ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH EDITION |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month |
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Saving Those Who Save Others |
The mission of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance is to collaborate, develop and implement behavioral health awareness, prevention, intervention, and post crisis strategies to provide firefighters with an easily accessible and confidential source of information.
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Firefighters standing together for healthy bodies & minds
You are not alone
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Have you downloaded the CORDICO App to your cell phone yet? |
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The CAL FIRE Behavioral Health & Wellness Program has a mobile app that is designed to connect you and your family to all CAL FIRE BHWP resources. It is available for free download on both Android and iOS platforms for employees and their support systems. The Cordico App is the best place to access all Wellness resources in one place.
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WUI/wildland PPE Firefighter Survey |
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The following survey should take about 5-7 minutes to complete.
The purpose of this survey is to improve our understanding of the current state of wildland PPE use and understanding of potential occupational exposure risk. This is being conducted by the Wildfire Conservancy as part of a project supported by the FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grants and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
You are invited to participate in this research project because you are a firefighter (current or retired) that has potentially worked on wildfires and/or fires in the wildland urban interface.
Your responses will be confidential and we do not collect identifying information such as your name, email address or IP address. Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary. You may choose not to participate. If you decide to participate in this survey, you may withdraw at any time.
If you have any questions about the research study, please contact Dr. Matt Rahn:
mattrahn@wildfireconservancy.org.
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In this episode, President Edwards sits down with IAFF organizer in Strategic Campaigns and Greensboro NC, Local 947 President Dave Coker, and has a candid conversation about his struggles and successes with union activism, organizing, right-to-work, and the importance of keeping labor history alive. |
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Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9th! |
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Want to give your mom or spouse a Mother's Day shout-out on our social media?
Send us a short horizontal video of you wishing your mom, spouse, or partner a happy Mother's Day in uniform, or have fun with it and get your kids involved or get your crew to join in too!
P.S. you can also submit one for Father's Day too!
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Need a personalized or creative gift? |
Check out the great options at Etsy
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Wildfire Awareness Week kicks off in the Santa Clara Unit |
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Other live events this week include:
Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 11 a.m.
Loafer Creek Recreational Area
Loafer Creek Rd and Highway 162
Oroville, CA 95966
Friday, May 7, 2021, at 11 a.m.
King Gillette Ranch
26800 West Mulholland Hwy.
Calabasas, CA 91302
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-LEGO IDEAS-
SIKORSKY S-70I FIREHAWK CAL FIRE EDITIONο»Ώ
VOTE TODAY TO HELP MAKE IT A REALITY!
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From the Lego Ideas page
"Hey everybody,
I would like to introduce my new project on Lego Ideas. For those who don't know this helicopter I would like to present it. The S-70I Firehawk is a specialized fire-fighting helicopter platform developed by Sikorsky and based on the company's S70/UH-60 "Black Hawk" twin-engine transport airframe.
The latest version is based on the S-70A and S-70C firehawks.
Thanks to its big capacity tank it is capable to transport 1000 gallons of water in order to fight major fires. The hold can also carry up to two medical litters and a limited number of medevac staff.
For all these reasons the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection chose to add this aircraft to their helicopter fleet.
I wanted to create a set to honor the bravery and devotion of the firefighters in California.
The set contains 2 pilots, 2 firefighters and the S-70I Firehawk helicopter.
The helicopter has a hatch system which can be opened and closed by a locking contact.
The firehawk is equipped with sliding doors as well, and the set includes also a decor piece of forest.
Number of pieces: 3000.
I hope you like my project, I count on your votes ;)"
Vote here and help share the link.
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The IAFF Center of Excellence is hosting an online education series with topics for first responders, health care providers, clinicians, and the community at large. Please see below for our upcoming events and feel free to share with your colleagues, friends, and clients.
Upcoming Webinars
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12-1:30 PM EST
Speaker: Molly Jones, LSW
Social workers can receive 1 hour of continuing education hours for participation in this course.
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12-1:30 PM EST
Molly Jones, LSW & Chris Fields, Ret. Major, Oklahoma City Fire Department
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12-1:30 PM EST
Dr. Kristin Kimley, Tampa Bay Psychology
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CAL FIRE/Fresno County Firefighters participated in the 2021 Fresno Urban Run supporting the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation |
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Have you recently moved? Make sure your physical/mailing address is updated with us so you always receive the Fire Front magazine and other important docs.
Update your address here:
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It's time to submit your RJE Scholarship applications! |
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Is your child heading off to college? Are you thinking about furthering your own education?
This year the Richard J. Ernest Scholarship Foundation will award ten (10) $1000.00 scholarships to qualifying
CAL FIRE Local 2881 members or their dependents for the 2021-22 academic year. Applications are due June 15, 2021!
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CAL FIRE ESS 24hr Helpline: (916) 445-4337
EAP 24hr Helpline: (866) 327-4762
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In the journey toward stress resiliency, awareness, recognition, and acceptance are the building blocks.
We can use personality tests to develop awareness and recognition of the stress in our lives while also identifying our strengths and use them to our benefit. When you identify your personality type, you can learn what your tendencies are when you experience stress and how to tap into your strengths.
Once you identify what your behavioral tendencies are under stress, it is easier to recognize when you are reacting to stress and positively shift your response.
There are two main personality tests that we would like to highlight:
The first test is a newer and recently popular test β The Enneagram.
The Enneagram personality system is built up of 9 different types, grouped into three sections.
These sections can help you identify what emotional responses you lean towards in times of stress.
-Instinctual types respond with Anger or Rage.
-Thinking types respond primarily with Fear.
-Feeling types respond with Shame.
The Enneagram identifies a continuum of development for each of the personality types and can help you learn more about yourself and build stress awareness, moving from a reactive emotional state to a responsible state at work and at home.
Another Personality test that is valuable and evidence-based is the Myers-Briggs or 16 Personalities Test.
The 16 personalities test identifies 4 main categories of personalities.
Analysts β Diplomats β Sentinels β Explorers
Each of these categories have incredible strengths and targeted guidance for Personal Growth, Relationships, and Career.
We challenge you to take the time to develop connection with yourself so that you can shift from instinctive stress reaction into intentional stress response where you live out of your strengths and learn to accept your whole self. #knowthyself
Follow @calfirewellness on Instagram for more!
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Every year, thousands of fires occur in California and the results have been catastrophic. Marin County has a wide range of first responders including firefighters/paramedics, dispatchers, search and rescue and law enforcement who answer the call to help and protect. Marin County alone has over 400 firefighters working 365 days a year. Being on the frontlines can be physically and mentally challenging, and these everyday heroes often feel under-supported, overwhelmed, and under-appreciated.
First Responder Therapy Dogs leads the way in addressing behavioral health needs by providing emotional support to first responders. Research shows that therapy dog services positively impact this population's behavioral health issues.
The use of therapy dogs has demonstrated the following outcomes:
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Lower blood pressure and slower breathing
- Improve overall mood elevation and mental state
- Increase productivity due to better mood and mental state
βWe are tasked with things that push us to our limits,β John Aitchison, a firefighter in Marin County shared. βAnd having something like a dog brings some type of normalcy back into our lives. Having that comfort is absolutely therapeutic.β
For more info or to support the foundation visit their website.
Currently, Kerith is visiting CAL FIRE stations in the North Bay and North Coast areas. If you are interested in a visit from Kerith reach out to Heidi Carman at (415) 699-1774 or FirstResponderTherapyDogs@gmail.com
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HUU Chapter Director Ivan Driggs with Kerith |
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Arcata FD Engineer Gibbs and FC Evenson with Kerith |
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May is also National Water Safety Month.
Make sure your little ones are protected in and around bodies of water!
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IF YOU ARE AN CAL FIRE LOCAL 2881
ACTIVE MEMBER
YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS
PROVIDED FROM OUR AFFILIATION WITH PORAC
IN ORDER TO VIEW AND ENROLL IN THESE BENEFITS
(INCLUDING HEALTHCARE AND AFLAC PROGRAMS)
WE NEED YOUR DATE OF BIRTH.
PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK TO UPLOAD YOUR INFORMATION:
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Did you just recently retire??
ο»ΏMake sure to sign up to be a CAL FIRE Local 2881 Retired Member and stay in the know!
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Click the newsletter below to read full the document written by Ray |
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With Personal Exposure Reporting from California Professional Firefighters, firefighters can document exposures to toxins that can produce job-related illness.
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Do you have an amazing fire service photo from 2020 that has not been published on social media? Want to submit it to the IAFF Media Awards contest?
Reach out to Communications Officer DeeDee Garcia to find out how!
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Is your physical/mailing address updated with us?
Did you get the Spring 2021 Fire Front magazine mailed to your home recently? If not, then we don't have your current address.
It's important for us to have it in case you are impacted or may be impacted by a wildfire or other emergency. Use the link below, call or email us to update it today!
(916) 609-8711 / dkelsch@L2881.org
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Has your marital status changed? Update your L2881 beneficiary information with us today and keep your loved ones secure. Fill out this form and send it to Danielle @ dkelsch@L2881.org
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Share your photos & videos with us.
What does your CAL FIRE look like? Help show the #AllRisk CAL FIRE. Send us a DM on social media or reach out to DeeDee, your Communications Officer at (916) 202-0553
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UPCOMING EVENTS
MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT 101
MAY 17-19
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
JULY 20-23
IAFF FALLEN FIRE FIGHTERS MEMORIAL
SEPTEMBER 16-19
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21-23
CA FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL
OCTOBER 20-23
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CAL FIRE BENEVOLENT
FOUNDATION
Provides funds for immediate life sustaining assistance to firefighters and their families who have suffered debilitating injury or loss of life.
Follow us on Instagram!
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CAL FIRE MUSEUM
Look in the winter edition of the Fire Front magazine for an update from the museum.
Don't forget to sign up for their newsletter too!
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For more updates, events, and news visit our website:
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