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Ensuring Emotional Self-Care as a First Responder

Creator: @SoulfullyAButterfly

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As a first responder, emotional self-care is important to maintain your well-being. Self-care helps to avoid burnout and be efficient in your role as a responder.

One easy way to remember some important reminders for self-care is the EQUIPMENT acronym:

  • Engage your resources and acquire new ones.
  • Quality of Life is important each day!
  • Utilize medical and mental health services.
  • Improve your longevity by participating in daily self-care – diet, exercise, and heart health.
  • Prepare for survival by practicing and learning new skills.
  • Mentor others by modeling healthy professional behavior both on duty and off.
  • Educate yourself about the long-term impact of trauma exposure and keep acquiring new resources for coping.
  • Never forget that you are as important as those you protect, serve, and rescue!
  • Take care of each other - at work and at home. 

In the space below, reflect on each step of the EQUIPMENT process to ensure emotional self-care.