#1stresponders... Where Do I Begin???

Sgt. Mark St. Hilaire - Rescue Team Wellness

I was preparing recently for this follow up article on health and wellness when I had a telephone conversation with my good friend and mentor Robert Lindsey who is known intimately by many in law enforcement as “Coach”.

I discussed my suggestions for steps a public safety professional may consider when they are restarting their own wellness plan.

When I shared with Coach a situation I encountered many years ago when I truly became SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED, Coach politely responded with his thoughts for my consideration and I am honored to share this with all of you.

Both Coach and I come from backgrounds in law enforcement in which our personal lives declined out of control with our physical health out of control at over 300+ lbs. in body weight, substance abuse and addictive behaviors and a deep spiritual decline which bordered upon total hopelessness.

Coach brought up Dr. Elisabeth Kuber-Ross’s 5 stages of the grief cycle from her book,   

ON DEATH AND DYING.  

DENIAL

ANGER

BARGAINING

DEPRESSION

ACCEPTANCE

A Widow's Awakening

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund

Saviour Play about Officer Safety to Hit Centre Stage in September

By Maryanne Pope

On September 29^th, 2000, Cst John Petropoulos of the Calgary Police Service fell to his death during the investigation of a break and enter complaint. John was searching the mezzanine level of a warehouse when he stepped through an unmarked false ceiling and fell nine feet into the lunchroom below. He succumbed to brain injuries later that day. He was 32. 

The call turned out to be a false alarm. There was no intruder in the building; John died protecting a premise that did not need protecting. The subsequent OH&S and police investigations revealed that according to legislation, a safety railing should have been in place. John’s death was not an “accident.” It was the result of a preventable fall at an unsafe workplace.

Rescue Team Wellness

Sgt. Mark St. Hilaire - Rescue Team Wellness

Recently I had the honor to present at the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) 2015 Conference in Chicago.  This year’s conference brought close to 800 law enforcement and military professionals and trainers from around the world. 

This year, Safe Call Now® was included in the 6 days of the best training on topics of self-defense, tactical training, legal issues, and inter-personal communications.  The topic that has expanded over the past several years is officer health and wellness.  Capt. Brian Nanavaty who is the Education Director for Safe Call Now® and a well-respected member of ILEETA did a great job educating our peers about Safe Call Now® along with members of his staff from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Office of Professional Development and Police Wellness. The Advisory Board of ILEETA created booth space in the conference exposition hall for Safe Call Now®. A special thanks to ILEETA’s Director, Harvey Hedden for this opportunity.