OUR STRESS IS REAL

摘要

Allow me to begin this article by stating the painfully obvious: We have a difficult job in which life-and-death decisions are a routine part of our day. Think about that for a moment. Most people never make a split- second decision that could either save or kill another human. We make those decisions all the time—often we make them several times a shift. It takes a toll. When the going gets tough (sometimes seemingly impossible to overcome), we can't just throw our hands up and say, "Sorry. This is a toughie. I can't help you with this one." No, we don't have that option; we have to come up with a plan and try. We see indescribably horrible things, and we have to work around the horror, on the spot, and without hesitation to assist those we can still help. As firefighters, it is important for us to understand that we aren't alone in our feelings or experiences.