Understanding First Responders Role in Recovery

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

The opioid epidemic has taken a toll on First Responders. Repeated overdoses and lack of education about substance use disorder has significantly increased compassion fatigue for first responders. Except for training on how to provide Narcan, most first responders do not receive any standardized training regarding substance use disorder. Further, in speaking with first responders, it became apparent that they did not have a strong understanding of addiction, its impact on patients and how, as first responders, they could make a difference. “Understanding First Responders Role in Recovery” is a 2-hour training created to help improve understanding of addiction and provide education about the process of substance use disorder (SUD). The training, which has been approved by Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), for required Continuing Education Units (CEUS), also covers opportunities for First Responders to encourage treatment and provide resources to family members in the home. Further, it includes information on the First Responder’s risk of substance use disorder due to PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), long hours, repetitive traumatic calls, and little sleep or downtime. This was presented in 2019 and 2021 by Harford County Government’s Office of Drug Control Policy to 12 Harford County Volunteer Fire Companies. Due to COVID, we did not have a presentation in 2020. It was recognized by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System as a best practice. It will be delivered to all members of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute as well as Emergency Medical Services System Instructors and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructors as a Webinar in March of 2022. It will also be presented at the EMS Cares Conference in May 2022.