Today, we're discussing the many career-building benefits of becoming a volunteer firefighter.

As a volunteer firefighter, you'll have the opportunity to develop your leadership style and improve your ability to manage teams and projects effectively.

 Boost your confidence and self-esteem.

While the primary focus of this article is on the career-building benefits of being a volunteer firefighter, it's also essential to recognize the positive impact you can have on your community.

Becoming a volunteer firefighter offers numerous career-building benefits while also allowing you to make a meaningful difference in your community.

Dave Connor is a retired career command fire chief with an OSI. He developed this piece to help rookies on their first day at the job or location, particularly if they are first responders. It includes tips such as listening for the sound of the tires when arriving at work, setting high expectations, being reliable, exercising, managing stress, and being grateful for the good days and the bad days. It also emphasizes that 40% of people have mental health concerns and that everyone is on their own journey. Be a positive, healthy presence in a group, such as by being patient with people who are struggling to communicate, being supportive of senior members of the team, picking up packaging from medical supplies, turning off the stovetop and making sure there's water in the dog bowl, and following training and protocols.

It is their story, not yours, and it is their outcome. We often personalize incidents as if we had control over them, but this is unhealthy magical thinking. To be responsible, ask yourself if you followed your training and were a positive presence. Do a quick box breath before going inside, hold your head still, and move your eyes to the 3 o'clock position to reset the vagus nerve. Listen for the chunk" sound when leaving the property to remind yourself that work is behind you and life is in front.

AI-powered mental health support may offer easy and accessible tools, but staff may not trust it due to concerns about data privacy and emotional intelligence. An alternative is to establish an internal peer support team that is independent of management and labor, which offers various advantages such as mutual aid, unique viewpoints, and employee confidence. Participating in a peer support team can promote a more psychologically safe and supportive workplace by encouraging greater transparency and honesty regarding mental health difficulties. Additionally, it can boost employee morale and empower them to take an active part in their own and their colleagues' well-being. This can result in higher program involvement and investment, as well as increased job commitment and motivation.

References:

• Glisson, C., & James, L. R. (2002). The effects of organizational climate on the implementation and effectiveness of a peer support program. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 29(5), 341-357.
• Salgado, J. F., & Cooper, C. L. (1997). The effectiveness of peer support in the workplace. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2(1), 97-110.

RED Friday Audio Tools Demo

Red Friday is an organization that supports veterans, first responders, long-serving members, and anyone else who has an interest in mental health. It helps recruit and retain volunteers through peer support and teaching leadership. Dave Connor is the Director of Programming and has expertise in leadership and peer support. It is important to consult with organizations to set up an internal peer support team and understand the public safety sector. It is best to talk to the people you're thinking about training with before posting a job.

People need to have an idea of the commitment and expectation, and be able to keep things private. Screening of applicants is important to ensure resilience and positive trauma relationships. Benefits can be seen in increased sick leave and benefits use. Anti-stigma programs can help reduce presenteeism and stigmatizing conduct in the workplace. Screening people and setting expectations are important steps in forming a team.

We need to ensure that those who are ill get the care they need to heal injured people. Trustworthiness and active listening skills are essential for successful peer support trainings, as they can help people avoid re-traumatizing themselves. People need to be in the scar phase to be able to help, and they need to be willing to work on their listening skills. Peer support teams are developed to respond to critical incidents in the workplace, such as a VSA of a child or a crib death. However, they also work on chronic issues such as failing marriages, substance issues, and performance issues.