Tuesday, March 26, 2024

NEWS REPORT (CH11 WPIX) Screening First Responders "After the Job"


NEWS FEATURE:
3/27/2024- 23 years later, those exposed to 9/11 continue to feel the health repercussions of toxin and toxicants from the historical urban  disaster.  More than the 343 firefighters who perished during that fated time, we continue to find cases in the rescue and responder service, contracting the many types of illnesses from this horrendous response call.  13x Emmy Award winning reporter Marvin Scott covers the EARLY DETECTION program as he interviews Dr. Robert Bard (Cancer Imaging Radiologist) and Ret. FF and 9/11 responder Sal Banchitta.  Dr. Bard presents his state-of-the-art imaging innovations to provide firefighters with some of the most advanced scanning solutions.  "There are many tools out there that patients should know about... I'm pretty fortunate to have access to Dr. Bard and his program for advanced screening and I tell all my fellow firefighters about 'Getting Checked NOW!"



COUSIN SAL GOES "WHOLE-BODY" WITH LATEST MRI

 8/8/2023- Ret. FDNY Sal Banchitta signs in to experience his Whole Body MRI from Prenuvo, NYC- a state of the art imaging company founded out of Vancouver, Canada.  

As one of the founding cancer awareness producers of NYCRA (NY Cancer Resource Alliance) and F.A.C.E.S. (Firefighters Against Cancers & Exposures), Mr. Banchitta gladly accepted the invitation to receive this complete body scan as part of his pursuit for a reliable base line for future scans and a preventive measure against cancer.

"My mission alongside my fellow advocates is to learn about the latest modalities in diagnostics and treatment to bring awareness about cancer resources to the rescue community", says Sal. "There are so many solutions out there now... they range in success, reliability and potential controversy.  I just want to see us all have the right tools for the battle against cancer with the best possible support for anyone facing this life challenge!"

On April 27, Prenuvo (the company pioneering proactive whole-body imaging for the early detection of cancer and other diseases) announced the opening of their first New York City clinic. With this expansion, New Yorkers will now have access to the fastest, safest, non-invasive whole-body screening on the market so that they can take control of their health and seek proactive solutions.  Dr. Robert Bard was one of the first New Yorkers lined up to experience the Prenuvo MRI firsthand.  

As a seasoned cancer imaging specialist, Dr. Bard found great benefit in the concept of a full-body scan. "Unlike the many MRI's without contrast of almost every part of my body over the years, this was actually an interactive and possibly enjoyable experience. In addition to not having to worry about getting a contrast infusion, the fact that it was getting so much of the body minus the hands and feet offers an excellent overview. Because disease in one part of the body may cascade dysfunction in other parts of the body, the developers of this full body scan offers a diagnostic solution to address this. For example, a gallstone can drop into the pelvis, or an ovarian tumor can spread to the axilla or a melanoma of the calf can metastasize to the brain. The idea of full body imaging to rule out any kind of metastatic disease or primary disease like an aneurysm or an unsuspected kidney cancer is very important."


Communications Lead Christine Alabastro coordinated a mini-documentary film project around Sal's experience with Prenuvo- to be aired on NYCRA-TV, Responder Resilience News and other responder channels.  "Sal has an inspiring story and a deep commitment to advocate for early detection and proactive care to the fire service."

Prenuvo’s cutting-edge whole-body scans are based on 10+ years of clinical work while curating the biggest data set of whole-body MRI scans in the world. Unlike conventional MRIs, which take hours and often involve contrast injections, Prenuvo scans for 500+ conditions, including most solid tumors which can be detected as early as stage 1, in addition to aneurysms, cysts, and more – all without radiation, in under an hour.

Both Sal Banchitta and Dr. Bard are top ranking speakers and founding promoters of the "Get Checked NOW!" program of NYCRA.  Sal is just one of the many tens of thousands of patients of referring physicians who recognized the value of this imaging advancement.  His pursuit to test driving this and other cancer detection protocols are partly due to a predisposition of cancer in his family.  Added to his list of motivating factors to staying proactive is a longstanding career in fire rescue and his tenure at (9/11) Ground Zero. "Finding answers about what's in our bodies is so critical... especially having been exposed to so many toxins in our lives. No news is good news but if we catch the bad news ahead of time, addressing something like cancer stands a better chance of success!"


FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COUSIN SAL BANCHITTA'S REPORT ON THE PRENUVO EXPERIENCE, VISIT: www.COUSINSAL.org






Reprised from: Friday, April 21, 2023
The Whole Body Movement (Part 2)- Meet THE THERALIGHT

In our continued search for the next voice in support of Integrative and Functional wellness, our editors opted to follow the trail of innovative (or "alternative") healing technologies to the doorsteps of those who truly believe in their benefits.  In this case, an early report featuring Dr. Jennifer Stagg and her use of the THERALIGHT 360 prompted us to meet other therapists to get more insight in its clinical uses.

HEALTH VISIONARY SPOTLIGHT
Meet Dr. Scott Schaeffer of Westchester Total Health (Mt Kisco, NY). His treatment approach, in addition to spinal manipulation includes a wide array of modalities and physiotherapy. In our discussion about the Theralight 360 device (and other near-infrared technologies), we covered his holistic and integrative approach to bringing full-body wellness to his patients. Dr. Schaeffer identified his commitment to researching for the latest proven innovations to address soft-tissue injuries, musculoskeletal dysfunction and other inflammatory conditions that his patients commonly present with. "There's so much out there", he started. Learning about these new healing concepts, "whatever I can use within my scope of practice to help people safely and 
non-invasively... I'm going to find it!" 


Transcript from the interview with Dr. Scott Schaffer (4/19/2023)
The Theralight 360 is one of the few full-body red light therapy units on the market.  Other common terms for red light therapy are photobiomodulation (PBM), low level laser therapy, cold laser therapy or near infrared red therapy (NIR).  In a nutshell, red light therapy is scientifically supported to benefit and treat conditions caused by the pervasive suffix “itis”, more commonly known as INFLAMMATION.  I purchased the Theralight 360 approximately 3+ years ago in search of more for my patients. I do a lot of good with conventional chiropractic work, but there's always evolving treatment options out there in the therapeutic and clinical world. You just have to do a little digging and climbing to find it.  I first learned about the growing use of red light therapy (light-emitting diodes and laser diodes) from an oral surgeon who used this technology to help expedite healing in post-surgical patients. He seemed to have great success with it, so I went on a red light therapy journey.  
Source: theralight.com


In an effort to find the best full-body red light pod on the market I traveled around the country experiencing the various units, their similarities and differences.  I landed on what I felt was the best unit on the market and with little leap of faith I committed to buying my first; they're not cheap as you can imagine. Fellow practitioner and my wife Dr. Lisa Cavaliere also agreed that this was the ONE!  So, we continued down the red light therapy path and we’ve been pleased ever since.  From arthritis to skin conditions, anxiety to depression, poor sleep to immune support, pre-workout boosts to post-workout recovery the 360 degree red light therapy treatment covers just about everything, literally.  Additionally, the Theralight 360 is non-invasive and safe, it’s comprised of some of the healthiest and most researched wavelengths of light in phototherapeutics. 


Sunday, December 3, 2023

Top 3 Mistakes to Avoid the Most Common Source of Injury to Emergency Care Providers

Responder Resilience had an insightful chat with Rick Binder, CEO of Phase International, on the top three mistakes EMS providers make that lead to chronic pain and injuries. Rick shared a fantastic roadmap to prevent these errors, which could significantly reduce injuries in the EMS profession.


RICK BINDER:
Historically speaking, according to the CDC, year over year the most common source of injury to emergency care providers is from lifting and moving patients. We have a lot of room as an industry to improve there, and that's what my focus has been on for the last decade. I started to notice trends, and in these trends, I noticed the top three mistakes EMS providers make that lead to chronic pain and injuries.

Mistake number one is using emergent moves in non-urgent situations. An Emergent move is when the environment is becoming dangerous for either the patient or us, or the patient's condition is deteriorating very rapidly. Seconds truly count and we're grabbing ankles and doing whatever we can to move the patient into a life saving environment. We shouldn't be using this move too often, but the problem is that we are. It's much more dangerous for us and our patients. Then there are urgent moves. It's still an emergency. We're still moving quickly, still moving with purpose, but we're taking time to use a piece of equipment.

The next category of patient movement is the non-urgent movement, where we're waiting for extra resources and we're using a piece of equipment, making it as safe as possible for us and the patient. We have the example of a 350-pound patient stuck in a bathtub. We see that the patient is stable; they just need help getting back up. But when we're not using a piece of equipment to get that patient up, we're likely using an emergent move, which adds a lot of compressive and shear forces on our musculoskeletal system.

Mistake number two is routinely lifting and carrying outside of our power zone, which is the area from your knees to your neck and 12 inches in front of your body.  If we can keep our hands in this Power Zone we are lifting in the safest area possible. As soon as we start reaching out of this area, we're causing severe compressive and shear forces on our musculoskeletal system that we may not see or even feel at the time, but it adds up to chronic pain and injury over the length of a career. One of the places we do this most often is with a rigid device. Anytime we're picking up a patient, say on a backboard or scoop stretcher, and we're bringing our hands down to the ground, that's well outside of our Power Zone. We need to raise that lift point to about our knees, using inexpensive handle extenders attached to the rigid device, or by putting a soft stretcher underneath the rigid device.


Mistake number three is lifting and carrying bariatric patients when we don't need to. Our bariatric patients deserve quality and prompt care, but often providers aren't equipped and trained to do that. Anytime we can engineer out the solution, like what we've done with power cots, it will help avoid the chronic pain and injury that's plaguing our industry.

Instead of carrying bariatric patients, we can avoid injury by using extrication devices to slide patients out of their residences. Then we can put a backboard attached to the foot of the stretcher with some simple straps and slide that bariatric patient up the backboard like a ramp and onto the stretcher. In this scenario, we got a patient from the bathtub all the way out onto the stretcher without ever manually lifting or carrying that patient. If we just made those three changes and avoided those mistakes, patient handling would no longer be the number one cause of injury in the EMS profession.

BIO: Rick Binder is the CEO of PHASE and has held 13 certifications from NAEMT, FEMA, and NFPA. He began his career as an EMT-I and a few years later joined his father in bringing the Binder Lift to market. After spending 10 years helping thousands of emergency care departments avoid personnel injury while improving patient care, Rick authored an accredited Safe Patient Handling Course that helps emergency care providers have longer, healthier careers.

 


Website: https://www.phaseintl.com/

Step into the world of RESPONDER RESILIENCE, an insightful podcast that sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and law enforcement professionals. Hear firsthand accounts from our community's finest as they discuss critical issues on the job and share their experiences with hosts Lt. David Dachinger (ret.), Bonnie Rumilly LCSW/EMT and Dr. Stacy Raymond. Explore topics of mental and physical wellness with emergency services thought leaders, and get ready to be inspired and gain a deeper appreciation for their sacrifices and resilience.

Copyright Notice: The materials provided on this web-based article are copyrighted and the intellectual property of the publishers/producers (The NY Cancer Resource Alliance/IntermediaWorx inc. and The AngioFoundation). It is provided publicly strictly for informational purposes within non-commercial use and not for purposes of resale, distribution, public display or performance. Unless otherwise indicated on this web based page, sharing, re-posting, re-publishing of this work is strictly prohibited without due permission from the publishers.  Also, certain content may be licensed from third-parties. The licenses for some of this Content may contain additional terms. When such Content licenses contain additional terms, we will make these terms available to you on those pages (which his incorporated herein by reference).The publishers/producers of this site and its contents such as videos, graphics, text, and other materials published are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, please always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health provider. Do not postpone or disregard any professional medical advice over something you may have seen or read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.  This website does not support, endorse or recommend any specific products, tests, physicians, procedures, treatment opinions or other information that may be mentioned on this site. Referencing any content or information seen or published in this website or shared by other visitors of this website is solely at your own risk. The publishers/producers of this Internet web site reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify, disable access to, or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, all or any part of this Internet web site or any information contained thereon without liability or notice to you.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Improving the Hearing Health of First Responders

Resilience Toolbox interviewed Suhrud Rajguru, Ph.D., the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of RestorEar Devices, who is a Professor at the University of Miami. We spoke about the challenges faced by first responders frequently exposed to high levels of noise on the job, and the tools available to support their hearing health. Dr. Rajguru's team created the first FDA-registered and research-backed hearing health device called ReBound by RestorEar, designed to minimize hearing damage after exposure to loud noises.

 

Dr Rajguru continues:

For several years, The University of Miami has been working through the Firefighter Cancer Initiative with fire departments across Florida, specifically several fire departments in South Florida. We started thinking about how we could take the partnership the University of Miami has built with the fire service to address the challenges of hearing loss and balance dysfunction that occurs in firefighters due to the noise exposure they get while performing their duties.

 All of us should be concerned about hearing health. Hearing loss has been associated with neurocognitive decline and Alzheimer's dementia.  Given the nature of the jobs first responders perform, they are exposed to loud noises from alarms, engines, sirens, water pumps, chainsaws, etc.  This can be quite extreme and can create damage to the hearing organs in the inner ear very early on. Often those damages go undiagnosed and undetected and can have long-term hearing and health consequences. Given the critical nature of the jobs that firefighters and first responders perform, it’s important that we protect their hearing health early on because we want to help them have healthy long-term outcomes.

One of the challenges with hearing loss is protection versus prevention. We should protect our hearing when possible. We can wear ear plugs or over-the-ear devices to reduce and mitigate loud noises from affecting our inner ears and causing that initial damage or trauma. But we know there are challenges with that, especially in the first responder job, where situational awareness is key. Given the unique needs of first responders, hearing protection may only be feasible some of the time.


At
RestorEar we started thinking about prevention: how do we prevent acute damages that are occurring as we get exposed on the job? How does that lead to the prevention of long-term health consequences?

We all know whenever we have an injury, the first thing we do is apply ice to reduce inflammation and provide a little bit of cooling. How do we provide that cooling for our hearing? This led us to build RestorEar based on decades of research about mild therapeutic hypothermia (cooling) to reduce the inflammation and damage associated with loud noise exposures.

Working collaboratively with first responders and the general community led us to think about how we can use this therapy. The moment after youve had noise exposure, RestorEar’s Rebound is designed to deliver mild hypothermia therapy to reduce the inflammation and hence prevent acute damage, which then helps with long-term damage and consequences.

The hearing and balance of first responders are priceless, however, their exposure to extremely noisy environments makes them susceptible to hearing loss and balance dysfunction. Fortunately, tools have been developed to combat these challenges. Our team is committed to protecting the hearing health of fire service members and first responders and is eager to collaborate with them.


BIO:

Suhrud Rajguru, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Otolaryngology at the University of Miami and a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of RestorEar Devices, LLC. He completed his undergraduate studies in Mumbai, India prior to pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Utah. Suhrud's research foci are on the investigations of pathophysiology, the diagnosis and treatment of various hearing and balance disorders. An educator, scientist and entrepreneur, he is an author of numerous peer-reviewed publications and is a named inventor on issued and pending patent applications. His research is supported by the National Institutes of Health and industry partners and he is actively involved in the education and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students. He leads the University of Miami's I-Corps@NCATS program supported by NCATS. He is co-director of the Institute for Neural Engineering at the University of Miami and Director of the Workforce Development program at the Miami CTSI. Recently he was awarded the Merit Grant by Veterans Administration and he’s been appointed as a Health Research Scientist at Miami VA. https://restorear.com/

 

Step into the world of RESPONDER RESILIENCE, an insightful podcast that sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and law enforcement professionals. Hear firsthand accounts from our community's finest as they discuss critical issues on the job and share their experiences with hosts Lt. David Dachinger (ret.), Bonnie Rumilly LCSW/EMT and Dr. Stacy Raymond. Explore topics of mental and physical wellness with emergency services thought leaders, and get ready to be inspired and gain a deeper appreciation for their sacrifices and resilience.




Copyright Notice: The materials provided on this web-based article are copyrighted and the intellectual property of the publishers/producers (The NY Cancer Resource Alliance/IntermediaWorx inc. and The AngioFoundation). It is provided publicly strictly for informational purposes within non-commercial use and not for purposes of resale, distribution, public display or performance. Unless otherwise indicated on this web based page, sharing, re-posting, re-publishing of this work is strictly prohibited without due permission from the publishers.  Also, certain content may be licensed from third-parties. The licenses for some of this Content may contain additional terms. When such Content licenses contain additional terms, we will make these terms available to you on those pages (which his incorporated herein by reference).The publishers/producers of this site and its contents such as videos, graphics, text, and other materials published are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, please always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health provider. Do not postpone or disregard any professional medical advice over something you may have seen or read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.  This website does not support, endorse or recommend any specific products, tests, physicians, procedures, treatment opinions or other information that may be mentioned on this site. Referencing any content or information seen or published in this website or shared by other visitors of this website is solely at your own risk. The publishers/producers of this Internet web site reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify, disable access to, or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, all or any part of this Internet web site or any information contained thereon without liability or notice to you.

Monday, November 20, 2023

Balancing Your Inner Hero with Gut Health and Digestive Wellness

By Jayne Baker, CNHP, President of Momentum Lifestyle Consulting     

In an increasingly stressful world, maintaining balance within our mind, body and spirit is one of the stealthiest super-powers we can possess, and something that all First Responders could benefit from both personally and professionally.  As we begin to understand ourselves at a cellular level and learn the ways in which we can support our body functions for an improved quality of life and mental well-being, that balance comes much more readily.   One of the best ways to start this process is by getting the pH of our body to a healthy place.  pH stands for Potential of Hydrogen, and everything that we eat and drink contains a specific pH, which in turn has a direct effect on us.  This delicate balance is also known as our Speed of Life”, which is ultimately the rate at which we are able to absorb things, whether it be food, supplements, or medicines.    

 A Standard American Diet containing high amounts of animal proteins, processed foods, sugar and alcohol has a pH of about 5, an absolutely devastating range as this is where cancer and disease thrive.  Another danger of this low pH is that of being outside of the ideal absorption range for Iodine, which nourishes our thyroid, Magnesium, which helps to protect our heart, and Zinc, a great benefactor to our immune system.   When we choose to eat a diet rich in leafy greens, low sugar fruits and lean proteins, we not only help to keep our body balanced, but the oxygen-rich environment is inhabitable for sickness, and lends towards increased energy.  Checking pH can be easily done with a wide-range pH test kit, checking urine and saliva against the color chart. 

Another important step in the process of balance is that of good gut health.  Research has shown that up to 90% of our Serotonin production happens in our gut, and that maintaining a healthy microbiome is directly linked to improved mental wellness.  In addition to us relying on this feel good chemical to help us through the day, this second brain”, or Enteric Nervous System as its formally called, is also responsible for the production of good bacteria (microbiome), and has a main job of regulating digestive functions.  If youve ever felt tired after eating a meal, experienced gas or bloating, even acid reflux, its your bodys way of telling you that your digestion could use a boost.  Starting small with little things like chewing our food to the consistency of cake batter and allowing the enzymes in our saliva to work can help.  Enzymes are the proteins that speed up the rate of reaction in a cell, and they are essential for life.  Supplementing with a plant-based digestive enzyme at every meal is a highly effective way to help boost your digestive health and ease discomfort associated with poor digestion.


As our bodies become healthier and balanced, our mind and spirit can follow suite more easily.  While meditation works for many, its not for everyone.  The important thing is to find what works for you, the thing that you can do to quiet your mind and give you that feeling of sustainable peace.  Taking time for yourself mentally and spiritually is no different from taking time to physically work out, its a part of the trilogy.  Commanding your mind with positive thoughts and nourishing your body and gut with the right foods will only further your ability to bring the balance full circle.  Youre a Hero to everyone else, you deserve to be one to yourself as well.

  Check out Ms. Baker's feature at the next Responder Resilience episode #39: "Voices of Resilience: Empowering Those Who Serve"

JAYNE BAKER is a Certified Natural Health Professional specializing in gut health and digestive wellness. Since 2011, she has worked with various First Responders around the nation, utilizing science-base methods to help reduce the statistics around cardiovascular disease and inflammation in the body. Momentum Lifestyle Consulting is also a proud partner with 1st Responder Conferences in an effort to expand their reach to as many as possible. https://www.momentumlifestyleconsulting.com/





This feature is included in our next episode in Responder Resilience podcast!





 YOGA TO THE RESCUE: Restful Tools for Stressful Times

From an interview with: Wendy Hummell

Yoga offers incredible benefits to first responders, both physically and mentally. The practice helps to build strength, flexibility, and resilience, enabling them to better handle the physical demands of their job. Additionally, yoga helps to reduce stress, improve focus, and promote emotional well-being, which is crucial for those in high-pressure situations. 

Responder Resilience interviewed Wendy S. Hummell, a retired Detective, podcaster, and Sheriff’s Office Health and Wellness Manager. Wendy shares her expertise in yoga, mindfulness, and resilience to provide the support and resources responders need to thrive in their careers and beyond. 


Wendy continues:

There's a quote that says something like, "Listen to your body when it whispers, so you don't have to hear it when it screams.”  Our bodies are very smart and innately want us to thrive. Often, we don't give ourselves the space and time to listen to things our body is telling us, about physical issues or emotions we’re trying to suppress. We live so often from the neck up that it makes us kind of “disembodied”. That's why I like yoga so much. It gets a bottom-up and top-down approach and opens us up to listen to what's going on within. 

As a first responder, you take on additional wear and tear on your body and your brain, which means you need to do even more to combat that.  I'm a huge fan of resilience practices, because you can build up resilience for when times get tough, such as working overnights and long shifts. What can we do ahead of time to get ourselves ready for the adversity of the job? 

Many tools can help, and it's not a one-size-fits-all. Some examples might be listening to the Responder Resilience podcast, going outside in nature, or spending time with family. For some people, an effective tool is exercise. Find what brings you joy. I'm a big proponent of starting with small, incremental change; it’s a good way to not get overwhelmed.

When someone asks: “How can yoga specifically help first responders?” I think a better question is, how can it not help?

Yoga is a fully embodied experience. Probably the simplest thing is that it teaches you how to breathe. People think it's almost too easy, but when you learn how to breathe in this particular way, you're learning to take yourself out of the sympathetic stress response and into the parasympathetic stress response. It's like direct access to the calm button in your nervous system. 



For first responders, stress response can look like many things. When you’re getting dispatched to an emergency call, you can begin to notice the things in your body that start to happen, like increased heart rate and breathing. When you consciously regulate your breathing and self-regulate your nervous system, it can help you perform better. 

Breathing consciously to manage your nervous system also helps you get connected to your body. Many first responders talk about chronic pain, particularly in their hips, back, and shoulders. Some of that pain may not be pain from physical tissue damage, so bringing awareness to parts of your body that you don't normally pay attention to can help. People tell me that it has helped with their back pain and mobility.  

Many people who've come to yoga classes over the years are runners or do martial arts, and yoga has been a perfect complementary practice for them, too. 

Yoga is more than just the physical practice. There are eight different components in the framework of yoga, but only one of them is the physical postures and the physical poses.  The other components have to do with the golden rule, moral codes and ethics for yourself, meditation and focus, and self-study to improve ourselves. 

Today, there's often a stereotype of what yoga looks like, conjuring images of a flexible woman posing cross-legged by a pristine waterfall. But if you go back to the roots of yoga over 5,000 years ago in India, it was only used by men who were preparing mentally and physically to go to battle. It truly is a warrior tradition, and it's perfectly suited for the kind of work that first responders do. 

Discover the power of yoga and its transformative effects on your mind and body.  It’s a great way for first responders to prioritize self-care and reduce stress. Yoga helps you shift from the stress response to a state of calm and relaxation. It's a healthy key that can enable first responders to unlock the potential for inner peace and resilience. 



ABOUT WENDY

Wendy Hummell is a seasoned law enforcement officer with nearly 25 years of experience. She retired at the rank of Detective from the Wichita Police Department where she spent a majority of her career working Persons Crimes Investigations.  Wendy’s area of expertise is officer wellness, peer support, yoga, and resiliency.  She currently works as the Health and Wellness Manager for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and has helped to implement a holistic wellness program at the agency.  She is passionate about sharing the tools of peer support, mindfulness, yoga, and resiliency, as well as the importance of relationships, exercise, sleep, and nutrition to enhance well-being and job performance. 

Wendy holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. She is a certified yoga instructor and Yoga for First Responders (YFFR) Ambassador. Wendy has several articles published with Police1 on topics of trauma, wellness, and female resiliency.  She is the host of the Guns and Yoga Podcast, where she has interesting conversations with those working in the area of first responder wellness, and is a resilience health coach.  Website: https://wendyhummell.com/about/





Step into the world of RESPONDER RESILIENCE, an insightful podcast that sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and law enforcement professionals. Hear firsthand accounts from our community's finest as they discuss critical issues on the job and share their experiences with hosts Lt. David Dachinger (ret.), Bonnie Rumilly LCSW/EMT and Dr. Stacy Raymond. Explore topics of mental and physical wellness with emergency services thought leaders, and get ready to be inspired and gain a deeper appreciation for their sacrifices and resilience.




Copyright Notice: The materials provided on this web-based article are copyrighted and the intellectual property of the publishers/producers (The NY Cancer Resource Alliance/IntermediaWorx inc. and The AngioFoundation). It is provided publicly strictly for informational purposes within non-commercial use and not for purposes of resale, distribution, public display or performance. Unless otherwise indicated on this web based page, sharing, re-posting, re-publishing of this work is strictly prohibited without due permission from the publishers.  Also, certain content may be licensed from third-parties. The licenses for some of this Content may contain additional terms. When such Content licenses contain additional terms, we will make these terms available to you on those pages (which his incorporated herein by reference).The publishers/producers of this site and its contents such as videos, graphics, text, and other materials published are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, please always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health provider. Do not postpone or disregard any professional medical advice over something you may have seen or read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.  This website does not support, endorse or recommend any specific products, tests, physicians, procedures, treatment opinions or other information that may be mentioned on this site. Referencing any content or information seen or published in this website or shared by other visitors of this website is solely at your own risk. The publishers/producers of this Internet web site reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify, disable access to, or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, all or any part of this Internet web site or any information contained thereon without liability or notice to you.

Monday, October 23, 2023

FURRY FRIENDS ISSUE: K9 First Responders- Connecting In Crisis


RESPONDER RESILIENCE Podcast interviewed MR. BRAD COLE, Senior Coordinator of Operations, Logistics, Inter-Agency Liaison & Public Relations for K9FR. K9 First Responders, Inc. (K9FR) teams support and assist first responders during times of disaster, crisis, or violence. They work alongside communities, individuals, and public safety personnel like Police, Fire, and EMS. Through these interactions, they aim to foster resilience in both individuals and agencies.


Transcript from an interview with BRAD COLE aired 3/10/2022:
Through our dogs we have the ability to help clinicians, peer support, and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team members connect and engage during and after a critical incident. The dogs assist in getting people into the mental health system sooner, rather than later. There are things that dogs can do that humans can't do.  Dogs don't judge. They exist. One of my favorite cartoons is Snoopy and Charlie Brown sitting on top of a doghouse just looking up at the sky. They bear witness without passing judgment. Studies have shown that people are more trustworthy with a dog, and we leverage that fact to connect, engage, and start a conversation with those impacted by trauma.  The toughest, most seasoned, (or some might say crusty) veteran responder says, “I'm fine, I don't need anybody,” but they'll talk to the dog for a half hour before talking to a human about what's bothering them."

 There is a difference between what our dogs do and what therapy dogs do. Therapy dogs provide a very important function and service to the community overall. They're more of a passive, feel-good support, improving the general morale and well-being of people overall. K9 First Responders provide support to clinicians and other crisis team members by actively making connection and engagement. That's our primary function.

 Once the K9s connect with a person who has been exposed to a traumatic incident, that person can share what's bothering them and eventually accept higher-level mental health care. Our dogs are a tool to help move responders towards getting care.  We utilize techniques to bridge the gap between a traumatic event and the connection to mental health support. 

K9 First Responders actively help people come down from the crisis on the physiological level, through the parasympathetic nervous system.  When petting and interacting with the dogs, a responder’s stress is lowered. It allows the responder to be present in the moment, and hopefully not think about the tragedy they witnessed or experienced. They get to pet the dog, get permission to put themselves on hold, and by extension allow themselves to be human.


Trauma happens as a critical event takes place. It's called Zero Hour Behavioral Health Management. Traditional response protocols used to be 24 to 48 hours afterwards, but we learned through the responses to Sandy Hook, Parkland, and Las Vegas that those mental health interventions should happen as soon as the incident begins because the trauma is already taking place. By responding to an incident sooner rather than later, we can address the issue of the stress hormone cortisol and its production. Studies have indicated that stress, blood pressure, cortisol levels, and memory processing are positively impacted by the dog.

We had one fire department in particular, where two members of the department walked in, and as the debriefing was occurring those two members sat apart from everyone in different areas. Later, when everyone went around the circle to introduce themselves, the first thing those two members said was, “The reason we stayed here was because of the dog.”


EPILOGUE

The dogs don't pass judgment. One of our toughest jobs as handlers is being quiet at that moment. If we're working an active scene, although we want to help people, our job at that point is to let the dog do the work by connecting with someone. We have a little dog named Gizmo on our teams, and some people just want to hold Gizmo. Dogs like Gizmo help them get stabilized or grounded. Through that unique connection, those affected can find solace and open up about their struggles, paving the way for essential mental health care. Our dogs serve as invaluable tools in guiding responders toward the assistance they need. 


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ABOUT BRAD

BRAD COLE is the K9FR subject matter expert and Zero-Hour Behavioral Health Management influencer.  He has 36 years experience in security/crisis management and investigations.  Combined with his years of guard force management, Brad brings a strong operational and training discipline to K9FR.  His experience with government, diplomatic, medical and corporate clients enhances K9FR’s operational effectiveness.  Brad is an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program Specialist, Certified Fraud Examiner, Licensed Private Investigator and Security Consultant.   He attended Champlain College and Northeastern University for AS Law Enforcement and BS Criminal Justice degrees respectively. Brad is also credentialed in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), Post Traumatic Stress Management (PTSM), Psychological First Aid (PFA), Tactical Psychological First Aid (T-PFA), Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR)  and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).  https://k9fr.org/

 



 




REINVENTING THE WELLNESS CARE MARKET: BRINGING BACK THE HOUSE CALL!

INSIGHT ON PEMF- AN INTERVIEW with Kate Baccus, Occupational Therapist

I originally found out about P E M F in 2018 as a result of my horse having a non-healing wound. He had had a laceration to the back of one of his heels on a front foot and while it didn't seem to hit any important structures, we just couldn't seem to get it to close. We tried all of the traditional veterinary therapies.  He wasn't limping or anything but we could not get that wound to close. And with an open wound, he was not able to go back to being ridden. I was grasping at straws and my vet really wasn't sure what else we could do at that point. So I went searching on the internet for anything that I could find that might kind of be out of the box thinking that could help his body potentially close this wound. That's when I came across P E M F as a modality. 

Being an occupational therapist, I dove head first into the research. I went on PubMed and just started looking at all the different studies and was really encouraged by what I saw because it seemed like the worst thing that could happen with using it was that nothing would happen. There weren't really any terrible side effects or risk of infection or anything like that because it's a non-invasive modality. But the potential for helping the body to recover from injuries was pretty well clinically documented. With a little more research, I found the right technology for my horse.

(See complete story)



 

BIOFEEDBACK FOR OUR FURRY FRIENDS: 
Made for Humans, helpful for Animals

In the advent of the non-invasive therapeutic movement (early 80's), scientifically developed devices like near infrared laser (photobiomodulation), shockwave, PEMF, nTMS (neuro-transcranial magnetic stimulation) and other marvels of engineering expanded the market of personalized functional therapy.  An innovation in regenerative medicine called ONDAMED stood out in the race for "alternative" and intuitive medicine.  After more than 20 years of research and clinical use globally, this advanced Class II-a medical technology has been approved for personalized treatment unique to each living being with the help of a Biofeedback method plus the use of focused pulsed electromagnetic fields (fPEMF). The device was designed to create a treatment modality for the medical field, offering a non-invasive, targeted intervention driven by the patient’s hidden emotional information, potentially linking to physiological stress and disease- and contributing to hemodynamics and cell regeneration. This non-invasive therapeutic approach helps patients improve their stress tolerance. Stress is linked to most common disease. It is therefore critical to offer our patients relaxation training and improvement of attentiveness to their bodies, and their state of emotion.

Dr. Leslie Valle-Montoya, a visionary physician in Santa Barbara, California established a functional health practice (Sta. Barbara Longevity Center) based on solutions like the ONDAMED, alongside other state of the art solutions.  Dr. Montoya takes on some of the most challenging research projects and clinical disorders (from autism, cancer symptoms, inflammatory and auto immune disorders to smoking cessation) and is no stranger to this technological level of wellness in her practice.  She often combines treatment systems like her hyperbaric chamber with BrainTap (a meditation-based therapy) with PEMF- and a host of other devices in her arsenal.

But recently, a rather large, 4-legged patient embodied her treatment office. A 12-year old Great Dane named BUTTERCUP.  She was diagnosed with Ostheosarcoma in right leg. "In this case, we have a clear idea how long Buttercup has in this Earth, but if we can address her pain by reducing the inflammation, my work with her is about quality of life- and using modalities like the Ondamed can make a major difference", Says Dr. Montoya.  




Step into the world of RESPONDER RESILIENCE, an insightful podcast that sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and law enforcement professionals. Hear firsthand accounts from our community's finest as they discuss critical issues on the job and share their experiences with hosts Lt. David Dachinger (ret.), Bonnie Rumilly LCSW/EMT and Dr. Stacy Raymond. Explore topics of mental and physical wellness with emergency services thought leaders, and get ready to be inspired and gain a deeper appreciation for their sacrifices and resilience.

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