Page 30 - UFRA Straight Tip Spring 2021 - Volume 22 Issue 2
P. 30

  How to Navigate Hypervigilance
MENTAL HEALTH
 When we start in the fire service, we experi- ence new and exciting situations—responding to emergencies, mitigating hazards, and help- ing those in need. In order to perform the job safely, we are given equipment and training to protect ourselves and others. The most notable being turnouts, self-contained breathing ap- paratus (SCBA), various tools, and hose. Over time, though, we build on our training and experiences and take protection and safety to
another level. We learn that our safety not only depends on our equipment but on our abil-
ity to be alert and perceive potential threats around us. This heightened state of awareness and alertness is called hypervigilance.
Hypervigilance is a necessary part of the job. In fact, I think of it like armor. It is a protective shield that we put on when we go into “work mode.” Like a knight going into battle, we put
on armor when we respond to emergencies. This helps to keep us protected and alert so we can avoid potential harm and return home safely. But, like armor, hypervigilance can get heavy and weigh us down over time. If we are not able to shed this armor when we are not in work mode, it becomes detrimental to us in our personal lives.
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