After the Call and the Awards, Then What? Kevin and Paula's Story

摘要

THIS IS THE STORY OF KEVIN AND PAULA Wirth before and after April 16,2014. The horrific incident that occurred on that date will live with them for the rest of their lives. I arrived second due and was the incident commander. I assigned every responding unit its assignment, led the debriefing, and called for critical incident stress management (CISM).Kevin, a strong, hardened, and seasoned firefighter, was assigned to a busy ladder company. Kevin's story is not unique; the fire service has many Kevins serving on every shift. Firefighters are injured each day in nontraditional ways. Kevin's story helps us to understand how strong and seasoned firefighters can be emotionally injured, the effects of this injury, and how professional assistance can enable them to return to duty and life.