Members Assistance Programs Firefighter I

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Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Members Assistance Programs (MAPs) Confidential counseling/referral services provided to employees and their eligible dependents – Eligible dependents normally include Spouses Common law spouses Children living with the employee, including foster children Elderly parents Boyfriends and girlfriends 3

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Members Assistance Programs (MAPs) (continued) Often referred to as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) Normally prepaid by the employer Designed to help employees with problems that can affect all families at one time or another; these problems can also affect job performance unless they are treated promptly and professionally Give professional assistance to employees who need it (often by giving referrals) 4

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Members Assistance Programs (MAPs) (continued) Assist with problems including, but not limited to – Alcohol and drug dependency – Personal and interpersonal problems – Marriage difficulties – Stress – Depression – Anxiety – Divorce – Financial problems – Emotional health 5

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Wellness Programs Established to assist fire service personnel dealing or struggling with health-related problems including, but not limited to – Nutrition – Hypertension/High Blood Pressure – Smoking – Weight loss – Physical conditioning with access to counselors and or trainers These programs are often offered to the firefighter and their eligible dependents as listed above 6

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Often considered to be an integral part of a department’s MAP because of the purpose it serves Have qualified stress managers/counselors or incident personnel available as needed Assists firefighters with managing the stress related to incident response – Because firefighters and victims are exposed to injuries that can be horrific and gruesome some method of reducing and dealing with stress must be available to reduce the impact of these incidents 7

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) (continued) Stress management should begin prior to situations in which psychological or emotional stress can be anticipated. This can be done by – Debriefing firefighters before they enter a seriously stressful scene so they may prepare themselves for what they might encounter – Defusing fire service responders that may be working several shifts exposed to such conditions (recommended at the end of each shift) Additionally, firefighters should participate in a full debriefing session within 72 hours of the incident 8

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) (continued) A defusing session is an informal discussion with incident responders that – Addresses chemical and medical exposure information – Addresses damaged equipment and apparatus – Identifies any unsafe operating procedures that may have been used At the defusing session – Information gathering responsibilities are assigned in preparation of the post-incident analysis – Positive aspects of the incident are also identified and reinforced – Stress indicators are identified and initially dealt with 9

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Employer benefits of providing MAPs Reduce the impaired performance of personnel and return it to an acceptable level Decrease excessive absenteeism Reduce grievances Decrease inappropriate treatment Improve morale Increase workplace safety Enhance the family and workplace environment 10

Copyright © Texas Education Agency All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. Resources , Essentials of Firefighting (5 th Edition), International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), , Firefighter's Handbook: Firefighter I and Firefighter II (1 st Edition), Delmar Cengage Learning, 2008 El Paso Fire Department’s Members Assistance Program 11