A person who has specialized skills and training regarding fast response and provision of first-aid in the event of emergencies such as an accident is a first responder. First responders are an overlooked population, despite their professional training, when it comes to the effect these emergencies or disasters have on their mental health. They can be in emergencies or disastrous situations that can affect them psychologically. Long-term effects of these disturbing scenes of dead bodies, trapped people or even injured children, consequently, may lead to withdrawal, depression and anxiety. Self-contained and action-oriented are the attributes first responders possess and that's why their mental-health status is ambiguous. Therefore, preparatory/preventive and post-event strategies should be employed to help first responders cope with post-traumatic stress disorders.
Psychological traumas are the physical and mental reaction after the experience of disasters or emergencies. First responders are prone to disruption of good mastery of daily schedule, great colleague support system and loss of purpose of life. Some of the symptoms registered during the post-traumatic stress disorder may include hypervigilance, intrusive memories like flashbacks, withdrawal, and mood irritability, to other cases shunning from the actual scene of the incident. First responders are a high-risk population and development of proper interventions will help lower human suffering ensuring their safety and care.
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Implementation of psychological first aid models that focus on stabilizing and assisting the facilitation of healthy ways of normalizing and succumbing to emotional responses during disasters. It will help focus on the recovery of the mental health of the first responders' post-disaster. Organizations and communities have pre-existing structures for mental health and provision services like effective planning, consultations and even guidance for prior, post and in the event of disasters. They have qualified peer social support that first responders may need. Lastly, self-care is significant as first responders should ensure they meet their basic needs before taking care of others during disasters or even after.
