Teach Your Crews to Self-Rescue
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
This wisdom applies to your crew, too. While Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), peer support, and other resources are helpful, it’s time to argue for autonomy in the fire service. Your relationship with your department should focus on empowering them to manage their own challenges, not fostering co-dependence or making them reliant on your services.
We train constantly in the fire service. Much of that training doesn’t always stick. However, there are core lessons, like the fire triangle or EMS protocols of ABC (airway-breathing-circulation), that never fade. Why? Because these concepts are foundational — they teach us the mechanics of managing an emergency scene or patient care. The same applies to mental resilience: the mind has its own “control system” too.
The core of mental resilience is managing three key elements: attention, story, and habit. This is mental mapping — a tool that helps your crew steer their mind toward positive perceptions and away from negative ones by intercepting these elements.
Remember the freedom you felt when learning how to drive? That same sense of freedom comes from learning how to maneuver the mind. Riding shotgun is never as fun as taking the wheel when it comes to the road or the mind.
Self-rescue isn’t just a survival skill on the job. It’s a life skill. As firefighters, your crews face challenges off the clock too: relationships, health threats like injury or cancer, the loss of colleagues, and emotional struggles. When your people know how to manage their own mental state, they’re better equipped to navigate life’s difficulties. The more independent they are, the less they’ll lean on you, and the more they’ll thrive.
As their employer, you’ll appreciate knowing that your investment in your people is protected, not just during the shift, but long after they walk out the door. Ready to give your team the mental PPE they need? Book a free consultation call today to explore mental mapping and how it can strengthen your department.