The Fire Service Psychology Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Fire Service Psychology Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
We offer the following courses to member mental health providers:
UNDERSTANDING FIRE SERVICE CULTURE
(8 Hours of Credit)
Participants will read through sections of course content (online) and take a corresponding test to ensure mastery of the material. They will be awarded credit based on a passing criterion of at least 75%.
The online courses are based on the live course content. The learning objectives reflect concepts pulled from a review of the literature on the psychology of firefighters. The Understanding Fire Service Culture course provides a broad overview of the fire service and its psychological components. This has been successfully delivered in eight hours. The home study model covers the same material. All other courses will follow the same method for determining the appropriate length of the course.
- Identify cultural components to the fire service including performance standards, jargon, shift work, and barriers to treatment.
- Describe the complexities of firefighting and emergency service including trauma exposure,
- Identify unique challenges to interpersonal relationships.
- Explain organizational demands inherent in the firefighting profession based on paramilitary organization.
- Explain current trends in peer support and psychological services offered to fire departments as well as barriers to treatment.
Firefighter Intimate Partner Relationship and Family Health
(8 Hours of Credit)
Participants will read through sections of course content (online) and take a corresponding test to ensure mastery of the material. They will be awarded credit based on a passing criterion of at least 75%.
The online courses are based on the live course content. The learning objectives reflect concepts pulled from a review of the literature on the psychology of firefighters. The Understanding Fire Service Culture course provides a broad overview of the fire service and its psychological components. This has been successfully delivered in eight hours. The home study model covers the same material. All other courses will follow the same method for determining the appropriate length of the course.
- Describe the diversity of family systems as well as marriage and divorce rates.
- Identify challenges to healthy intimate partner relationships including the unpredictability of the nature of the work, shift work, and ambiguous loss.
- Explain the effects of post-traumatic stress and its impact on families.
- Describe the impact of stress-related symptoms on children at different age ranges.
- Explain the impact of diversity challenges on firefighter families.
SUICIDE IN THE FIRE SERVICE
- Identify current rates of suicidal ideation and completed suicide in the fire service.
- Describe the limitations in suicide research.
- Explain best practices to addressing a suicidal firefighter and implications for returning to work.
- Identify contributing factors to suicide among firefighters.
- Explain the relationship between occupational suicide exposure and firefighter suicidal behavior.
DIVERSITY IN THE FIRE SERVICE
- Describe the history of diverse populations joining the fire service as well as resistance faced during integration efforts.
- Explain the experience of culturally diverse populations working within the fire service.
- Identify current diversity trends within the fire service.
- Identify challenges to increasing diversity in the fire service.
- Describe ways to support the growth of diversity within the fire service.
FSPA’s Fire Service Cultural Competency Certificate Program‘s provides training for psychologists and masters-level mental health clinicians who work with firefighters and EMS personnel and those who desire to do so in the future.
DAY #1: Understanding Fire Service Culture
This one-day class provides a broad overview of the fire service and its psychological components. After successful completion of this classroom session, the participant will earn one hour of continuing education per hour of training (sponsored by the American Psychological Association).
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify cultural components of the fire service, including performance standards, jargon, shift work, and barriers to treatment.
2. Describe the complexities of firefighting and emergency service, including trauma exposures.
3. Identify unique challenges to interpersonal relationships.
4. Explain organizational demands inherent in the firefighting profession based on the paramilitary organization.
5. Explain current trends in peer support and psychological services offered to fire departments and barriers to treatment.
DAY #2: FIREOPS 101
The FIREOPS 101 class is designed to simulate some of the emergency operations that firefighters and EMS personnel respond to daily.
The primary learning objective is for participants to experience the real-life dangers of firefighting and EMS work in an immersive scenario-based format. Before performing the scenarios, participants are fitted with firefighter turnout gear and learn how to don/doff SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), learn how to use a halligan tool and axe to force entry through a door and practice chest compressions, and how to deliver hi-flow oxygen effectively. The morning practice will prepare participants for the immersive afternoon scenarios.
1. FIRE BEHAVIOR
This scenario will offer a live fire experience! Participants will be able to feel the heat, see how firefighters work together as a crew, understand the stages of fire, and learn how to properly and safely extinguish the fire.
2. SEARCH AND RESCUE
Saving lives is the primary mission of firefighters and EMS personnel. Often, firefighters must perform search and rescue before the fire is extinguished, making this one of the most dangerous situations they face. During the search, you will learn about the important tools and equipment that firefighters use that make a difference in the life and death of civilians and firefighters.
3. AERIAL LADDER OPERATIONS
Fire scenes are very complex, and it is important for aerial trucks and fire engines to work together to help make the scene as safe as possible. Rescue, ventilation, forcible entry, overhaul, and aerial operations must be coordinated. You will have the opportunity to climb an aerial ladder, watch firefighter crews operate on a roof, and understand the importance of proper ventilation in a fire building.
4. CPR AND POSSIBLE OVERDOSE
The prescription opioid and heroin overdose epidemic affects individuals and fire and EMS departments nationwide, from big cities to rural communities. In this scenario, you will experience a routine overdose call that quickly turns into a cardiac arrest. Overdoses and cardiac arrest are among the most time-critical emergencies that firefighters and EMS personnel respond to daily.
