THERAPY HELPS EMS WITH PTSD

Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers recognize more and more the benefit of having psychologists and therapists who are trained in providing therapy and counselling for First Responders.

In turn, many First Responder agencies have increased their funding support to help their staff overcome the cumulative harm of chronic trauma exposure.

First Responders include 9-1-1 Dispatch Operators, Coroners, Crime Scene Technicians, and Morticians. Nurses and physicians who work 'in the field' may also be First Responders.

First Responders are the people who run towards danger, who are there in the aftermath of tragedy, and who subsume themselves in the details of what went wrong, in order to find ways to better protect, rescue and heal in the future.

First Responders are typically found at the scene of accidents, natural disasters, human conflict, and at events were there is the potential for illness or injury.

As a result, a First Responders’ contact with the public often involves emotionally distressing situations. On a daily basis they are expected to deal with sights and experiences most people will never know.

A First Responder's job is to protect and preserve life, property, evidence, and the environmentand in some situations these mandates are in conflict, resulting in the potential for further distress.

First Responders are also everyday people. They have the same challenges and struggles with spouses and partners, friends, children, personal history, workplace demands, and life stressors as any other person. Due to their employment, these common difficulties are often magnified by shift work, disrupted sleep patterns, and a sometimes unappreciative public.

They are expected to 'remain calm under pressure at all times'. They are expected to be the consummate professionals, no matter what is going on around them, what people say to them, or how they may personally feel threatened or attacked.

Unlike for the average citizen, if a First Responder slips, or has a bad day, someone else may be permanently injured, suffer illness needlessly, or die. Even when a First Responder does everything correctly their actions may be reviewed and judged by others who have no real understanding of the experience or the job.

To do all this, many First Responders learn to box up their emotions and thoughts. They attempt to segregate their work life from their home life. They find the only people who can understand how they are feeling are their work colleagues. Yet, while colleagues may be a great support, they may also send the message that emotional distress is not something to be shared, even acknowledged. This may leave a First Responder isolated and alone to deal with their distress.

Too often police, firefighters, paramedics / EMTs, child welfare workers and other First Responders are left to their own resources to try to understand and deal with the impact their distressed emotions. Distressed emotions triggered by daily exposure to accidents and injury, illness and neglect, abuse and trauma.

It is very likely that the effort to deny or minimize distress eventually weakens a persons general psychological health. This weakening may make a person susceptible to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental illnesses.

The findings so far shows that First Responders are at high risk for depression, anxiety, family dysfunction,

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negative work-site interactions / bullying, substance use /abuse, PTSD, and toxic stress. Over time, ongoing toxic stress leads to increased rates of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and other medical illnesses. Most concerning, the suicide rate for EMT/paramedics and police is very much higher than the general popu- lation.

The psychologists and therapists must have considerable training and experience in trauma counselling, along with helping First Responders deal with the common co-morbid issues of insomnia, depression, anxiety, family difficulties, and substance abuse challenges.

BY JANA SEMENIUK

The Canadian Animal Blood Bank (CABB) held a blood donor drive Feb 16 at West Wind Veterinary Hospital in Sherwood Park, where locals brought in their dogs to make a donation.

Regional Manager of CABB in the Edmonton area, Ashley Kaban, said the program has been collecting blood from dogs in Canada for more than 25 years.

“Although we are called the Animal Blood Bank, we only collect blood from dogs,” she said, adding that the organization will help in collecting blood from other animals when needed. She said animal blood is specific to the animal, and every sample is tested for 12 blood born diseases, including heartworm and lyme disease, at no cost to the owner. Although dogs have several types of blood, Kaban said the most important aspect is a showing of positive or negative while blood typing.

“When we're doing our blood typing, we just test for the DEA One Gene, whether it's positive or negative,” Kaban said. “If you're a negative blood type, you're a universal donor, (but) you can only (receive) negative blood. But if you're the positive, you can (receive) negative and positive blood and 60 percent of dogs have the positive blood type.”

There are a number of prerequisites that must be met before a dog can be accepted as a donor. Kaban said the dog must be over 55 pounds, between the ages of one and eight, in addition to having a good level of maturity.

“Sometimes (with) one year old dogs, their maturity level isn't always there. They're just too bouncy or wiggly and they just need time to mature,” she said, adding that donors are retired by age 10.

In terms of the process, Kaban said she uses lots of treats to make the experience positive for the dogs. She said prep work takes about 10 minutes which includes a sample of blood drawn for testing while the owner waits. The dog is lifted onto a table outfitted with a pad to lay on and at least two to three people there to hold them.

“They have to sit really still because we go into the jugular vein in the neck with a large needle (and) we don't want to cause any damage,” said Kaban, adding the entire collection, which takes approximately 18 percent of the dog’s blood volume, lasts five to 10 minutes.

She said the dog’s blood will replenish in about 30 days allowing them to donate more than once a year.

“We collect every three months and usually the (dog’s) whole blood amount is replenished within 30 days,” she said.

Despite the program being in Canada more than two decades, Kaban said CABB still regularly finds their supply short as the need outweighs the availability of blood.

“We collect, all over Canada, about 150 units a month, and a unit is a full-size unit like a full blood bag. And we're still anywhere between 40 to 60 units short a month,” she said. “We can't keep up with the supply and demand.”

Meanwhile Finn, a three-year-old mixed breed dog, came to the clinic with his owner to make his second donation. Owner Sarah Cameron said she got the idea to sign up Finn for the blood donation program after her friend made the suggestion.

Cameron added that another of her dogs was previously in need of several blood transfusions after a surgery.

“We have four dogs and Blue had some unfortunate issues and actually needed a couple of transfusions after a surgery,” she said.

“I never really gave much thought to blood for dogs, but he needed it. And Finn is a big dog, and he’s young so (I thought) we’ll give it a try.”

Cameron said Finn did well for his first donation.

“He was a rock star,” she said. “He had a great time. He was here for the treats.” if you are new to the Lamont County Region, please bring a copy of your tax notice, power bill, natural gas or water bill with your municipal or civic address and/or legal description, as the land owners are listed in the computer. This will allow us to make sure people from out of our area using your landfill as dumping grounds.

Together, we can keep the St. Michael Landfill a clean, environmentally friendly part of our planet!

The St Michael Landfill site, St. Michael Regional Solid Waste Commission is a Class II facility that accepts non-hazardous materials.

Every load brought to the landfill site is weighed and directed to the proper disposal area. Household garbage goes to the working face with separate areas for; antifreeze, batteries, concrete, electronic waste, household hazardous waste, metal, plastic fertilizer bottles, oil containers, paints, tires, waste oil, waste oil filters, and wood branches. The working face is compacted daily and covered.

We do not charge for household refuse generated during the routine operations of a family dwelling.

We want the residents of the Lamont District to be able to use the landfill safely and in an environmentally sustainable way for years to come so we require proof of residency.