“Operation Zzz” Exceeds 100 Blankets!

I would like to take a minute to respond to legitimate questions concerning our “Operation Zzz” weighted blanket program.  In March of 2017, our Team began making and providing these blankets to first responders who were suffering with sleep deprivation due to extreme anxiety and PTSD.  It was, and continues to be, our hope that if we can improve a person’s sleep and increasing their rest, it will lessen that anxiety and simply improve their life.   It has also demonstrated the use of these blankets help those treating for PTSD to better respond to clinical care when they seek the help of a therapist.

The program is supported financially by the Steinberg Law Firm in Goose Creek and through private donations from individuals and/or organizations in the community.  We do ask for a donation from those receiving a blanket, but we have and will continue to provide them at no cost if someone cannot afford one.

This program could not be possible without those that support us financially and the two people who sew them for us.   Stacy Green, of Charleston County EMS, was the “mover and shaker” behind the program as she asked our Team to join her in making them.  Marci-Jo Mishoe, of the Lowcountry Fire Wives and F.L.A.M.E.S. organization, joined Stacy last year and together they have made over 100 of these blankets.  The two of them are absolutely the heart of “Operation Zzz”.  It takes about 12-14 hours to make a full-size blanket and 4 hours to make a lap-size so you can understand the effort they put forth.  As you might imagine, we have a waiting list to get one. There are a few questions that need to be answered first and we will do that in a private phone call or email communication.

Now, to the questions referred to in my opening paragraph.   “How are people selected to receive one?” and “How is it decided who gets them first?’  First, the project has grown far beyond our expectations and getting them done in a timely fashion is difficult at best.  I assure you that if you are on our list you will get your blanket. Secondly, we make two different blankets. One is a “full-size” blanket custom made to a person’s height and weight and designed to be used to improve their sleep.   The second is standard 7 lb. lap size blanket made for 911 telecommunicators to lay over their laps or drape around their shoulders to calm their anxiety when they are handling difficult calls.  The lap-size blankets are also provided to our Team clinicians to use for their clients during counseling sessions when anxiety levels rise.

Now, those of you that request a blanket will receive yours on a first-come first-serve basis.  The only deviation from that distribution is that we do make exceptions for what we consider immediate need, i.e., someone in acute distress or a request from a person’s therapist to provide one quickly.

We also hope to eventually provide them to the 911 dispatch centers in all counties of the State as support for them and for the state F.A.S.T. Team that provides care to them. It is simply our way of contributing and supporting others.  Since we respond to assist 911 centers who have had difficult or tragic calls, we will provide them blankets after our visit as continued support to them.  Those centers may get them ahead of others as a part of our response.  It is a daunting task to reach the other centers in the state as we targeted the Lowcountry 911 Centers first since they are in our region. But, we have also provided lap blankets to several 911 centers outside of the Lowcountry as a part of our continued support of them after difficult calls.

In conclusion, we appreciate your patience as we continue to provide this service.  Don’t hesitate to call  me,  Gerald Mishoe, at 843-609-8300 or send me a message on our website at www. firefightersupport.org at our “Contact Us” link.   We will make every effort to respond to you in a timely fashion.