On Tuesday of this week, we gathered with an amazing group of people as the Lowcountry Firefighter, EMS and 911 Telecommunicators Support Teams hosted our first ever “Emergency Services Behavioral Health Summit” in Lake City, South Carolina. All in attendance share the love for the mission of providing for the emotional health of our firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, 911 telecommunicators, and their families as we came together to share information, ideas, and resources to build an alliance to simply get better at what we do.
Even though we share the same mission, the group represented a diverse group of those who contribute to programs designed to provide a quality, professional system of improving the lives of our first responders and their families. It proved to be an eye-opening experience as many learned of the resources available to us all.
In addition to representatives of Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement agencies, and 911 centers, we were joined by professionals representing mental health centers, the SC Firefighters Insurance Services office, the Charleston Mental Health Center First Responder Support Team, multiple behavioral health clinicians from around the state, human resources, chaplain organizations, the SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program, the North Carolina Firefighter Peer Support Team, a Georgia fire service representative, the Department of Homeland Security, addiction treatment professionals, the Center for Firefighter Behavioral Health, Mobile Crisis Units, a life coaching professional, the S.C. Families Loving All Members of Emergency Services and the Lowcountry Fire Wives, both support groups for first responder families, private EMS providers and equine-assisted counseling programs.
In addition to formal presentations by many organizations, there was much networking accomplished during breaks and lunch as we shared information with each other.
Many thanks to South Lynches Fire Rescue for allowing us to use their classroom in their new training center that added so much to the comfort and quality of the day. Also, thanks to Mitchell Sims of Lake City, who provided a home-cooked meal for us all and to Marci-Jo Mishoe of the Lowcountry Fire Wives, for her baked goods that fueled us throughout the day.
Also, many thanks to our Team members and supporters, Lee Hopkins, our Pee Dee Region Coordinator, David Reindollar, our Team Leader, Matt Bernacchi and Tim Walters, of the Myrtle Beach Fire Department and F.A.S.T. Team Grand Strand Coordinators, Andy and Teresa Hogg, of the Long Branch Fire Department and F.A.S.T. Team Midlands Coordinators and Mike Medeiros, our Team’s Grand Strand Coordinator, who put this Summit together. It has been in the planning stages for some time and yesterday their work certainly paid off.
And of course, thank you to all who attended and brought your best to the table to share with us all. We can’t wait to get together again!
