FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The Marion County Rescue Squad has introduced a wellness app for employees and families to assist them in dealing with the unique challenges that are presented to first responders on a daily basis.
MCRS’s Donna said in order to provide quality life-saving care, they have to remain emotionless, yet keenly aware of the needs of the patient and those involved in the situation.
EMTs average about 40 of those instances daily, or about 12,000 times every year, according to Wade.
“When someone calls 911, it is the worst day of their lives,” Wade told WAJR Radio. “So going in and remaining calm and professional, and not only that but taking care of people in confidence, can create a lot of stress looking back on it.”
The app is offered by Lexipol and is available free to the employees and families. The app gives workers and families access to more than 60 mental and physical health topics confidentially on or off-site.
“The app is called Corico, so it is a wellness app that is for physical and mental wellness for our team and families at no cost to them,” Wade said.
Including families in this wellness campaign builds comprehensive access for the family unit that could be experiencing hardship. Secondary trauma can lead to emotional distress that can reach the same level felt by the first responder, according to studies.
“Unfortunately, we do take our work home with us when it comes to stress, depression, and anxiety from dealing with those hard calls,” Wade said. “So making sure their families and spouses have access to this is crucial for long-term mental health.”
The app connects to the MCRS peer support team and also includes contact information for local therapists and clinicians. Users can also conduct self-assessments and get guides on yoga or nutrition information.
“That includes everything from managing stress, sleep schedules, and everyday fatigue to even the more serious concerns like preventing suicide and substance abuse,” Wade said.
Only recently have the mental health needs of all first responders been brought to the forefront. There have been a variety of studies and efforts to educate the first responder community about help, but this is one of the first efforts that puts a potential remedy in the hands of those who need it.
“We’re hoping to get the word out to other first responder agencies. If they are interested, we would love to give them the information for this app,” Wade said.