It’s no secret public safety professionals are exposed to more high-stress situations than the average civilian. With that, fire, EMS and law enforcement personnel experience higher rates of stress-related disorders and diseases.
The National Institute for Public Safety Health highlighted this by comparing the average age of a first heart attack in the general U.S. population (66 years old) to the average age for a firefighter (49 years old). These findings were also similar for law enforcement. Law enforcement officers tend to have higher blood pressure and cholesterol than civilians and 40% of them have a sleep disorder.
Due to these elevated risks, public safety personnel must be proactive in caring for their mental and physical health. TargetSolutions’ online training course library for public safety agencies includes training for the wellbeing of employees. Courses such as NFPA 1500: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Fire Industry, Emotional Survival in Law Enforcement and Workplace Stress speak to the unique challenges of these industries and offer healthy coping strategies.
As September is National Suicide Prevention Month, identifying workplace stressors and reacting to warning signs is crucial. It’s the responsibility of every individual in these fields to understand their personal mental health and help one another when possible. Learn more about how your agency can address health concerns with TargetSolutions’ custom-built training for stress management.
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