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Fire Fighters Bonds
Fire Fighters Bonds
As one thinks of all the trials that may be faced in life, the thoughts can be overwhelming. One has to look at one's situation and try to distinguish what one is able to manage in a successful manner. Some occupations require a certain type of person. This website will look specifically at fire fighters.
A person that decides to perform as a firefighter has taken a vow to save the lives of his/her fellow human being. The fire fighter has decided that he/she will place his life on the line daily to perform his responsibility and ensure his/her team may count on him. The concept seems clear and simple, but it is much more than meets the eye or the spoken word.
Imagine the fire station as a house where a family resides. The bond that the men and women form are not intentional bonds, but bonds developed and strengthened due to the dangers of the occupation and willingness to place faith in their colleagues. One reporter stated, "The bond between firefighters is powerful, rich and unique. They are men and women who daily put the welfare of others before their own. They have the common experience, not just as people who wear red suspenders (they really do), but as people who have developed uncommon instincts. They have learned to walk in the dark of smoky corridors with compromised hearing and speaking ability. In essence, they are people who have developed other senses when vision, hearing, smell and touch are greatly compromised." Visualizing the comment by the reporter, it becomes clear that a fireman does not have to tell his colleagues to do their jobs or be safe because they all know and understand that each other's life depends on the other person carrying out responsibilities. The bond extends further than just the local fire station. Another view that was reported after the tragedies on September 11 was "for firefighters who live together, eat together and regularly face a common enemy -- the one they call 'the red devil' -- it is as if a whole branch of their family had been wiped out. After the fiery explosions and subsequent destruction of Sept. 11, it seemed to them, at least for one dark day, the enemy had won." The attack on America was a heart-wrenching incident, but it was made even more tragic for the fire fighters that responded to assist and for those fire fighters that were not able to assist. The bond appears to be universal among firemen. It seems that firemen throughout the world seem to have a great appreciation for their fellow worker. According to another reporter, "Firefighters commonly refer to fellow firefighters as "brothers" and their overarching profession as a "brotherhood." They rescue strangers -- and one another -- in the direst circumstances. They are known for their fierce loyalty. In the heart of a culture that discourages and belittles male-to-male affection, the profession, which still greatly attracts men, is home to men who openly display affection and love for one another." It takes a special type of person to become a fire fighter. Firefighters make personal sacrifices and make choices that are unsafe or difficult in order to obtain the objective.
We think that our treatment plan, proposed for firefighters that were directly involved in the September 11 situation, would benefit from our closed eclectic group. The closed group will assist the fire fighters in accomplishing a variety of goals. For example, cognitively place the events into perspective and then to make the emotional connection with the situation under controls that they are not overwhelmed. The closed group will also provide the firefighters with an environment that they will be able to share their emotions to assist one another in the process of healing through this traumatic event. There have been studies that illustrate that when people are able to express themselves after stressful events, they are more apt to get well earlier. With the group members expressing themselves from a cognitive and an emotional perspective, they will have the opportunity for feedback from their peers and possible options to manage their situation.