title: Firefighting and mental health: Experiences of repeated exposure to trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Firefighters must be ready to respond to a broad range of emergencies every duty day. In the course of many of these emergencies, firefighters witness events which have the potential to induce emotional trauma, such as badly injured people, deceased children, and individuals who are highly distraught. Previous research suggests that repeated exposure to these traumas (RET) may have negative impacts on the emotional and mental health of fire service personnel. Research on the mental health of firefighters has been limited to small surveys reporting the prevalence of specific mental health problems such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among firefighters.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Despite the likelihood that RET leads to negative outcomes in firefighters, data is lacking on how exposure impacts fire service personnel. The current study examines the experiences of firefighters related to RET.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using formative research methods, we examined the beliefs and experiences of firefighters and administrators from across the United States regarding the impact of RET on firefighter health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study findings highlight the cumulative psychological toll of repeated exposure to traumatic events including desensitization, flashbacks, and irritability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the current study suggest that RET is a significant concern for emergency responders that warrants additional research and attention. It is likely that the long term consequences of RET are closely intertwined with other mental health outcomes and general well-being of this important occupational group.
authors.affiliation: Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research, Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research, National Development & Research Institutes, Leawood, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jahnke
authors.affiliation: Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research, Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research, National Development & Research Institutes, Leawood, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Walker S Carlos
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Poston
authors.affiliation: Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research, Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research, National Development & Research Institutes, Leawood, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Haddock
authors.affiliation: Integrative Mental Health and Wellness, Bellevue, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: EMS; Firefighters; depression; mental health; post-traumatic stress; trauma