First Reach Foundation

Things that stress dispatchers out on the 4th of July:

1. Real emergencies
2. “I heard fireworks.”
3. “I STILL hear fireworks.”

Save 911 for emergencies. 🎆

We talk about the stress of the job, but workplace culture can be just as harmful. It costs nothing to be kind and look out for one another. 💛💛💛

I just saw there was another dispatcher who died by su***de. That’s 8 so far this year. While this is a layered topic, you want to know what’s probably the number one way we can help decrease the number of people considering this action that’s not a class or a book and is completely free?

Stop being a**holes to each other and treating each other terribly under the guise of “dark humor” and “coping with trauma”.

It may not be the kindest way to put it, but this is what’s been on my heart and honestly I just had to finally say it out loud. Your experience can explain your behavior, but it doesn’t excuse it. We all have moments where we’re not our best selves and feel the effects of this job, but instead of writing it off as just part of the role, we have to try to do better and apologize when we’re wrong.

Today, we honor and remember the courageous men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

We hold gratitude for their sacrifice and compassion for the families, friends, and communities who carry their memory forward.

From all of us at First Reach, we remember, we honor, and we thank those who gave everything.

❤️🤍💙