A veteran Indian River County battalion chief who was actively involved in the communities he served committed suicide shortly after he made a Facebook post about PTSD for firefighters.
David Dangerfield posted: "PTSD for Firefighters is real. If your love one is experiencing signs get them help quickly. 27 years of deaths and babies dying in your hands is a memory that you will never get rid off. It haunted me daily until now. My love to my crews. Be safe , take care. I love you all."
Soon after, Dangerfield called 911 and told dispatchers where he could be found, Indian River County Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Eric Flowers told TCPalm.com.
Deputies found Dangerfield's body near a pickup in the woods off State Road 60 around 10:30 p.m. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the newspaper reported.
"It is with great sadness I share with you the passing of Battalion Chief David Dangerfield this evening. Please keep Dave’s immediate and extended family in your thoughts and prayers," Emergency Services Director John King wrote to members of the department.
Dangerfield was named Emergency Service Provider of the Year by the Treasure Coast Fire Chiefs Association.
He also served an instructor at Indian River State College’s Fire Academy and founded charity a charity chili cook off.
Related Resources:
- How Firefighters Can Manage Stress
- Morrison: How Fire Departments are Addressing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Sendelbach: Assessing Risk Never Stops
- Lamplugh: Responding to Your Own Mental Health
- Lorber: Stress Awareness: Signs & Symptoms
- Ludwig: Suicides Among Fire & EMS Professionals
- Warren: When Firefighters Become Patients
- Ludwig: Suicides Among Firefighters and Paramedics
- Sendelbach: Continuing the Conversation
- Siarnicki: Who Responds to a Firefighter’s Worst Day?
- Kenny: Suicide Prevention: Do Something About It
- Wilmoth: Can We Talk?
- Video: Suicide in the Fire Service: Saving Firefighters
- Video: Soaring Firefighter Suicides Focus of Documentary
