​Why Patroller Wellness? And What Is It?

Patrollers are not all the same or have the same background
  • How individuals respond to a traumatic incident can be different.
  • First time exposed.
  • Previous personal traumatic experience.
  • Repeated exposure to traumatic incidents
  • If their own life was threatened
 
Stress Injury Risk for Patrollers
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Helping to keep people safe in the outdoors is what we do. Helping to keep ourselves safe - physically, mentally and emotionally - is what we must do.

Think about our patrollers who has not seen a bad call or have been on that call and may not be ok after it.

Northern Division is dedicated to;
  • 1. Develop an awareness of Patroller Stress Injury.
  • 2. Eliminate the stigma related to stress injury.
  • 3. Prioritize patroller wellness and safety.
  • 4. Encourage and support local patrols to develop their own program in Patroller Wellness.

Peer Support

"A critical incident is any event or experience, usually unexpected which has the power to overwhelm the defenses of an individual."

It is not uncommon for people to experience some distress in response to a traumatic event, even when these events are faced routinely.

Peer support programs have been implemented to address stress and psychological trauma among law-enforcement personnel and firefighters as well as emergency medical responders. 

Peer support can take many shapes, with the informal ones happening spontaneously and naturally, especially when people witness one another in difficult moments and do their best to offer some comfort, and the more formal ones in organizations and public services, for which peer supporters may need a special certification and training.  

Common Reactions to Stress
  • Emotional numbing — Many distance themselves from the incident and make an effort not to feel anything. They almost deny having an emotional component, and therefore give the appearance that they are in a state of shock. They usually say, however, that they are in control and are having no problems dealing with the situation.
  • Isolation — They experience the feeling of being alone and that no one else knows what they are going through. They may experience irritability and agitation, and may again deny that anything is wrong.
  • Intrusive thoughts/flashbacks — They will relive the event in their mind: over and over again. If it continues, they begin to wonder or question whether they have complete control of their thoughts. This can change their final outlook, for better or worse.
  • Sleep disturbances — Disturbances, which can result from a traumatic incident, include inability to sleep, nightmares, and waking in a cold sweat. In the nightmares, the theme is fear or guilt. Guilt is common in 95% of traumatic incidents to varying degrees. This guilt can be translated into anger or depression.
  • Anxiety and fear — The fear most commonly felt is that of returning to the exact job duties as before, i.e. returning to routine duty.
  • Loss of interest/burnout — Loss of interest in work is difficulty in returning to it. Mundane activities suddenly become boring.
  • Re-consideration — Re-evaluation of each person’s value system, goals and status is often the final step which determines the person’s abilities to cope and how they will continue their future activities. Some consider giving up their current careers. They may also re-evaluate their personal relationship situations. Some make a stronger commitment and others exit the relationship.
 
Just asking if they are ok might not be enough. This is why the peer support team or person follows up.
 
Patroller Stories

​The following are first hand events written by your fellow patrollers, and how they handled the stress of an incident.
Click on the blue and open hyperlink

 
Patroller Wellness Resources:
​For more information, and additional resources, contact Jeff Azure.

Also, download the document below for presentation information regarding patroller wellness.
patroller_wellness_division.pptx
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File Type: pptx
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