: Weigh-in at 5pm in the Combat Arena on the court. Competition starts on Tuesday at 8am.

Randall’s Island Sports (All Team Sports will begin play on MONDAY, 8/29)

• Rugby: All Teams need to be at the field for a meeting at 1000 hours. Hong Kong format round robin tournament – Field 74 & 75
• Soccer: Games begin at 12 noon. Schedule is posted on the web.
• Softball: HAS BEEN MOVED TO MITCHEL FIELD AND EISENHOWER PARK – See Below
• Tennis: Moved to a Tuesday start – Please check USTA website and enter 100023511
• Track & Field: Starts at 12 noon with the exception of Decathlon which has been cancelled. The updated schedule can be downloaded here.
• Ultimate Firefighter: Individual Competition has been moved to Tuesday and Wednesday. Team event is on hold pending venue availability for Thursday.

TRI-State Sports (All Sports located outside of JJCC or Randalls Island)

• Angling Salt Water: Moved to Thursday 9/1 – same details as original confirmation letter
• Archery Field: As per original schedule – no changes – The 3D Competition originally scheduled for Sunday has been moved to Tuesday 8/30
• Baseball: Start time has been moved to 12 noon due to field repairs. Check-in at 11am
• Cycling: All cycling events are being rescheduled to try to fit as many of the original competitions as possible into the remaining days. Please continue to check the website for updates.
• Golf: There is no Golf on Monday. Schedule is posted for Tues, Wed, and Thurs on website
• Handball (1-Wall): Moved to Tuesday, 8/30 and Wednesday, 8/31
• Ice Hockey: All Hockey information can be obtained atwww.wpfgnyhockey.com – SPECIAL ADVISORY – THERE WILL BE NO HOCKEY PLAYED AT HACKENSACK TOMORROW DUE TO A POWER OUTAGE
• Lawn Bowls: Moved to Wed 8/31, Thurs 9/1, and Fri 9/2
• Paintball: Moved to Tuesday 8/30
• PAP: Postponed because Range is flooded. We are trying for Tuesday, 8/30
• Pocket Billiards: Day 1 as per original schedule
• Police Service Dogs: Day 1 (General Competition) CANCELLED
• Racquetball: Moved to Tuesday and Wednesday 8/30 and 8/31
• Rifle- Small Bore: No Competition on Monday. May have a new venue for Tuesday, 8/30. Please check for updated information.
• Sailing: Rescheduled for Tuesday, 8/30 and Wednesday, 8/31 pending approval of Merchant Marine Academy and weather permitting
• Softball: Men’s Open – Moved to Mitchel Field – See Sport link for directions. Will be held Tues, Wed, Thurs 8/31 – 9/1
• Softball: Senior Men’s – Moved to Tuesday and Wednesday
• Softball: Women’s – Will be compressed to a 1-day tournament held in Eisenhower Park on Tuesday 8/30. Check Sport link for directions and details – Finals will be played at Mitchel Field.
• Squash: Begins on MONDAY 8/29 at 12pm. Will be compressed to a 2-day tournament. Download the latest info here: Schedule and Drawsheets.
• Swimming: Condensed to a 2-day competition on Tuesday and Wednesday at Lehman College. Check-in at 7am
• Tennis at Mill Pond Park: Moved to Tuesday. Check USTA Website.
• Trap: As per original schedule

Meeting schedule for Monday, 8/29 – All Meetings to be held in 1E02 (Lower Level)

• Judo – 1pm
• Flag Football – 3pm
• Lacrosse – 4pm
• Dodgeball – 5pm
• Muster – 7pm
• Indoor Soccer on the courts at 1pm

About the World Police & Fire Games:

Every two years, the World Police & Fire Games bring over 15,000 athletes to one city, and to celebrate the fellowship of sport. These Games have a 25 year history and New York City will be host of the 14th running of the Games.

The World Police & Fire Games Expo is being coordinated around this event to provide your company the outstanding opportunity to present your product or service to the vast array of Fire and Police professionals who have made their way to New York for this exciting event.

From Firefighters and Police Officers to senior leadership, the Games draw interested participants from across the spectrum of the organizations’ structure. Further, with athletes from 70 different countries all coming to New York, the WPFG Expo dramatically increases your exposure to new and untapped markets.

Whether it be recent events such as potential backlash from the death of Osama bin Laden, a high-profile sporting event, dignitary visit or an unknown chemical threat, it is critical that today’s first responders are ready to respond when duty calls.

Key criteria in being ready? Being properly trained and having the right equipment to do what the mission is asking of you.

Check out this short video clip from KSTP Channel 5 Eyewitness News out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area talking to the WMD team from Hennepin County, Minn., who has recently upgraded its CBRN protective ensembles from 1980s charcoal technology to the LION MT94 CBRN ensemble to ensure its responders are ready for action.

May 1-7 marks this year’s Arson Awareness Week. The theme “Working Together to Extinguish Serial Arson” focuses the public attention on the value of a collaborative effort with law enforcement, fire and emergency service departments, and the community to battle serial arsonists.

The goal for this year’s Arson Awareness Week (AAW) is to focus attention on serial arsonists and provide law enforcement, the fire service, and communities with tools and tactics to battle arson in their cities and towns. The USFA is partnering with the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); USAonWatch; National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM); National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC); and the Insurance Committee for Arson Control (ICAC).

Click here to find out more information including training material, how to establish a community arson watch program and more!

By Duane Wolfe

Here are five tips from PoliceOne for shift workers looking to improve their sleeping habits:

1. Make it Dark — The darker the room you sleep in, it the better you will sleep, so darken the windows. Light helps keep you awake — that’s why you seem to perk up when the sun starts coming over the horizon. An old trick I learned in the service was putting aluminum foil over the windows. If you or the chief interior designer isn’t keen about putting aluminum foil over the windows, buy a sleep mask. I know it’s not the most macho piece of equipment, but it works.
2. Try Melatonin — Take the recommended dosage of Melatonin before you lay down to sleep. It helps get you to sleep.
3. Watch the Caffeine — Caffeine is a two-edged sword. If you drink it only when you need it to stay awake you’ll require less than the officer who drinks it all the time. Stop drinking it two hours prior to when you want to go to bed. That way it isn’t keeping you from sleeping. Be cautious of where you get your caffeine. Sugar-laden drinks have their own drawbacks, including packing on all those pounds we don’t want.
4. Eliminate Noise — Buy a pair of ear plugs. If you don’t like the idea of not being able to hear while you’re asleep, buy a large fan or a white noise machine to help block out noises that might disturb you.
5. Suggest Changes — If you’re truly stuck with shifts like the one I had, gather documentation and studies to show ‘the powers that be’ that the shift you are working is detrimental to your health and safety (you might add that tired cranky cops get more citizen complaints than well rested officers!).

Read the rest of the article on PoliceOne.com.

One word comes to mind whenever I think about people in the middle years of their careers and that word is “complacent.” In most professions, complacency simply gets you downsized; in firefighting it gets you dead.

The Trouble with Age

You’ve worked your tail off for quite a few years, you’ve paid your dues and now you are a veteran. You feel that you’ve earned some respect and some perks as well. Longevity means something so long as you accomplished something during those years, simply getting by and putting in your time isn’t supposed to be what it is all about. You are here to grow, learn, mentor and thrive not just make it through to retirement.

Too often the “old timers” forget that fires don’t care how long you’ve been a firefighter. Heart attacks and injuries don’t take into consideration that you only have 4 or 5 years to retirement. It’s too easy to “remember when” and forget to “remember how”.

Click here to read the entire article on Fire Link and find out what you need to do to reach optimal health.

From the Brain Injury Association of America

In recognition of March as Brain Injury Awareness Month and the Brain Injury Association’s ongoing commitment to sports and concussions, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and its nationwide network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates is continuing its nationwide education and advocacy campaign: “A concussion is a brain injury. Get the facts.” This year’s campaign launches in March with radio and print public service announcements, awareness proclamations and special events. A state advocacy effort to introduce legislation to train coaches and protect youth athletes will continue throughout the year along with ongoing nationwide education.

A concussion is a brain injury, period. BIAA believes coaches of every school athletic team and every extracurricular athletic activity should be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of brain injury, including concussions and second impact syndrome. BIAA also believes young athletes who appear to have sustained a concussion should have written authorization by a health care professional before returning to play.

A concussion is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head, or from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth. Most concussions occur without a loss of consciousness and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a lack of proper diagnosis and management of concussion may result in a serious long-term consequences, or risk of coma or death. Signs and symptoms may be noticeable immediately, or it may take days or weeks before they are present.

According to the CDC, an estimated 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. Of that number, U.S. emergency departments treat approximately 135,000 sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions, among children ages 5 to 18.

To learn more about these initiatives or to learn more about awareness and advocacy events taking place in your state during the month of March and throughout the year and how you can get involved, contact your chartered state affiliate today. For more information on media materials contact the Director of Affiliate Services by e-mail or phone at 703-761-0750, ext. 622.

Know these brain injury warning signs:

• Numbness
• Excessive drowsiness
• Severe Headache
• Weakness in your arms or legs
• Dizziness or loss of vision
• Slurred speech
• Loss of consciousness or confusion
• Vomiting or nausea

For more information, please visit the Brain Injury Association of America’s homepage.

Source: John Giles/Guardian UK

By David McRaney
for the blog You Are Not So Smart

Do you think you’re capable of goading someone on a ledge to jump, all the while taking pictures and tweeting about it? You might think you’d never do such a thing — but as this blog entry points out, you are not so smart.

The Misconception: People who riot and loot are scum who were just looking for an excuse to steal and be violent.

The Truth: You are are prone to losing your individuality and becoming absorbed into a hivemind under the right conditions.

In San Francisco, in 2010, a man stepped onto the ledge of his apartment window and contemplated dropping from the building. A crowd gathered below and soon started yelling for him to jump. They even tweeted about it. He died on impact fifteen minutes later.

“i was there and im traumatized. the guys next to me were laughing telling him to jump and videotaping the whole thing. i’m still young and in high school and this is gunna stick with me for the rest of my life. there was a total lack of respect for the poor man and people were laughing when he jumped.”
- comment left at the SF Examiner

Police and firefighters are well aware of this tendency for crowds to gather and taunt, and this is why they tape off potential suicide scenes and get the crowd out of shouting distance. The risk of a spontaneous cheering section goading a person into killing themselves is high when people in a group feel anonymous and are annoyed or angry. It only takes one person to get the crowd going. Those are the three ingredients – anonymity, group size and arousal. If you lose your sense of self, feel the power of a crowd and then get slammed by a powerful cue from the environment – your individuality may evaporate.

To read more about the fascinating — and terrifying — phenomenon of deindividuation, click here.

There are a number of other hive-mind situations described in the article that have interesting implications for first responders. Have you ever responded to a “jumper” scenario? Did the crowd react similarly to those described in the entry?