In the flood, first -personmen balanced helping others while their families are threatened. This is impossible to choose

When unprecedented floods of flooding of cities and leaves residents in some parts of Fresh South Wales, Local first respondents saved Hundreds of people from flood waters and roofs.

Australia volunteering It is estimated that over 400,000 volunteers were the first respondents throughout the country. About half of the volunteers in the fire brigade services and about 25,000 in state and territorial emergency services. Thousands of additional “undetectable” first rescuers assist informally and spontaneously support their communities from and after the disaster.

In such a situation, such as the current flood in NSW, local first respondents, many of whom are volunteers, encounters a challenging dilemma. How do they prioritize their involvement in their community and the security of society, while protecting their own families and houses?

This is a dilemma that one of us (Cameron) knows too well. Cameron is a registered paramedic and volunteer fireman, in 2009 he responded to Black Saturday Bush fires in 2009. He is aware of the challenges who must juggle – helping others, while providing protected.

It’s juggling

During the disaster, the first respondents and their families may be threatened due to extreme weather and growing floods, damaged infrastructure and other threats. The first respondents may need to evacuate homes, coordinate emergency services and move in perilous conditions, trying to ensure the safety of their family.

In the rapidly evolving situations of crisis situations, they can also face the choice of resignation from work in emergency in order to determine the priorities of their family’s safety, potentially exposing them to the risk of their first colleagues.

Even now, 16 years after the black Saturday fires, the bush devastated the parts of Victoria, Jessica Ciccosillo, the first reacting in ST John Ambulance Australia, she still feels as if she abandoned the community when she needed her the most. She told us:

I had a child at home, and my husband also volunted during the disaster. We both couldn’t answer at the same time, so I stayed at home with my child. I also wanted to protect our animals and property. But the desire to assist was so robust and it was so challenging to decide to stay at home and priority to our family.

This is a moral dilemma

Finding a balance between helping others, while their families are at risk, can create a moral dilemma for people giving the first people, forcing them to make challenging decisions regarding the concentration of their efforts.

These moral dilemmas can arise contradictory values (such as the need to comply with organizational policies or directives that are contrary to our personal beliefs), the need to make challenging decisions under pressure or providing events that question their sense of what is good and what is bad.

Moral dilemmas about who to make a conversion in an emergency moral injuryWhen people may feel guilty, ashamed and concerned about the choices they made.

Families can also suffer

The first work of the responder can significantly Influence of family members. Long and unpredictable hours can interfere with family classes and undermine the sense of support. In addition, there is a constant fear of the safety of their loved one. When crisis situations occur, these fears may be increased.

Families can even Experience a replacement traumawhere they absorb the stress and trauma of their loved one, which leads to their own mental health challenges.

The first respondents want to talk to someone who understands “

When we asked the local first respondents what would be the most helpful in supporting their well -being, the message was clear: they want to talk about what they experienced with someone who “understands”.

Sharing your experiences with supporting colleagues and peers offers a different type of support for many supporters who could not utilize or want to utilize more conventional advisory programs.

Organizations of emergency services can also promote well -being, creating supporting cultures and robust leadership that focus on building mental health skills. Programs that meet the needs of the whole family, not just an individual respondent, can support immunity.

In the case of local first assistance in flood -affected communities in the NSW, focusing on making petite, brief -term decisions can assist them feel less overwhelmed and allow them to better manage mental health.

There is support

If you are the first answer and you need support now, the resources include:

• . National Service Support Servicewhich offers free, confidential and evidence based on mental health, including 12 free sessions with clinicians based on injury

• Australian Strong Provides support for mental health, including clinical support and actions of well -being, for the first providing rescuers and their families

• Beyond blue Offers a police and rescue program to promote mental health and reduce the risk of suicide among the police and rescue staff, including their families

• Phoenix Australia Offers information, support options and treatment related to first aid trauma, including Assists Assist program

• Code 9 Foundation It provides support for first aid people with post -traumatic stress syndrome, depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses resulting from their community service.

For families of people giving the first:

• this guide From the Emergency Service Foundation, it is aimed at helping the families of rescue workers, especially volunteer families. It was developed with the contribution of partners, children and other relatives who have experience in life with an emergency service.

If this article has raised problems for you or you are worried about someone you know, call Lifeline to number 13 11 14.