5d062d48570dc1e6baf1dd54faf815c9 The post b65c2dd34b57210f20a6d89d6fde1da7 appeared first on ILFFPS ..read more

5d062d48570dc1e6baf1dd54faf815c9 The post b65c2dd34b57210f20a6d89d6fde1da7 appeared first on ILFFPS ..read more

5d062d48570dc1e6baf1dd54faf815c9 The post b65c2dd34b57210f20a6d89d6fde1da7 appeared first on ILFFPS ..read more

This post submission is courtesy of ILFFPS team member Jimmy Nixon One of the roles a peer supporter has is to check in on their peers when they may be having a challenging time. This is a tough thing to do… for anyone. However, someone has to do it and the responsibility falls on the peer support team. If you, as a peer supporter, do not feel comfortable doing this you can always call ILFFPS for guidance. Who do you confront? When we notice someone with changed behavior, isolating themselves more or being more aggressive, feeling hopeless, describing themselves as a burden etc. These are t ..read more

The following blog contribution is courtesy of ILFFPS team member Jimmy Nixon: Peer support has an important function in the fire service and as more and more of us join the ranks, it is important to review information on how to continue to support our departments.  One very important way we can improve our effectiveness as peer supporters is by focusing on our rapport with our peers. The way the fire service operates is conducive to establishing a strong rapport with our peers already, but as peer supporters we need to pay closer attention to our rapport with the department.  Why is ..read more

To say that 2020 has been challenging is an understatement at best, and I hope this blog post finds you doing the best you can with what you have in each moment, to make this world a better place to live for all our brother and sister first responders. One of the things I have learned during my time with ILFFPS, and the fire service in general, is that many people will cross paths with us in this lifetime to remind us of the importance of our life’s work- not only as first responders, but peer support persons as well. One such person is Jacob Whitley who is the director of Brave Are The Fallen ..read more

Life was easier when my friend and colleague Chris Marella (4th Shift Fitness) was studying for the Lt’s examination. He was quiet then. Distracted with studying. Dare I say…. docile??? Things are different now. His mind never stops running and I receive almost daily messages about things we should be doing. A few weeks ago, is a good example. Within a few hundred texts and 15 minutes we’d brainstormed an initiative to help bring awareness to the plight of Firefighter and EMS suicide. If you’re a civilian, you probably don’t know and even if you’re a firefighter, you might not know this: m ..read more

The following story was shared with the permission of Lori Moore, wife of Captain Chris Moore of the Chesapeake Fire Department: “So where do I begin.  How much should be said, how much should be unsaid?  Do you make it so raw that it hurts or do you soften the blow?  How much truth do you put out there because not only are you reading this, but my spouse is too and some of these feelings he is not aware of until now. PTSD in the First Responder world is real and the life stories should be told. It may help another spouse/family see the signs earlier and get the help sooner.&nbs ..read more

Hi Everyone, This is the official call for speaker papers for the 2nd Annual Illinois Firefighter Peer Support Symposium to be held at the Marriott in Naperville, Illinois on February 20th and 21st, 2020. We are seeking presentations on the following topics: PTSD Depression/Anxiety Peer Support Family/Significant Other Support Mindfulness Addiction Suicide Faith Fitness Holistic Health Retirement Cancer in the Fire Service Any other topic you may feel will be of interest to firefighters/paramedics and their circle of support The goal of your presentation is to provide take-away information tha ..read more

This interview was released a couple of days ago and it is definitely worth sharing. Annette was one of our speakers at the first ILFFPS Symposium in March. She shares her story and how she turned it around with the help of peer support and personal resiliency. 041 – Interview with Annette Zapp The post The Fire Inside Podcast Interview with Annette Zapp appeared first on ILFFPS ..read more