I Love a Fire Fighter: What the Family Needs to Know

by Ellen Kirschman PhD

Overview

How can fire fighter families cope with the emotional toll of loving a first responder? There are ceaseless worries—about the physical dangers of the profession, the cumulative stress, and the long hours spent away from home. In this compassionate and knowledgeable guide—now fully revised and updated—psychologist Ellen Kirschman shares sage advice and practical strategies for when times get tough. From dealing with occupational hazards like trauma, marital tension, and substance use problems, to the psychological effects of fighting wildland fires, Dr. Kirschman understands the unique challenges of life on the front lines. With candor and wisdom, she shows fire fighters and their loved ones how to navigate the highs and lows of “the best job in the world.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462541003
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	06/24/2021
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Ellen Kirschman, PhD, is a police and public safety psychologist, volunteer clinician at the First Responder Support Network, and sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator. Dr. Kirschman is a recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Police and Public Safety Psychology from the Police and Public Safety section of Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) of the American Psychological Association and the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology award from the California Psychological Association. She is coauthor of a book for mental health professionals, Counseling Cops; author of the self-help guides I Love a Cop, Third Edition, and I Love a Fire Fighter, Second Edition; and writes a mystery series featuring police psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff. She also blogs with Psychology Today and writes a newsletter. Her website is www.ellenkirschman.com.
 

Table of Contents

Introduction
I. Two In/Two Out: Building and Strengthening Your Resilient Relationship
1. The Givens and Realities of the Fire Service
2. Spillover: Managing the Relationship between Home and Work
3. Relationships: Signs of Trouble, Signs of Strength
II. Answering the Call: Fire Fighters and Their Careers
4. Profiles: The Fire Fighter Personality
5. Climbing the Career Ladder: From Recruitment to Retirement
III. Beyond Burning Buildings
6. Emergency Medical Services
7. Wildland Fire and Trauma
IV. The Hot Zone: Staying Safe
8. Injuries, Fatalities, and Challenges to Health
9. Improving Safety
V. Trauma and Stress
10. Trauma: An Overview
11. Protective Factors: A Caring Organization, Resilience, and Posttraumatic Growth
12. Getting Help for PTSI: What to Aim For, Where to Go
13. Families and Trauma
14. Helping Yourself
15. Children and Trauma
VI. Fire Fighters in Hot Water
16. Addiction and Arson
17. Domestic Abuse and Suicide
VII. Special Families
18. Fire-Fighting Couples
19. Diversity: Women, Ethnic Minorities, and LGBTQ Fire Fighters on the Job
VIII. Getting the Help You Need When You Need It
20. Counseling
Epilogue
Resources
Bibliography
Index
 

Interviews

Fire fighters, their family members and significant others, and health professionals who work with them. Will be used as a training tool in fire academies nationwide.

Editorial Reviews

"I laughed and cried as I read this book—the personal experiences and insights really spoke to me. I had so many 'aha!' moments! I am left with a sense that I am not alone, and I now have tools to navigate the fire service world."—Chris S., fire fighter spouse

"My husband started his career as a volunteer/reserve and eventually worked his way to Fire Chief. I have referred to this book every step of the way and found it to be a priceless source of knowledge and guidance. Over the years, I have recommended and given this book to dozens of spouses and family members as the top resource for understanding this unique culture and lifestyle. There is no other guide as complete as this one!"—Kelly B., Fire Chief spouse

"The fire service culture is rich, unique, and full of tradition. Dr. Kirschman takes you through the interpersonal dynamics and lifestyle challenges that fire fighters face, and gives you real-world perspectives and advice."—Kristen Wheldon, PsyD, President, Fire Service Psychology Association

"My fire fighter is retired now, but if we had to do it all again, this book would have been a priceless roadmap for many of the problems and emotions that we encountered throughout her career. The fire service is unlike any other profession—this is a 'must read' for all current and future fire fighters and the people who love them."—Lisa H., fire fighter spouse

"Dr. Kirschman offers helpful insights into how fire fighters think, how the work can affect them, and how to take action for a healthy fire family. Not only is this book informative, it is also enjoyable to read. It is written in a conversational, no-nonsense style that makes you feel like you're engaging with the author. Each chapter includes strategies from seasoned fire fighters and their family members, as well as Dr. Kirschman’s extensive experience. The robust list of resources will help you continue improving your relationships and well-being."—Stephanie M. Conn, PhD, First Responder Psychology, Beaverton, Oregon; author of Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel

From the Publisher

"A very welcome resource for the fire service. Every fire recruit should give a copy to his or her family on the first day of training." (on the first edition)

FireWork

"Dr. Kirschman offers cogent tips for dealing with the spillover between work and home....I highly recommend [this book] to mental health professionals, faith based helpers, peer supporters, and family members. [It offers] invaluable insights and constructive suggestions." (on the first edition)

International Journal of Emergency Mental Health

Reviewer: Gerald A Steckmeister, MSCJ (Boston University)
Description: Firefighting is a stressful profession, with high rates of post-traumatic stress, addiction, suicide, and divorce. This book covers what the families of firefighters should expect from having a loved one in this unique profession and offers advice to mitigate many of the potential problems they might encounter.
Purpose: The purpose is to inform the families of firefighters what they can expect from their loved one's career in the fire service, and how to navigate life in this challenging profession. The author's objectives are clearly noble. PTSD and other mental health issues in the fire service have been ignored for some time. She meets these objectives by explaining the unique issues and needs of firefighters in plain English.
Audience: As the subtitle states, this book is written for families of firefighters. While some of the book is dedicated to spouses or significant others, the information is useful to any family member or even close friends. As a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating first responders, the author is clearly an expert. In addition, as part of the research for the book, she attended an abbreviated fire academy to understand the nature of the job and interviewed numerous families of firefighters. Due to her unique knowledge of the firefighting profession, this book should prove beneficial to clinicians who serve firefighters or emergency medical technicians.
Features: The book begins with an overview of the firefighting service and describes unique issues that cause stress and how they may damage relationships at home. It then goes into specific issues, such as addiction, domestic abuse, and suicide, along with a plan to prevent or mitigate these problems. The book includes over 20 pages of resources for families to get help or further information on particular topics. The bibliography is also extensive and will enable clinicians to delve deeper into the science behind the book. The best aspect of the book is the way it presents detailed, science-based information in plain English so that those without a firefighting or clinical background can easily understand it.
Assessment: This is a well-written handbook to help families of firefighters understand, mitigate, and possibly prevent many of the physical and mental health problems faced by firefighters. While there is some similarity between this book and the author's I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know, 3rd edition (Guilford Press, 2018), there is enough unique information about the firefighting profession to make it worth reading it even if you have read the other. This second edition offers new chapters, including one on the unique stress of fighting wildfires, and also goes into greater detail on mitigating emotional trauma. While the author has written a book aimed at clinicians who work with police officers, Counseling Cops: What Clinicians Need to Know (Guilford Press, 2014), there is no corresponding book specifically for those treating firefighters. However, this book should prove a useful resource to clinicians and families alike.

Doody's Review Service

"Definitely a must read for supervisors and administrators of fire and emergency services, both volunteer and career. Also, this is an important book for professional psychologists rendering services to fire personnel, their families and organizations." (on the first edition)

Atlantic OccuPsych

"A very welcome resource for the fire service. Every fire recruit should give a copy to his or her family on the first day of training."

FireWork (Newsletter of the Int. Ass. of Women in Fire and Emergency Services)