Facing Death While Doing The Job - Reminders of Who You Are

Facing Death While on the Job

Every trained occupational responder has a different reality when responding to a situation where a patient is losing their life or has lost their life. IT is derived from faith, behavior, emotional integrity and maturity, mentorship values and principles, including agency regulations.  Remember who you are as a trained professional with the sacred trust that you will represent what is best about humanity.  Somebody loved that person.  Doing the job is not about your pride or ego, it is about service. Serve in humility.  

There is no greater respect given to our dead than through humble gestures, do not forget this. While you are wrapped up in your head and dealing with the stressors and pressures you just endured, your job is not done.  While their soul is departing, you need to keep your own thoughts intact until the ending of the SAR or recovery mission.  

Be mindful of what you say, the tone of your voice and your actions.  Not easy when we as responders have to face the hard edges of life and rescue work.  It will require of you repeated reminders, self-checking and constant humility to reset your attitude back to one of grace and dignity. It is not easy if you are exposed repeatedly to the dark side of nature.   

Take a moment to thank the deceased for the opportunity to be there in their final moments, remember a loved one would have traded anything to be there at that time and you were give that gift, be a good steward of that sacred trust of life and hold on till the end and reflect on how you want to be perceived professionally.

For coping with the stress of the moments endured, keep comments and humor separate from the incident and private.