Peer support group started for first responders

The Red Oak Fire Department has teamed up with the Red Oak Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to create an in-house peer support program for emergency responders.
Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce said the departments have always used stress debriefing teams in the state, which sometimes led to issues.
“We had to wait for them to get a team together and come in, and if someone doesn’t do what we do, it’s a little hard for them,” Bruce said. “Obviously, because of the nature of what we do, everyone is a bit of a type-A personality anyway, and it would take a long time to get set up. By that time, attitudes would change, people would change, and it was hard to get people to engage, as they’ve lost the freshness of the incident.
Also, Bruce said a lot of the situations he and the other first responders go to are end of life situations, which can come in varying levels, such as car accidents, suicides, or even simply natural causes.
Bruce said he and the department felt they could do better, and the Red Oak Fire Department’s Union worked closely with the Council Bluffs Fire Department Union, and they had a peer support group, which started opening doors.
“We found out they had a peer support group, so we decided to take a gander at it, and see what we can come up with, and started using them. Also, it helped that the group was made up of firefighters, who understood the job that we do, and they could understand what our staff were telling them,” Bruce explained.
It was Mike Crouse, Bruce explained, who found the opportunity for the staff to take peer support training, allowing them to offer support to the local departments in-house.
“Crouse brought up the idea of us having something internal, and we reasoned that the guys and gals between the departments are more likely to talk to each other about it, and it can be done in an informal fashion, and let people talk about the situation and get those tough situations off their chest, and we decided to take advantage of it,” commented Bruce.
From there, they approached the Red Oak Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and they each sent one representative to join the two from the fire department.
“They had three days of training, and then they put them through various scenarios, and teaching them the legalities and confidentialities. If you don’t have the confidentiality, you’re done. But here, we have that, and they trust each other,” Bruce stated.
The other benefit, Bruce said, is the peers will be able to intervene in potential mental health situations.
“If it’s a broken arm, people can see that. But the emotional side is looking for changes in behavior, and we’re small enough here that the peers can recognize issues, diagnose it, and get people into what they need,” advised Bruce.
Bruce felt getting someone healthily through a decades long career was by helping people with their mental health.
“When I first started in emergency services, you just didn’t talk about it. If you did, you could end up classified as being unable to handle the job. The world has changed drastically, and there’s a been a large emphasis on mental health through the National Volunteer Fire Council and peer support trainings. We can now stay proactive, because mental health is just as important as the normal training.”
Bruce said thanks to the new training, they’ve been able to establish a protocol for other area departments who need assistance.
“Any of the area departments can call the communications center, who will contact the point of contact for this program, and then our point of contact will speak directly with the individual who made the request. It’ll allow for more immediacy to address things, and they’re able to address them with someone they know,” Bruce stated.
Ultimately, Bruce stressed the importance of the program, since at no point do the emergency responders put the closed sign on the door.
“Sometimes, you’re hopping from call to call, and people don’t get a break. Now we can make sure that people are taken care of, and we have a program that will make sense and work for what we need it to, and embracing change,” Bruce said. “Like it or not, eventually it will catch up with you, and we don’t need people harming themselves or getting involved in alcohol for self-medication. The firehouse is a family, and we want to make sure everyone is taken care of. It’s a tool in the toolbox, and it’s there when we need it.”
Bruce added it was a special feeling to be able to spearhead a program like this on the local level.
“We are the only fire-based career department in the area, until you get to Council Bluffs. We have the opportunities that volunteer departments don’t have the time to put in, and it’s another resource that the volunteer departments can rely on.”
Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy also spoke about the program, and stressed the importance of peer support for the first responders.
"The First responders mental health is a vital piece of the foundation that a first responder is built on. If mental health starts to fail them, it’s going to be a trickle effect and everything will eventually crumble. First responders suicide rates are amongst the highest," said Rhamy.
Rhamy added there were many added benefits to having a program like this aiding the Red Oak Police Department.
"It gives our officers the ability and access to a team member that one may feel comfortable with to talk one-on-one. It also gives them the ability to rapidly assemble a group setting without having to wait several days in the event of a large incident that could tragically affect multiple responders," Rhamy advised. "Probably the biggest one of them all is that the first responders, whether police, deputy, firemen or EMS provider know that we as a city and county, we care about them and want them to know we support them, that every single one of them know that their mental well being and health is a priority."
Montgomery County Sheriff Jon Spunaugle also spoke about the benefits the new peer support program will provide for the sheriff's office.

"It can be for anything within the department. It can provide support for people having a bad day, or health problems, and just allows us to keep an eye out for each other. I think it's going to be a really good deal for us," Spunaugle commented.

In addition to Crouse, Levi Kinnison is the Red Oak Fire Department's other peer representative. For the Red Oak Police Department, the representative is Amber Jennings. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office representative is Keith Wiederien.