This is one of the most difficult type of emergency calls to respond to for all responders. Anytime children die, it brings about piercing screams, severe shock, and other adverse reactions. These screaming sounds and the expressions on parent’s faces are not quickly forgotten. In a sense, they go with us. Standing beside families as … Read More
Repercussions for emergency responders relate to the impact and aftermath of exposure to critical incidents. This can be a single traumatic call or the residual effect of multiple incidents over a period of time.In both cases, the needs are real and the emotional and mental force upon a person can be lessened with intervention. An … Read More
Tears of sadness fell from the eyes of the young adult whose friend lay dead inside of the house. As this mourning female sat in the back seat of a law enforcement truck, she was in need of consoling. Prior to arriving on scene, I had been making a routine, late afternoon visit to the … Read More
In an instant. This phrase brings to mind the reality of how fast one’s life can change. The A.L.E.R.T. helicopter is lifting off with a driver injured in an accident in which he quickly crossed over the center line and struck a much larger, oncoming truck and trailer. He then careened into another big truck, … Read More
A major loss of property makes an emotional and mental mark upon its victims. An unexpected and destructive fire can quickly have a lasting impact on a family just like this one did this morning. While no one was physically injured, a major loss of property makes an emotional and mental mark upon its victims. … Read More
On Valentine’s Day, representatives of the Bigfork Ladies Service Club presented this check to Braveheart. After we made a presentation last fall, the service club chose to invest into Braveheart so that both citizens and responders would continue to have a full-time chaplain available. This SUV came to rest in the midst of a rock … Read More
“The tow truck driver and I both admitted that neither of us had ever seen a car’s engine end up 50 yards from the vehicle it belonged in.” On Wednesday morning, a new volunteer chaplain candidate with a law enforcement agency had completed his interview. He requested that if I had a call which he … Read More
The first day of winter weather hit hard and so did these two vehicles! While sitting in a caring citizen’s van who stopped to help and while waiting on a loved one to arrive, one of the drivers emphatically declared, “I can’t believe how many responders are here, how fast they arrived, and how well … Read More
This is a portion of what it means to serve as an emergency responder chaplain. The ministry of presence means being with citizens or responders in the difficult situations. It’s caring, guiding, listening, resourcing. While I was not on the scene for this situation, I was promptly contacted by someone who personally knew the victim. … Read More
“Thanks for being here.” I hear this phrase quite often from responders on scene, especially in the midst of the more graphic, harsh situations. Last night, I heard this comment from several law enforcement officers as we stood in the middle of Highway 93, a few miles south of Whitefish. It was late at night, … Read More
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