The Silent Killer of Police and First Responders: Building Endurance to Manage the Effects of Accumulated Stress, Adversity & Trauma

The faces of police and first responders provide a window to the internal world of feelings and emotions and when they encounter adversity or exposure to danger, trauma, and other negative job related events, they present a mask of determination, and of strength and fortitude. The event has summoned the officer and he or she has responded and must now take charge, bring order to disorder, confront danger with their training, and often endure as a silent witness to yet another human tragedy. No tears will fall at what is observed. No emotion must be witnessed, and the physiological and psychological systems of the officer will instantly achieve full power as anticipation, safety, and decisions are made at light speed. The officer's senses are sharpened, eyes observe what is taking place in rapid fashion, smells and sounds are acute, movement and behavior of people are observed and mentally recorded and the officer's body is tense as high output of adrenalin is pumped throughout the body. A state of high readiness is taking place, automatic and in response to perceived danger. The individual officer is not thinking of anything else except what is within the immediate vicinity, determining next steps, adapting protective action from potential danger, and developing a response to address the issue or emergency that they cannot choose to avoid. Yet, with each call and passing of years, the potential accumulation of harmful stress and adversity adversely impact on the individual's health and well-being. We must address these issues with the goal of increasing the person's life balance.