Tag: EMT

Retired Captain Brenda Berkman of the FDNY sat down with The Firefighter Deconstructed and discussed healing from the job and 9/11 and the added trauma of working in a hostile working environment. Brenda is known as the leader of the first women firefighters for FDNY. In 1982 she was hired with 40 other women but was the sole named plaintiff in the lawsuit against the city of New York and FDNY to give women an equal opportunity to become a firefighter. She became a lightening rod for all the anger and hostility towards women becoming firefighters. Despite taking the brunt of the backlash, she continued to champion for women in the fire service and women in general, as she still does today. Captain Berkman spent 25 years on the job. It was an absolute honor to have her on the show.

www.brendaberkmanartworks.com
monumentalwomen.org
www.pbs.org/independentlens/takingtheheat
“Taking the Heat” on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6l56ShNMAE

The Firefighter Deconstructed sits down with 14 year firefighter/paramedic and combat veteran Ryan Mains. Why Ryan Mains? Because he ran 130 kilometers for every firefighter who killed themselves in 2019. That’s 80.77 miles for all of us non metric people. Ryan dealt with his own demons and is still working his recovery. We talk about Ketamine treatments, financial problems that face so many first responders with PTSI, and the difficulty of accepting help. Ryan also talks about the IAFF (International Association of FireFighters) Center of Excellence, the treatment and recovery center for IAFF members.

email: runforourlives@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/RunForOurLives/
www.ilffps.org
www.iaffrecoverycenter.com
www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-firefighter-ptsd-ryan-mains-20200103-vaioiikvg5hbth6pvqs6sc3bzi-story.html

This is such an important episode!! The Firefighter Deconstructed sits down and talks with an amazing woman who has made it her life’s passion to take care of fire responders in an area we never thought we’d could end up, in the legal system. Lisa Houle served as a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney for 15 years before starting her own practice as a criminal defense attorney. When we first responders end up at the bottom of the PTSD hole and make a huge mistake, like get a DUI or get into trouble, something we normally would never do, we find ourselves at the mercy of the law, on the other side of where we’ve spent our entire careers. Lisa Houle realized there was a great need for representation for first responders who find themselves on that other side. She is a true gift to us and will fight like hell for you. Please listen in.

tel:424.332.9079
lisa@houle-law.com
www.houle-law.com

Captain Dan Willis (ret), Author of Bulletproof Spirit, served as a police officer for the La Mesa Police Department near San Diego for nearly 30 years as a SWAT Commander, crimes of violence-sexual assault-child molest and homicide detective. He has provided emotional survival and wellness training in 35 states and in Canada to over 5,000 peace officers. This guy really knows his stuff. We discuss the important areas of warning signs of emotional distress, the signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSI), the efficacy of peer support programs, dangers and types of maladaptive coping techniques, and so much more about simple ways to help prevent PTSI and help heal from it. This is an incredibly informative episode for all first responders and everyone else!
Website: http://www.FirstResponderWellness.com
Amazon for the book: https://www.amazon.com/Bulletproof-Spirit-Revised-Responders-Protecting/dp/1608686310
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-willis-95468840/
Facebook: Dan Willis
EMDR.org

Melanie Mikeska, who is a total badass, and I sit down and talk about being a sheriff’s deputy in a large county that goes through several budget cuts and has some poor leadership. Having PTSD was hard enough but the department betrayal she experienced was unfathomable. Melanie went through hell and came close to suicide. But she is doing great now and loving retirement. Listen to how she got there.