Family Presence During Resuscitation by First Responders

Key Takeaways Patient experiencing cardiac arrest is the highest priority and deserves full attention. However, it is very important to think about the family/witness perspective on their life-changing situation. Embracing their presence and using techniques to ensure...

Help for First Responders for Managing Family Expectations

Key Takeaways Witnessing a patient in sudden cardiac arrest can be an emotionally traumatic experience for everyone involved, but especially for family and lay rescuers.  The scene may look chaotic and be hard for a witness to understand all of the procedures and...

Pronouncing Death in the Field: A Source of First Responder Burnout

Key Takeaways Delivering death notifications is a difficult but important part of the job for first responders.  With focused training, first responders can help to make this difficult time a little bit easier for the people involved, and it will help reduce their...

Meeting Your First Responders

Key Takeaways  For professional responders, meeting survivors can be deeply rewarding. Acknowledging events can provide closure, an opportunity for education, and reinforcement of the importance of CPR. First responder agencies should provide a list of resources and...

Seeking Professional Care from Mental Health Provider

Key Takeaways If symptoms and disturbances related to the traumatic event persist beyond the initial weeks or months, it may be time to seek the support of a mental health professional.   Seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it can be an...