The Responder the SKY SEEMS to GO on FOREVER

Spring/Summer 2018 ResponderTHE WESTERN CANADA’S FIRE CHIEFS

JAMES HARGRAVE A HEART AS BIG AS THE RANCH HE LIVED ON

New Volunteer Service Available To Emergency Services In Saskatchewan 5,000 People On 5,000,000 Acres Sprinklers For Structure Protection From Wildfires Spring/Summer 2018 | 1 THE SKY SEEMS TO GO ON FOREVER. By Fire Chief Kelly Meyer

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2 | The Responder THE SKY SEEMS TO GO ON FOREVER. By Fire Chief Kelly Meyer

ResponderTHE WESTERN CANADA’S FIRE CHIEFS CONTENTS

The Responder is the official publication of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association and the 4 From The Publisher Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs. The magazine is published twice a year. ■ AFCA, SAFC, AND PROVINCIAL NEWS The publication is distributed free of charge to 5 From The SAFC emergency services personnel throughout Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. In 6 Saskatchewan Conference addition, The Responder is distributed to urban and rural municipalities, industry partners and other ■ FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION organizations with an interest in fire and related emergency services. 7 A Heart As Big As The Ranch He Lived On

Publication Mail Agreement: 40065432 10 New Volunteer Service Available To Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Emergency Services In Saskatchewan

The Responder 12 It’s All About Volunteers #2 51221 Range Rd 265 Spruce Grove, Alberta 14 The Sky Seems To Go On Forever Canada T7Y 1E7 16 5,000 People On 5,000,000 Acres Phone: 1.780.953.0111 Email: [email protected] ■ FIRE INDUSTRY NEWS

Publisher/Editor 19 Struts 101: The Evolution Of The Vehicle Brian Stecyk Rescue Strut Email: [email protected] 24 Sprinklers For Structure Protection Advertising Executive From Wildfires Lance Gore ■ HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE Email: [email protected] 28 Use Caution When Hiring A Counsellor For Creative Director Your Organization Margaret Horton Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2018, AFCA and SAFC. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means in whole or in Cover Photo: James Hargrave photo provided by Liz Hargrave part without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Spring/Summer 2018 | 3 FROM THE PUBLISHER

designed equipment for wildland fires, and as always lots of enthusiasm. I am sure the Alberta conference and trade show will be no different.

I often think about the volunteer firefighter—an ordinary person doing extraordinary things. The tragic loss of firefighter James Hargrave in the line of duty puts it in focus for all of us. The service, effort and dedication of firefighters is too often taken for granted, overlooked and underappreciated by all those except fellow first responders. I continually try to be an ambassador to spread the word about volunteer firefighters’ contributions to our communities. In my view we all have to do it—not by talking about ourselves but by recognizing others and It was great to spend time at the Saskatchewan their contribution. Association of Fire Chiefs Conference. Regardless of the provincial venue, I am always impressed with the Brian Stecyk changing technology displayed by the firms attending Publisher/Editor the trade show. Regina was no exception—new ways of teaching with virtual reality; amphibious rescue; newly

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4 | The Responder AFCA, SAFC, AND PROVINCIAL NEWS

FROM THE SAFC

We are finally putting the snow shovels away and interesting activities. The conference theme itself was starting to enjoy a nice warm spring, after what was a “One Team, One Vision,“ and this theme was capped off dreadfully long winter in Saskatchewan. by keynote speaker Chief Darby Allen, talking of the team it took to fight the vicious Fort McMurray fires that ripped On April 14th the SAFC’s 68th Annual Conference and through Alberta in late spring of 2016. Trade Show wrapped up in Regina. Chief Layne Jackson and the entire Regina Fire and Protective Services team Finally, a warm and sincere congratulations to the welcomed the 200 plus delegation to their lovely city. The recipients of our Fire Chief of Merit, Denis Pilon, we wish activities kicked off with the Opening Ceremonies and the you the best in your retirement! Also, congratulations Trade Show at the brand new International Trade Centre to Fire Marshall Randy Ryba for his exemplary career at Evraz Place. The facility boasts wide open, spacious and and top notch service over the years, earning him the airy space that was very advantageous to all the exhibitors Investigator Award at our Closing Banquet and finally participating in the Trade Show. The SAFC was also very congratulations to Ed Tchorzewksi, for his Honourary SAFC excited to show off their brand new Fire Prevention Trailer, Life Membership. Ed served as the Fire Chief of Hudson highlighting the trademark Sparky and SAFC logos and Bay, for many years and we were very happy to pay tribute the logos of the trailer’s sponsors. This trailer will be highly to his years of service at our closing banquet. visible going down our Saskatchewan highways! The SAFC is grateful to all the sponsors that contributed to Please feel free to stop in and say hello if you’re ever in the acquisition of this first trailer, but particularly our main Saskatoon and look forward to talking to you all again sponsor, BHP. It is our hope that we will build a fleet of soon. trailers to be available for use throughout our province. Shannon Friesen Almost 60 companions enjoyed a rich and diverse Executive Director program that included stops at the Elvis Museum, Hillberg and Burke, a local brewery and many other fun and

Spring/Summer 2018 | 5 AFCA, SAFC, AND PROVINCIAL NEWS

SASKATCHEWAN CONFERENCE

Delegates were attentive during sessions and all enjoyed seeing the new products and services displayed at the Trade Show. It was a great time to meet with old friends, renew and to discuss the evolving nature of the firefighting business. A highlight was the Know 2 Ways Out fire prevention trailer of the SAFC.

6 | The Responder FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

A HEART AS BIG AS THE RANCH HE LIVED ON By Brian Stecyk

All photos in this article courtesy of Liz Hargrave

Spring/Summer 2018 | 7 FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

Every morning James Hargrave gazed out the tractor with him; watching the cattle being fed, or seeing window of his home overlooking the wide valley. He the calves being born. Life was good. loved what he saw! The cattle grazing, the native grasses bending in the breeze, and the wide open sky above were There was a lot more to James. He had learned home. participation from his parents and grandparents. ”You just can’t just stand by and watch—you have to be part This was paradise. He was glad that his great great of it—your community is the world!” This world view led grandfather had chosen the open prairie east of Medicine to one of James’ passions. The blowing grasses that he Hat rather than Calgary to make his home. He was proud enjoyed so much were native—they had been part of the to be the fifth generation of the Hargrave family to steward landscape for thousands of years and he was determined the lands. they would remain that way. He saw it his duty to educate people about native grasslands and how important it He looked eastward where the ranch straddled the Alberta- was for them to be preserved. The grasslands also serve Saskatchewan border and he thought of how the valley as a natural carbon sink that never stops helping the had become his homeland. It was a natural place to raise environment. cattle—an aboriginal elder had informed the Hargraves that this valley was where the buffalo had wintered for James didn’t have much time for party politics—unlike his centuries. grandfather Bert who had served as a local Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament. He believed all James looked around at Douglas fir logs that his father had elected people had some potential as long as they didn’t hauled from British Columbia to build a home overlooking let arrogance get in the way. More importantly he knew the valley. He thought of his wife Liz and their four children that regardless of political affiliation, politicians and Isabelle(1), Savannah (3); Alec (4); and Hudson (6); and bureaucrats made decisions that affected him and he saw how much they liked to be part of farm life—riding on the it his duty to inform them of his ideas and especially his environmental concerns.

He participated in government committees and never missed an opportunity to promote the value of native grasses. He also believed that Canada imported too much food. There was a real need for more Canadian food production and more belief in an agricultural system that could provide it if given the chance.

James was always determined to, “do his part” for the

8 | The Responder FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

community. That is what led him to join Cypress County’s firefighter and I joined in 2003. I was proud when my Walsh volunteer fire department in 2006. His father had friend James joined a few years later.” also been a member. On the ranch they had a water truck and always made it available for local firefighting. He The entire community was devastated when James was joined the Walsh fire department after graduation from killed while fighting a fire. He stopped to help evacuate university. people who did not choose to evacuate hours earlier when they had been asked to. The way that they moved Fires had always been a way of life in the vast prairies of their vehicles and the change of the wind contributed to western Canada. Whether caused by a lightning strike James being unable to get back on the road safely. “It is or a man-made cause, small fires could quickly become extremely rare for a firefighter to be killed while fighting a big ones. The combination of dry grasses, little water wildfire, but unfortunately it happened here and we will and almost constant winds often threatened grazing have to deal with the impact for years,” says Jack. lands, homes and farm structures and because of the great distances between communities it was imperative How does a young woman with four small children that local residents join together to combat the threat. continue and operate a large ranch with hundreds of Volunteers would, without thought, put their lives on cattle? It’s thanks to people like Jack Zieffle that she can hold and at risk to help a neighbour. continue. Jack lives on his own ranch 40 km south of the Hargraves. Each day he heads north to the Hargrave Liz Hargrave knew about volunteer firefighting— ranch to feed the cattle and keep things going. He her brother had volunteered in Manitoba. She says, resigned from a local municipal council to provide more “Whenever James went to a fire, I just wanted him to be time to take care of two ranches. safe. I always waited to hear that he was done, and then I would know everything was OK.” “James’ number one priority was always his family,” says Jack. “And, his family is my family. Whenever someone “Firefighters are taken for granted—people just assume was in need James would be there—I am just doing what they will be there. The firefighters do their job and people he would have done.” often go back to their homes and quickly forget that it was a volunteer who saved them or their property,” It is this true volunteering spirit and belief in the she adds. community that is so typical of rural Albertans. Belief in helping one’s neighbours may have disappeared in many Jack Zieffle, Walsh District Fire Chief, was James’ best urban areas but thanks to people like Jack who volunteer friend. “Ever since I was a youngster I had a passion for and give everything they have to help their community fighting fires. I had my own firefighting equipment when by joining their fire department or helping a neighbour in I was 16 years old. It was natural for me to become a need the volunteering spirit is alive and well! Firefighters are taken for granted—people just assume“ they will be there. The firefighters do their job and people often go “back to their homes and quickly forget that it was a volunteer who saved them or their property.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 9 FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

A new Amphibious Response Support Unit operated NEW VOLUNTEER by a division of the Canadian Rescue Hovercraft Pilots Association is being readied. Where will it fit in? It is a specialty response unit ideal for use in disaster situations SERVICE such as flooding, shallow water and unstable ice rescue; environmental call outs and search and rescue - recovery. AVAILABLE TO Nothing can match a hovercraft over water with debris, or a specialized platform that makes an unmodified EMERGENCY snowmobile into an ice rescue vehicle.

This dedicated unit brings together people with special SERVICES IN training in both hovercraft operations and rescue. Currently a 10 plus member volunteer team is capable SASKATCHEWAN of responding anywhere in Saskatchewan. The unit By Brian Stecyk is tied to the province’s Emergency Management Services. Whenever EMFS is contacted by an authority, this specialized resource can be deployed to assist first responders with an amphibious response.

This service resulted from a life-long commitment of John Maczko. Born in Hamilton, Ontario he spent most of his teenage years in Hungary. His father wanted him to learn his family history and heritage. His life was shaped by a chance but fortunate occurrence. 10 | The Responder FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

One day while walking on the banks of the Bodrog River John met other hovercraft pilots in Saskatchewan and in north-eastern Hungary, young John noticed a person across Canada, and soon after the Canadian Rescue in trouble in the water. After swimming out and helping Hovercraft Pilots Association was established. From this the semi-conscious body out of the water, he commenced association came the decision to form Canada’s first CPR and soon after, help arrived and took the survivor to dedicated amphibious response team, which would be the hospital. Only later did John learn that he had saved known as Amphibious Response Support Unit ONE. The the life of the school bully. goal being, to provide first responders much needed specialist amphibious capabilities across the province. That evening the boy’s parents knocked on the door. John’s father immediately thought there had been As part of the relationship the unit has developed with another fight but soon learned of the heroic efforts of his the SAFC, John and members of his team attended their son. John says, “My father was not an emotional man. He annual conference and displayed the AIR (Amphibious put his hand on my shoulder and said—well done son.” Ice Rescue) Responder vehicle. Their objective at the conference was to establish ties with Fire Departments That was the moment that led John to become a first they may provide support services to. responder starting his career in law enforcement in Hungary and then in aviation security after 9/11. He was As a volunteer non-profit organization, the CRHPA ARSU1 working at Heathrow when he saw a retired hovercraft. is reaching out to businesses and the communities they He fell in love with it and learned to fly. serve in an effort to built partnerships which may support them, and contribute to having the province’s own Shortly afterward he met the love of his life and dedicated specialist unit – Canada’s first such unit. married. They both followed his dream when he had an You can reach John and the ARSU1, by email at: opportunity to return to Canada—to Saskatchewan to [email protected] or visit their website at continue his career in aviation security. www.crhpa.com

My father

was not an

“emotional man. He put his hand “ on my shoulder and said—well done son.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 11 FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

IT’S ALL ABOUT VOLUNTEERS By Brian Stecyk

When Paul Lijdsman gets up every morning he never and is one of the communities in the Special Areas. The knows what to expect. Will he be going to his insurance wide-open windswept prairie is known for dryland grain office, Lijdsman Insurance Inc. or will he be spending time farming and cattle ranching. The town is the service as Fire Chief responding to emergency situations in and around the Town of Oyen?

Like most firefighters in western Canada, Paul is a volunteer with another career and a family. “I learned early the importance of volunteering,” says Paul. “My dad was on the fire department as well as friends and a brother-in-law. Everyone believed in community service and the importance of contributing to the community in which they lived and worked.”

That feeling appears to be diminishing and according to Fire Chief Paul recruitment is a challenge. “We have a good group of young guys, but others that could join, don’t want to give up their playtime. Some others don’t feel comfortable responding to MVCs and 20 to 25 per cent of all calls are to motor vehicle incidents,” he adds. “Our 16 members however, are doing an extremely good job.” The fire hall is home to a well-equipped fitness facility where Oyen is located in the south-eastern portion of Alberta firefighters get to keep in shape.

12 | The Responder FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

centre of choice for a trading area that extends into “The support of the Town of Oyen for the fire department Saskatchewan (32 kilometres away). Oilfield development is very strong, and with the contribution from the Special is also an important contributor to economic development Areas and some of our corporate community members and employment in the region. A rare visual highlight for such as ATCO and TransCanada, we have the equipment visitors to Oyen is seeing a herd of antelope grazing in one and capabilities to respond to most incidents in a of the fields near the community. quick and effective manner. We also work hard on fire prevention to ensure our citizens are informed about the “We have an awesome regional network with the Special importance of smoke alarms and emergency procedures. Areas. It really helps especially with training. Often multiple A special effort is made to visit our seniors facilities at least departments will respond to an incident and as one RCMP twice per year.” officer once commented –‘It is almost as if it was one department!’ These joint calls bring us all together,” “I need to say on behalf of every one of our volunteer states Paul. firefighters, a sincere thanks to every co-worker and to every family member for accommodating the many The department has new equipment and a hall that demands of our fire department. Even though they are opened in 2005. Unfortunately during the grand opening not fire department members they are just as important of the fire hall a fire started in the local hotel and two and their sacrifices are just a big. We couldn’t succeed people lost their lives. The fire hall has enough room to without them,” concludes Fire Chief Lijdsman. house all the needed equipment and more importantly for the members, a lounge and fitness centre on the mezzanine ensures comradery among the firefighters.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 13 FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

THE SKY SEEMS TO GO ON FOREVER By Brian Stecyk

NFPA 1001 Level 1 training. Photos courtesy of Cypress County Fire Department

There are few or no trees and miles and miles of open Members of a swift water rescue course held last year. prairie that historically were home to millions of buffalo. Now, large farms and ranches dominate—even though they fires and we respond to many of them. Grass fires are our seem remarkably small compared to the wide panorama of largest response issue. MVCs and medical first response the countryside. are also important services we provide. We only respond to about two structure fires a year.” This is Cypress County and home of the Cypress County Fire Department. Nine fire stations serve a population of about The fire department is well-equipped with 29 pieces 7,800 living in an area of over 5,100 square miles. Halls are of equipment and hopefully a water tender addition in located in the hamlets of Dunmore, Irvine, Hilda, Schuler, the near future. Cypress County opened a new fire hall Seven Persons, Walsh, Onefour, Town of Redcliff (Box in Dunsmore on January 1, 2018. The much needed Springs) as well as Cypress Hills Provincial Park Elkwater. In space is a great addition to the regional fire services the addition, the County has fire trucks located in CFB Suffield, department provides. Another special addition is a new Jenner and the Onefour area. Within the County are two Wildland rapid attack vehicle, which allows firefighters major facilities—CFB Suffield and in the southeast of the to move across rugged terrain and areas that normal fire County the beautiful Cypress Hills Provincial Park with its old trucks cannot access. growth forests and grasslands. “We have an diverse mix of people among the 140 who Thirteen year veteran, Fire Chief Kelly Meyers says, “It is have volunteered. Those include 15 to 20 members of often, hot, dry and windy. The perfect conditions for grass Hutterite Colonies and at the moment 12 women. We are

14 | The Responder FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

also supported by fire departments from Bow Island, Jenner, Suffield and the City of Medicine Hat when necessary,” says 21-year veteran and Deputy Chief John McBain.

The fire department has recruitment challenges in some areas—not because people don’t want to volunteer—but rather because the populations are just too small. In other areas, such as near the urban fringe of Medicine Hat, recruitment is not an issue.

When talking to a new recruit, Kelly outlines the things that a Cypress County A swift water rescue course held last year. firefighter should understand: minimum of 40 per cent trained personnel to the NFPA • The history of the fire department 1001 Certification. • The tradition of service and volunteering “We spend a lot of time helping the community. We • What it means to be a volunteer firefighter often hold BBQs outside the Costco in Medicine Hat to • Volunteers are a special kind of person raise funds for things like the Alberta Children’s Hospital • Firefighters must be realistic about their roles and and we hold a Boot Drive in Redcliff. The profile helps capabilities with recruitment and at the same time we contribute to worthy causes. Our old bunker gear finds a new home in • Preparation, training and practice is the best way to be a an underprivileged area of the world thanks to Firefighters successful firefighter Without Borders. It is all a part of being responsible Currently 16 members are enrolled in the NFPA 1001 members of our community,” concludes Kelly. program. The goal of the department is to maintain a

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CANADA

Spring/Summer 2018 | 15 FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

5,000 PEOPLE ON 5,000,000 ACRES By Brian Stecyk

A constant threat in the Special Areas—extremely dry grass, wind and nothing to stop a fire!

Canada’s government has been accused of many And, then the 1930s arrived—depression, dust, blunders but according to some historians, one of the grasshoppers, wind and no rain. Twenty five thousand biggest was thinking that all of South Eastern Alberta was people picked up their meagre belongings and moved. The perfect homesteading country. With the Dominion Lands Alberta Government created six Special Areas to serve as Act, unknowing homesteaders were encouraged to head quasi municipalities to administer the area. Only 5,000 of the to Alberta to own a quarter section of land (160 acres) for hardiest remained—the same population as today. $10 providing they stayed for three years, broke 30 acres of land, and build a permanent home. Thousands took This vast area is now managed by one Special Areas Board the bait and headed to their dream home. which administers the municipal services. Emergency services are key responsibility. What they didn’t know was that on the prairies there are no trees, little rain, lots of wind, and a whole lot of open The Special Areas Board fire department led by Fire space. They arrived and built sod houses and tried to Chief Glen Durand provides fire protection services in make a living but it was hard and often impossible. One partnership with 14 volunteer fire departments including hundred and sixty acres may sound like a lot of land but fire suppression, vehicle extrication (Oyen, Hanna, Consort, it isn’t. In dryland country it takes 40 acres for a cow- Veteran, and Jenner), ice rescue and dive team (Hanna) and a calf pair and in dry times way more. According to the spill/livestock emergency response trailer (Hanna). The other TK Ranch website it isn’t unusual for 10,000 acres being departments are: Altario, Bigstone, Bindloss, Buffalo, Cereal, required to care for 250 cows. Cessford, Empress, Homestead Coulee, and Youngstown.

16 | The Responder FIREFIGHTERS IN ACTION

Remembering the proud heritage of the Hanna Fire Department with superb restorations of retired vehicles.

With such a big area and so few people, traditional rural something he has done since 1990 and as Fire Chief since cooperation is essential. In the hamlets and sparsely 2004. He oversees a department of 30 members, which populated communities there just aren’t enough people includes five women. to have a full fire department complement and in some areas almost every able adult is a member of the fire The Hanna Fire Department is very proud of its new service. The Special Areas have 175 firefighter volunteers building (14,000 sq. ft. lower level and 5,000 sq. ft. with most coming from the oilfield workers and farmers. upper level). The upper level includes an exercise room that is shared with the RCMP. Both groups contributed to It was this cooperation that called Special Areas Deputy Fire Chief Rob Palmer away. As I was driving into Hanna he was leaving—heading to a grass fire near Big Stone 90 BE PREPARED. WE CAN HELP. km southwest. The firemen arrived just in time to save a We specialize in Fire, Rescue and Emergency house, although a couple of sheds were lost. An exhaust Management Consulting with decades of hands-on pipe on an off-highway vehicle ignited extremely dry practical and consultative experience. grasses. In the dry Special Areas proper grass maintenance is essential. They were just cleaning up when they got another call—someone had carelessly thrown a cigarette • Fire and Emergency Services • Fire Station Location, Design Reviews and Master Plans and Functional Studies butt into the ditch near Youngstown, 35 km north. Finally • Community and Facility Hazard • Emergency Management he was able to return to Hanna to talk to me. Risk Vulnerability Assessments Training Design and Execution • Emergency Operations Centre “We have done well by updating and keeping up-to- Design and Training • Fire and Life Safety Code Consulting date with equipment,” says Rob. “It is much better than • Fire Apparatus and Equipment 10 years ago. Six departments contract their services Procurement • Wildfire Planning to Special Areas and the other eight are administered • GIS Mapping and Plotting • Emergency Response Team by Special Areas. One of the best things about our Services Feasibility Studies communities is that we don’t need a regional system— • Emergency Management and • Fire and Spills Mitigation Response Plans Plans we just cooperate. We have to because almost every call requires some level of mutual aid.”

Just as Rob returned, Hanna Fire Chief David Mohl 403.444.6940 entered the fire hall. When he is not running his food www.behrintegrated.com distribution business, David takes time to be a firefighter,

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The Hanna Department is the lead in the East Central Emergency Training Partnership providing training to all Special Areas departments as well as those in the MD of Acadia. They are currently building a training tower and often conduct courses on the road. “Sharing training and providing it throughout the region is a real benefit as people quickly learn they face the same challenges and it is easier to overcome them by working together. We have got to know each other and work well together, a benefit that has really paid dividends this year with so many mutual aid responses.” adds David.

“Recruitment is not an issue. Our members are our best recruitment tool. One of the things we do is have all new members vetted by the entire membership. It works well and keeps the group tight. New members don’t mind the one-year probation.”

Nineteen-year old Shane Olesen is a new recruit. “My dad, Brent has been a firefighter since 1996 and is Deputy On a Sunday, newest recruit Shane Olesen visited the fire hall and chatted with The Responder editor. Chief and my mother Jill joined in 2002. For us it is a family affair,” says Shane. putting in the equipment. A special feature of the hall is member washrooms complete with lockers and showers. As of August 2017 the department responded to 35 calls “We want our members cleaning up after an incident— more than average with the largest number being MVC they don’t need to take the dirt and contamination home (35%); grass fires (25%); false alarms (25%); structure with them,” says Chief David. (5%); and medical aid (10%). As of mid-October the Hanna department had responded to 132 calls, double The Hanna Fire Department was created in 1912 to serve the number of the previous year’s calls and there was still the urban and surrounding rural area. The always close two and a half months to go. The highest ever before was cooperation with the Special Areas results in a higher level 94 calls in one year. It says a lot about the commitment of of service for Hanna and the rural areas, the Special Areas volunteer firefighters and their families. contributes to both operational and capital costs.

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18 | The Responder FIRE INDUSTRY NEWS

STRUTS 101: THE EVOLUTION OF THE VEHICLE RESCUE STRUT By Tim O’Connell

In talking with Rescuers around the world, I often And whom do we most often need to protect the patient ask this question: “What is your primary job at a motor from? Us, the Rescuers! vehicle accident with a trapped victim?” They most often respond (looking at me like I’m an idiot) get the tools and Let’s go through a typical vehicle accident. For this cut the victim out.” article we will use the example of a vehicle on its side, after a collision with victims trapped. Arriving Rescuers They are, of course, wrong. need to position their vehicles to protect the scene while searching for hazards such as power lines and leaking Yes, extrication is an important part of the job, along fuel or chemicals. These hazards need to be addressed with several other important steps. What inexperienced and resolved prior to extrication. Next is typically the Rescuers don’t understand, and what experienced positioning of charged hose lines for immediate response Rescuers often forget in their haste to grab the big to fire. Most Rescuers perform these steps correctly. hydraulic tools are the two primary jobs that we need to accomplish: Now our Rescuer is looking at a very heavy lump of deformed metal and plastic with an injured victim 1. Protect ourselves somewhere inside. Here is where Rescuers typically start 2. Protect our patients doing things wrong; they fail to adequately stabilize the vehicle.

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To better understand why Rescuers often do such a poor job was to move metal. The vehicle would be rocking with job of stabilization and why stabilization is so important, guys climbing all over it prying parts off with the primary we need to learn a bit about the evolution of the motor rescue tool of the day, the Spreader. Considering how vehicle. In the past, most vehicles were manufactured delicate a victim’s spine is with a broken neck or back I’m with a heavy steel frame upon which were bolted or sure we further injured many victims because they were welded heavy steel cages and skins. We call these vehicles unnecessarily moved and jolted around. Sometimes these “bricks.” When they rolled over in a crash they would inadequately stabilized cars shifted or fell, resulting in deform somewhat but tended to retain most of their Rescuers becoming victims. shape. Unfortunately for the victims, most of the forces of the crash impact were transmitted through the vehicle Today’s vehicles are made of lightweight metal cages with to their bodies. When these vehicles ended up on their thin springy sheet metal or plastic panels spot welded sides it was fairly easy to stabilize them with wedges and or glued to the cage. We call these vehicles “beach wood cribbing. Since the cribbing could push against the balls”. When they roll they tend to bounce around like steel frame and thick steel skin, the vehicle would be fairly a ball because of the resilient, dent resistant panels and stable. lightweight construction. We are seeing vehicles that have bounced into trees, on top of other vehicles, into When I started in the Rescue Service in the early 80s, any buildings and other unusual positions. Stabilizing these further stabilization was provided by the biggest Rescuers vehicles can be extremely difficult and requires the ability literally leaning on the car! Interestingly, the philosophy to support loads off the ground. During crash impacts the of the Rescuers was also different. Stabilization was not panels and crush zones of the vehicle deform, absorbing thought to be very important. It was perceived that our energy and translating forces around the victims, thereby

First Alert and the AFCA are proud to serve and support fire departments across Western Canada.

20 | The Responder FIRE INDUSTRY NEWS

improving their chances of survival. The result is that we • Insufficient equipment. Standard wood or plastic now arrive to find a crunched-up ball of plastic and metal cribbing alone is often inadequate on newer vehicles. with a viable patient in the middle of it. The vehicle may • Tunnel Vision. Rescuers are anxious to use the big also be precariously perched on top of another vehicle hydraulic tools and forget or ignore good stabilization or other object. When we pound wedges or cribbing practices. between the ground and vehicle we get very little effect • Experienced personnel. Since the hydraulic tools are because the dent resistant panels flex and absorb the often taken by the most senior (experienced) Rescuers, wedges. Because of this, we have lost the ability to the inglorious job of stabilization is often relegated to stabilize most of these vehicles effectively using wood or the junior, inexperienced Rescuers. plastic cribbing alone. How do Rescuers deal with these “beach ball” vehicles? Rescuers have also changed. Virtually all Rescuers are Rescue equipment designers (I am one) understand how now medics. We understand that our primary job (after new vehicle technology has evolved and have responded protecting ourselves) is patient care. The last thing we with equipment to solve these issues. The technical term want to do is to cause further injury to the patient in for these tools is “Tensioned Buttress Systems”. The simple the process of delivering them to Advanced Life Support term is “Struts.” personnel. To do this, we must completely stabilize the vehicle, use care when using the modern day primary Before we can understand Struts and what they can extrication tool (the Cutter), and delicately handle the do for us, we need to learn a bit about the physics of patient’s spine while removing and transporting them. stability. The easiest way to picture stability is to use a The first and most crucial step is stabilization, and most triangle. If you have a triangle with a narrow base sitting Rescuers are bad at it. on the ground, it is easy to tip it over. Widen the base of the triangle and it becomes much more stable. Anyone Why do we do such a poor job of stabilization? There are who has ever used an aerial apparatus knows that several reasons. Some are: extending the outriggers widens the base of their triangle making the apparatus more stable. Our crashed vehicle • Leadership. Leaders may not recognize the importance on its side is sitting on a narrow base, and the cribbing of stabilization and fail to make sure the vehicle is placed below it is fairly ineffectual. By positioning Struts correctly stabilized. against it and tightening them into place we dramatically

Spring/Summer 2018 | 21 FIRE INDUSTRY NEWS

The width of the base of a triangle determines its strength. The triangular location of properly placed struts ensures safety and stability. widen the base of our triangle and improve stability. It is allowed equipment designers to build extremely strong hard to understand how much Struts stabilize a vehicle Struts which are light weight and do not take up much until you have seen them in action. Within minutes you are room on already overloaded apparatus. These materials able to convert your “beach ball” into a rock-solid platform, have also given manufacturers the ability to produce creating a safe working environment for the Rescuers and Struts that both stabilize loads and lift/support loads. protecting the victim’s spine while extrication procedures are taking place. Today’s Strut systems generally fall into four categories, with price and load capacities increasing as you So, what is a Strut? Basically, it is just a stick. In fact, the first advance: Struts used were wood timbers. Struts have been around for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until recently that they 1. Wood Shoring: Easy to make shorter, hard to started to become popular in the rescue field. There are make longer. Very inexpensive but bulky to store. two reasons for this. First is the evolution of motor vehicles Not versatile and very cumbersome to use. Systems from “bricks” to “beach balls” which has eliminated much are available for capping ends and attaching ratchet of the effectiveness of traditional cribbing. The second straps. Some brand names: Z-Mag and Cappa is the development of advanced materials such as high BearClaw strength aluminium and advanced composite materials such as DuPont™ Kevlar® Structural Composites. These have 2. Props: Small diameter steel telescoping tubing. Good starter tools. Limited load capacity (typically 2000-5000 Lb / 907-2268 kg). Good for preventing a light vehicle from tipping over, but not capable of supporting advanced rescue loads. Small size makes them easy to store. Some brand names: Stab-Fast, Quick Strut, Rut Strut, Junkyard Dog

3. Stabilizing/Lifting Struts: Steel signpost material or Advanced Composite materials. Load capacity (depending on brand) varies from 4000 Lb / 1814 kg up to 18000 Lb / 8165 kg. These Struts also have jacks which can be used to aid in lifting loads or

22 | The Responder FIRE INDUSTRY NEWS

cribbing behind airbags/lifting bags. Specifically designed Where to Start? for vehicle, machinery, aircraft and light structural rescue but small enough to store easily. Brand names: Rescue • Visit the web sites of the Strut manufacturers. Note 42 TeleCribs, Res-Q-Jack that not all brands are available in all countries. • View an online tutorial video on Struts. 4. Heavy Rescue Struts: Loads in excess of 40,000 Lb / • Have your local equipment suppliers bring Strut 18144 kg. Primarily designed for building collapse and systems in for you to test. Assess all struts that are trench rescue. Although cumbersome, these Struts are available to you based on your location. Pick the one easily strong enough for common vehicle rescue and that best meets your needs, space requirements and are best for heavy vehicle rescue. Large size requires a budget. lot of storage space. Brand names: ParaTech, Airshore, Holmatro, Prospan • Train with your equipment until you are proficient. The evolution of vehicle design demands changes in * Not all strut brands are available in all countries. rescue techniques and tools. Your responsibility as a Rescuer should include vehicle stabilization in order to Which one is right for you? Wood shoring is extremely maintain a safe working environment for you and your inexpensive and is better than nothing. Prop type Struts are crew as well as safeguarding patients. To that end, Struts sufficient for departments who do not see many vehicle should be considered an essential tool in modern vehicle accidents and have another Rescue group that can bring in rescue. more advanced equipment for difficult jobs. Stabilization/ Lifting Struts meet the needs of most vehicle Rescuers and Tim O’Connell is an ex-nuclear submariner and has been are typically carried by those who carry hydraulic rescue a firefighter for over 25 years. He holds technician level tools and airbags (lifting bags). Heavy Rescue Struts are certification in vehicle extrication, trench rescue, heavy typically carried by Rescuers who are trained for large rescue, swift water rescue, confined space rescue and building collapse or trench rescue. high angle rescue. He teaches numerous extrication classes throughout the western USA. Tim is also the Whichever type you choose, to do a good job with today’s president of Rescue 42, Inc., a manufacturer of advanced “beach ball” vehicles you need Struts! rescue and firefighting equipment.

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Spring/Summer 2018 | 23 FIRE INDUSTRY NEWS

SPRINKLERS FOR STRUCTURE PROTECTION FROM WILDFIRE By Albert Roach

Every year homes and businesses worldwide are lost due to wildfires. There is no doubtFirewise and where sprinklers were correctly positioned, have been FireSmart programs have improved fire safety. However, due to system failures such as pump break down or there are still many structures in the wildland urban hose failure. interface with high potential for loss due to wildfire. Sprinklers set up to protect structures vulnerable to When fire approaches people try anything they think wildfire, have a proven success record. Wildland urban will save their home. They put lawn sprinklers on the interface firefighters trained and equipped to use roof, wet-down the house and yard before leaving sprinklers will further reduce loss due to wildfire. yet often return to a total loss. What went wrong: “sprinkler position!” The water was not hitting the Sprinklers in Your Tool Kit vulnerable places at the critical time. Sprinklers are a great tool to use in protection of structures from wildfire.Agricultural Sprinklers! The agricultural Positioning sprinklers to keep fine fuels wet is the key to “impact” sprinkler that has been watering crops and golf success. Sprinklers on top of roofs may give you a sense courses for years is now an effective tool in the protection of security, but it is not enough as often the area next of structures from wildfire. to the building stays dry due to eaves. By studying the reasons for structural loss in wild fires, and positioning Structures protected by correctly positioned sprinklers, sprinklers based on that information, you will have almost always survive wildfires. Unsuccessful outcomes, success.

24 | The Responder FIRE INDUSTRY NEWS

Fire Behavior impingement must last for a lengthy period of time for To fully understand how a sprinkler can save structures the large fuels to ignite and continue to burn. The time of from wildfire we must examine the fire behavior that extreme heating, depending on fuels and wind during the leads to structure loss. Solid fuel must be heated to the passing of a wildfire, is relatively short; generally, less than point where there is enough fuel vapor coming out of the four minutes! Most large fuels do not reach burning point material to ignite (burning point). The faster fuel vapor temperature in that short time period and are therefore can be produced in large enough quantity for burning to easily protected with a small amount of water. Wildfires take place, the sooner you have self-sustained fire. Small can turn into conflagrations in built-up areas, but the combustible materials like grass or trigs (fine fuels) heat dynamics are different. In conflagrations, unlike wildfires, up quickly, they also dry out quickly compared to a log or building to building ignition will take place without the 2x4 (heavy fuels). presence of fine fuels due to the long-term high ambient temperatures. Therefore sprinkler placement requirements The factors that govern the ignition of any material will be different. are: volatility, size, and flame (heat) to fuel proximity. Volatility refers to the speed a substance can change into In summary, when we build a camp fire we put twigs and a flammable vapor based on the material’s properties. other easy to light materials at the base and pile larger That is: cedar, more volatile than ironwood, will ignite pieces of wood on top. The small material “fine fuel” faster. The size of a solid will directly affect the amount lights quickly and builds sufficient heat to make the larger and duration of the heat required to produce sufficient material burn. It is very difficult to make a camp fire burn fuel vapor for ignition. That is: a spruce splinter will ignite without dry fine fuel. Wildfire moves quickly, the heat of faster than a spruce 2” x 4”. Fuel proximity refers to the a wildfire peaks and begins to drop at a speed that often location of the fuel relative to an impinging flame or heat is too fast to ignite large fuels. Fine fuels will ignite easily source. That is: heat is always greater above a flame than and just like kindling in a camp fire, can set larger fuels on below it, so flame under a material will produce ignition fire. Sprinklers make the fine fuels wet and fire resistive. faster than a flame above the same fuel. If the kindling won’t burn there will not be a camp fire. It is a very simple process: keep the fine fuels wet and the The other factor related to structure ignition in wildfire large fuel will not ignite! is time. To sustain fire, ambient heat and flame

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Spring/Summer 2018 | 25 FIRE INDUSTRY NEWS

Impact Sprinklers fire’s arrival wastes water and provides little to no Impact sprinklers deliver water in a circle. As the spray of fire protection. Unnecessary property damage has water passes over fine fuels, the fuel becomes too wet occurred from excessive sprinkler operation. If a to ignite. After the spray goes by, the fine fuel begins to sprinkler has established a foot print before fire arrives dry, but before becoming hot enough to ignite the spray and continues to maintain that foot print until the fire returns. In summary, heat must dry out fine fuel before it has passed, it has done its work. will burn and sprinklers keep fuel wet. A sprinkler will establish a footprint within a few The location of fine fuels (kindling) is very important. If minutes. Running sprinklers for longer time than is there is no fine fuel near any part of the structure and the needed to establish a footprint has very little value as exterior of the structure is fire resistive, the structure will much of the water simply runs off or soaks into the most likely survive a wildfire without help. ground. Small (3/4”) irrigation sprinklers equipped with a 3/16” nozzle can deliver the equivalent of .8 In spite of the efforts of Firewise and Fire Smart programs, inches of rain per hour. Running sprinklers with that few are listening, even fewer are acting. The common performance for several hours wastes water and can thought, “it won’t happen to me”, is a significant produce damage. opponent to the success of these fire prevention programs. In locations where home owners have taken The amount of water required to protect a structure the proper precautions and made their property wildfire using sprinklers is far less than the water used by a smart, there are often neighbors who have not. The structural firefighter operating a single 1 1/2” fog addition of sprinklers to a wildfire safety plan ensures line. A sprinkler with a 3/16” nozzle will flow 8 gpm better outcomes. when operated at 65 psi. Depending on the size and configuration of a house it can be protected with as Impact agricultural sprinklers are ideal for structure few as two sprinklers with 3/16” nozzles or 16 gpm. protection and other wild land firefighting operations A 1 1/2” fog nozzle can flow as much as 125 gpm. where sprinklers are needed for the following reasons: One minute of operation of a 1 1/2” fog nozzle is equal to running the two sprinklers for over seven • they are less susceptible to plugging from debris minutes. It takes far less water to prevent ignition • they have greater reach than it takes to achieve extinguishment. • they are more durable Water Supply In order to use agricultural impact sprinklers for wildfire Static water supplies are more desirable than hydrants operations a mounting system providing for water as they will not reduce the water available to fire delivery at ground level, in an elevated location and on engines. When using hydrants it is important to a roof is necessary. Sprinklers come in 1/2”, 3/4”, and establish how much stored water is available and if 1” pipe thread, therefore, a waterway adapting them electricity is essential for hydrant pressure. Electricity to garden hose fittings is ideal for fast and easy set up often fails when electrical transmission lines are in by homeowners, firefighters, and wildland firefighters. wildfires. Not all fire water systems have a backup Sprinklers adapted this way are available from several that will operate during power outages. different manufacturers. Sprinklers are often blamed for empty reservoirs after Sprinklers Are Not Water Wasters wild fire has destroyed several buildings. Sprinklers The objective is to make and keep the fine fuel wet may have used a large amount of water, however, the while embers are falling and during the passing of the major water loss was due to broken pipes at each of fire. Operating sprinklers for long periods before the the burned down structures.

26 | The Responder FIRE INDUSTRY NEWS

Safety • All parts of a wood roof surface must be wet. Firefighter safety in wildfire is always a major concern. • Avoid direct hitting of windows and doors or any other Every firefighter that works ahead of a fire is taking a location that would allow water to enter the building. risk; the closer the fire, the higher the risk. Sprinklers do • Test the set up to be sure all sprinklers are working not require supervision they can be set up tested and correctly and that all targeted parts are getting wet turned on when all personnel leave the area. If sprinklers before leaving the area. have been properly located, the system is protected, and the water supply lasts, structures will be standing after • The sprinklers do not need to be operated for a long the fire. No one needs to be present during the most period before the fire arrives but they should be dangerous phase of the fire. working all of the time that the fire is present. • Protect the hose lines by burying them or keeping Guidelines for Sprinkler Set Up them under sprinkler protection. • Where possible place the sprinkler high to simulate • Pump sites should be sprinkler protected if they are on rain. Structures are designed to resist rain. vegetation or any other fuel. • All combustible material that is adjacent to the Sprinklers Work………It is hard to set wet building or under decks must be wet. things on fire! • Easily ignited surface material on the building must be made wet.

Spring/Summer 2018 | 27 HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE

USE CAUTION WHEN HIRING A COUNSELLOR FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION By Paul Erickson

I’m here, because,

“because of you, my daughters can sleep safely at night.” or “I “ want you to be healthy, because I cannot do the work you do.

28 | The Responder HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE

When it comes to hiring people to provide already overworked administrator for several reasons. psychological services for first responders, administrators They offer the prospect of dealing with all of the mental fall into one of three groups. First there are those who health, as well as administrative issues, at lower cost. But don’t really care. Second are those who want to be seen the question is, do they? Beware that short-term cost to be providing services for their people, known as the savings may turn out to cause greater long-term, even box tickers. Finally there are those who want to provide more expensive, liabilities. the best services possible for their people. I assume I am talking to that latter category. If you are in the first two Ideally, EAPs or EFAPs provide a vetted pool of qualified categories, please change, retire, or resign. You have counsellors with some administrative support to facilitate already done enough damage, we don’t need you doing connecting the first responder with the right therapist. any more. Unfortunately, the reality is often far from the ideal. All too often they act like closed union shops, where clinical The administrator who wants to provide the best care considerations are secondary to: litigation avoidance, turf possible for their people is confronted with a number of protection, revenue stream protection, and the protection issues, and while it is impossible to cover all of them fully of their members. A question to ask yourself is: are big in a single article, let me outline a few of the things that business interests always in line with providing the best need to be considered. quality care?

First of all, is the question of why you are hiring/ Not all EAPs/EFAPs are created equal. Some do very contracting a psychological services professional? Is it to good work, others do not. The ones that do tend to provide counselling services for your people, or provide be smaller, have carefully selected their counsellors for fit for duty (FFD) assessments, or both? It is only natural suitability, pay their counsellors a significantly higher for first responders to be reluctant to open up completely rate than the others, and take pains to make sure the with people who will be reporting back to their client is matched up with an appropriate counsellor. organizations as to whether or not they are fit for duty. With larger organizations a significant part of your dollar There are some therapists I know who are effective at goes to building and administrative costs, plus executive both roles, but often the demands of one role can come salaries/bonuses. Their criteria for hiring counsellors has in conflict with the other. One therapist I know who is nothing to do with their competence in working with first effective in both roles emphasizes that complete candour responders, and often they make no effort to make sure with the client is essential. As he puts it “If you are an the client counsellor paring is in fact appropriate. When accountant, and you go to work drunk, I am not going dealing with an organization, ask them how much they to report you. If you are a cop, and you carry a gun, and pay their therapists per hour. If it is less than $100/hr, go to work drunk, I am going to report you.” Both roles you will have an indication of how much of your therapy are essential, but if you are asking one person to do both, dollar is going to provide care, and how much of it is make sure they are up to the task. Those who are up to going for administration, and executive remuneration. It the task will be able to articulate the contradictory nature will also give you an indication as to how they value their of both roles and will be able to explain how they can therapists, and how significant they find their clients. An navigate the issues with integrity. If not, both roles will organization which pays its therapists $25/hr is taking be compromised, and their effectiveness will be seriously neither its clients nor its therapists very seriously. While impaired. higher pay per hour for therapists is not a guarantee of quality, ask yourself, do you want to be responsible for Do I contract with an individual or individuals, or an entrusting the care of those who face the worst that our organization? world has to offer to cut-rate rookies?

Employee assistance programs (EAPs) and Employee and Unfortunately, almost every first responder I know who Family assistance programs (EFAPs) are attractive to the Spring/Summer 2018 | 29 HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE

has gone to an EAP/EFAP assigned counsellor has a horror and also indicates that the organization has priorities story to tell. As one first responder put it: other than providing first responders with the best care possible.

I am trying to find a nice way to tell my Beware of organizations which arbitrarily require clients to therapist that he can’t bring a gun to switch therapists after x number of sessions. I know one “ a knife fight and be upset if he gets a organization which requires clients to switch therapists after five sessions. Not only is there no good clinical little bloodied after the unprecedented reason to do this, all the respected literature I know on and ample forewarning. And no, we the subject indicates that such a practice is not beneficial, can’t find a way to work together again but in fact harmful. One has to ask why they would do after the last appointment that was a such a thing. The reasons can be many, but one thing is shit show. Thoughts? SUGGESTION? for certain, providing the best care for their clients is not

their top priority.

You really can’t make this shit up.:) I am thankful every day for the gift of“ finding Beware of the PTSD industry and PTSD profiteers. humour in almost anything. Gets me in Unfortunately there are those who are seeking to cash in trouble a lot ;) on the growing awareness of the psychological needs of first responders. Those who are in it primarily for the cash have compromised themselves and their effectiveness at In another case, a 15 year veteran goes to an EAP a number of levels. The best and most effective therapists assigned counsellor, and as the officer put it: “In the very I know who work with first responders, when asked why first session, they had me in a sandbox!” Now, what he they do it say things like: “I’m here, because, because of is referring to is known as a “sand tray” which can be you, my daughters can sleep safely at night.” or “I want very effective when working with children, and those you to be healthy, because I cannot do the work you do.” with a limited emotional vocabulary, but should only be used in particular cases with adults, after a great deal of When it comes to contracting with individual counsellors, preparation. In this case, to use it in the very first session just having been a first responder in a previous career was malpractice! Fortunately the officer did not give up on does not guarantee that they will be effective working counselling altogether, as so many would, and went on to with first responders. As one first responder put it: find the help he needed with another counsellor.

Beware of organizations with conflicting mandates. Those Ok. So after they randomly assigned organizations who claim to provide services, while at the me a limited English speaking female same time having a mandate to deny claims/services are in “who was only available on Saturdays, an inherent conflict of interest, and if they are going to err I was allowed by EAP, through ___’s on the side of providing services or denying services, which work, to pick another one. I chose side do you think they will err on? Also, while malingering can be an issue in certain contexts, what person is going another female, under duress because to spend the time and effort to try and get counselling they seemed to believe it would be services that they don’t need? better for me, who was a former federal cx. Thinking she would get it. Beware of those organizations which require participants Turns out, no. All she wanted me to to sign disclosure agreements. This adds yet another impediment to first responders seeking counselling, do was to join a women’s group and

30 | The Responder HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE

overflowing in-basket, be careful. As with anything, don’t get rid of the man. Which I refused, accept their claims about the service they can provide until

as CPTSD is not a women’s issue. How you have been able to examine the work they do more closely. While some EAP/EFAPs do good work, others do

patronizing and ineffective. At least she not. As I mentioned above, the sad reality is that every realized I was intimidating to her and “ first responder I know who has gone to an EAP counsellor referred me to the new one. I think he has a horror story to tell. At a recent conference the has a crush on me and a bit of a foot head of a major EAP admitted that their counsellors fetish, but I can deal with that! were capable of working with people in the green and yellow zones, but not the orange or red zones. While his candour was appreciated, most first responders won’t I know therapists who are very effective in working with consider counselling before they are already well into the first responders who were not first responders themselves, orange zone if not the red zone. When a first responder and other therapists who have retired from one segment is in a crisis, and encounters an incompetent therapist, of the first responder community or another who I will it reinforces their perception that counselling is BS, and not refer clients to. adds another impediment toward their seeking the help they need. Another question to consider is; how do they get along with others? This may seem odd, but I know of a number One of the issues to consider is, “what happens when of situations where this is an issue. Do you have an something goes wrong?” If an individual counsellor turns effective chaplaincy? If so, how does the therapist view out to be unsuitable, the clients can simply stop going their role vis-a-vis the chaplain. I know situations where to them. If they are a member of an organization, then the chaplains and therapists work together very effectively. things get more complicated if not completely untenable. A first responder can be in conversation with the chaplain, In a context where members are reluctant to admit they and after a while the chaplain will suggest that they might are getting counselling in the first place and they feel their be better off taking those issues to the therapist, and visa confidentiality will be violated, they will find themselves versa. Other situations I know the therapists view their in the position of complaining about the therapist, the relationship with the chaplaincy as adversarial for various organization the therapist is associated with, and the reasons, such as ego, turf protection, or an anti-religious employer for contracting with that organization. bias. I know situations where chaplains are trusted and You owe it to your people to do the best you can to make the psychologists are not, and for good reasons. When sure that the people or organizations you contract with interviewing the prospective therapist, find out how they are in fact able to deliver the goods, and a reasonable will get along with the rest of the community, and don’t amount of customer caution may help avert disasters in be shy about asking questions designed to determine the future. their attitude.

Paul Erickson is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a If the services in your area are not up to the task, then ask retired first responder. He has been working to promote the therapists and service providers “why?” The only way mental health among first responders since the late that we will see improvement in the services available is 1980’s. He currently specializes in working with first by not letting those claiming to provide the services hide responders in a variety of contexts. He can be reached behind their legal status, advertising, and degrees. via email at [email protected] or through his If you are tempted to go with an EAP/EFAP because it website wperickson.com. seems like a good way to get a complex issue out of your

Spring/Summer 2018 | 31 YOU DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO SAVE A LIFE. LET’S START WITH YOURS.

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