TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - During the high school shooting in Broward County, first responders did what they were trained to do. But what happens to them personally after a major incident?
For first responders, a day at work can include danger, chaos, and serious tragedy, like the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday.
Those who protect and serve and work to keep us safe deal with an unspeakable amount of stress everyday, the job taking an emotional toll. That's why departments have resources for those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.
"A lot of times you won't see the officers are crying, either before or after, but we have to keep our composure to let everyone know that 'Hey, we're there to do our job efficiently and make sure everything is okay,'" said Officer Damon Miler, the public information officer for the Tallahassee Police Department.
Officer Damon Miller says, after any stressful event, TPD holds a debriefing to talk about the situation and see how everyone is handling it.
Specialty units, such as violent crimes, special victims and traffic homicide, see vivid images more often than patrol officers. As an extra layer of support, they are required to talk to a counselors.
First responders are considered extraordinary, literally saving lives on a daily basis. It's easy to forget they are normal people, but witnessing violence and devastation firsthand affects them as it would any of us.
Officer Miller says, it's not just high-stress situations, like active shootings or mass casualties, that can cause signs of PTSD.
Gruesome car crashes, homicides, and crimes against children take an intense emotional toll. Over time, without proper help, that can lead to more serious mental health issues.
The Tallahassee Fire Department has similar resources in place, offering peer counseling to fire fighters within in 24 hours of any major incident.
"It is a crisis that we deal with and I think a lot of times they see firefighters as really strong people," said Sarah Cooksey. "And we are, but at the same time, at the end of the day, our minds proccess things and it's hard."
Engineer Sarah Cooksey with the Tallahassee Fire Department says, they practice mass casualty drills, but nothing can truly prepare them for the horror of seeing it in person.
