Summer 2021 Hometown Messenger

Fire Department focuses on wellness, mental health

CHIEF’S NOTES

This past year has been unlike any other. And despite COVID restrictions, our department was able to continue hosting several community events. In times of crisis, we believe it’s even more important that agencies engage in two-way information sharing and that we offer ways for the community to ask questions, present their concerns and receive a response. Our events and social media

Firefighting is a tough job, and Shakopee firefighters regularly respond to traumatic scenes that can take an emotional toll on anyone. To better care for firefighters’ overall health, the Shakopee Fire Department is teaming up with the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) to address the leading causes of firefighter fatalities – cardiac disease, cancer and emotional trauma – through education and support.

platforms gave us the ability to do just that. While our events and outreach looked a little different, we still hosted multiple blood drives, an incredibly successful diaper drive, a virtual Citizens Academy, our traditional Night to Unite celebration and our first- ever Picnic with Police

Photo by Dann Kasallis Photography

Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate

Started in 2016, the statewide initiative is aimed at giving firefighters the tools, training and support they need to prioritize and protect their health. The program offers health and wellness training to firefighters across the state. Shakopee Fire Department takes precautions to educate its firefighters about the dangers of carcinogens and the importance of proper diet and exercise. However, emotional trauma can sometimes go unchecked and take a strain on firefighters.

event. We were thrilled by the community response, and we thank all who participated and made the events so special. Now we look forward to summer 2021 and the easing of COVID restrictions. With that comes a return to a more normal feeling, and hopefully we’ll see those of you we missed last year. I highly encourage you to mark your calendars and watch for event announcements on our department’s Facebook page. Night to Unite will be Tuesday, Aug. 3. Our second annual Picnic with Police will take place Aug. 18. This was an incredible event last year, and we are looking forward to what it will be in 2021. Registration information will be coming soon. I would also encourage all of you to check out our 2020 Annual Report. It’s on our department website

“We see a lot of things than can take an emotional toll on us and can lead to added stress,” said Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Yttreness.

"Investing in our firefighters’ health is critical because we are a team, a family."

Addressing firefighters’mental health is even more important today with the department shifting to a 24-hour model,

DID YOU KNOW? Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of firefighters nationwide with 12 percent of all firefighters developing heart disease at some point in their lives. People in fire service experience higher rates of mental health challenges,

Yttreness said. Shakopee firefighters are responding to more medical calls where they can encounter traumatic circumstances. After a call, instead of going home to decompress with their family, they now return to the station where they have time to stew on the call. “We do a lot of technical, physical training – rescues, climbing, lifting – but if we don’t work on what’s going on in our head, none of the other stuff matters,”Yttreness said. Firefighters experience higher rates of mental health challenges than the general public. Firefighters are at an increased risk for depression and suicide, alcohol and drug abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. In fact, according to MnFIRE, one in four firefighters experience PTSD symptoms during their career with 21 percent of firefighters reporting suicidal ideation. Ryan Yttreness Assistant Fire Chief

such as sleep disorders, substance abuse, post-

and does not take much time to go through. There is information and data covering all of our operations and includes several highlights from the 2020 year.

traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation/action, than

the general public. Firefighters have a 9

percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer. Source: MnFIRE, 2021 Update

The training is intended to help firefighters identify their emotional state, as well as break down stigmas related to mental health. “Investing in our firefighters’health is critical because we are a team, a family, and one firefighter’s struggle can have a trickle-down effect throughout the department," Yttreness said. Learn more about MnFIRE at mnfireinitiative.com .

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