UPPER MARLBORO, Md.聽鈥� Firefighters face a tough job. Sometimes they see tragedy unfold and put their lives at risk while working to save others. Such experiences may leave indelible impressions that can be difficult to process.
The was created to specifically help this branch of first responders cope with work-related traumatic stress.
鈥淭hey have to be able to deal with it at a moment in time, but it doesn鈥檛 mean that some of these images and experiences don鈥檛 stay with them,” said Harold Schaitberger, IAFF president. “Sometimes they鈥檒l use firehouse humor to kind of cover up their pain. Unfortunately, sometimes they turn to alcohol or drugs, other sources of addiction to try to tamp down that pain that they鈥檙e feeling internally.”
Bordered by tranquil forest and farmland in Upper Marlboro, Schaitberger says the recovery center is a place for firefighters to heal.
“Whether it鈥檚 spiritually, medically, clinically, they鈥檒l be able to get their lives back in order and be ready to go back to the job and their families,” said Schaitberger. “That鈥檚 what this place is all about.鈥�
Patients at the IAFF recovery center can expect whole-person treatment. The center offers confidential treatment for IAFF members who are battling addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. Staff members also give patients tools to deal with other co-occurring disorders such as anxiety and depression.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just going to be about their mental health. It鈥檚 going to be how they鈥檙e sleeping and how much caffeine they鈥檙e consuming, and how much exercise they鈥檙e getting and how they鈥檙e eating,鈥� said Dr. Abby Morris, the center鈥檚 medical director and psychiatrist.
Morris also said part of her job is to make sure the firefighters are comfortable at the facility and that they have some fun as part of their path to full recovery.
The 64-bed facility includes 16 beds specifically for patients who need to detox said Jamie White, operations project manager with Advanced Recovery Systems, an IAFF partner.
White told 海角精品黑料 during a facility tour that part of the campus design is meant to recreate firehouse camaraderie for each patient. Living quarters are comprised of four cottages or 鈥渟tation houses.鈥� Individual rooms in each cottage include four beds with layout and lockers arranged to resemble that of a typical fire station.
There鈥檚 also a gym to help patients get back to peak physical condition.
When each patient is ready to re-enter the work force, there鈥檚 a special ceremony in 鈥淩enewal Plaza,鈥� complete with a bell that will be rung to signify a return to service.
