When you think about first responders, seldom do most think of mindfulness and meditation. But most would concede that the work of first response is, at times, stressful. And it’s not just the stress of the big calls. It’s the routine stuff: the shift work, politics, trauma, interpersonal conflict, and much more that firefighters across the U.S. face every day.
What are we to do about it?
Mindfulness and meditation are dual, and ancient, concepts—and often misunderstood. This isn’t about tie-dye or good vibes, as Mindful Responder makes clear. Mindfulness is a radical form of self-communication, according to this book: True situational awareness. And, as the book demonstrates—with exercises, cutting-edge science, and anecdotes—it is well within reach of any first responder.
“As first responders, we see a lot of trauma while dealing with many types of personalities—both good and bad,” says Chief Sam DiGiovanna of the Verdugo Fire Academy in Glendale, Calif. “It’s hard to become completely proficient with all that is required of us nowadays. And yet we don’t receive much training on the coping mechanisms necessary to recoup and return ‘fit for duty.’ Mindful Responder by Crawford Coates provides necessary tools to prevent personal and professional burnout and stress. I highly recommend reading this and keeping it readily available to maintain emotional and physical stability in our profession.”
Coates brings a wealth of experience to the topic. He’s worked with first responders for more than a decade as a writer, editor, and publisher. Prior to this, he was a journal manager at the prestigious neuroscience journal Brain Research, which instilled in him, as he puts it, “the conviction that mind affects wellbeing and performance in ways both subtle and profound.”
What you can expect from the book:
No nonsense: The book is faced-paced and doesn’t dwell long on the abstract.
Definitions: Agree or disagree with him, Coates pins down specific definitions for often-fuzzy terms such as mindfulness and meditation.
Parameters: How much? How long? What exactly is required? Coates, again, doesn’t beat around the bush.
Accommodation: Everyone comes to mindfulness from his or her own paradigm. For some, meditation is frightening. Not so for others. Some suffer from traumatic experience. Perhaps the greatest strength of this book: It meets you where you are.
Stories and humor: Coates has obviously spent some time around firehouse tables. Although meticulously researched and footnoted, this book is written for consumption.
Solutions: This is a book with a purpose—to reduce stress and increase happiness among America’s first responders.
Conclusion
So much misery has been outsourced to our first responders. It’s no wonder stress and its correlates (cortisol levels, suicide and suicidal ideation, divorce, substance abuse, etc.) are outsized among this population. We can do better. That’s the lesson of this path-breaking book. But it doesn’t stop there. Mindful Responder shows you precisely how we can do better. And we must.
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