Peer-support programs assist first responders amid COVID-19 pandemic

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit, many officers accustomed to putting their own lives at risk are for the first time worried that their jobs could endanger their families.

IS CAUSING NEWEMOTIONAL STRUGGLESFOR FIRST RESPONDERS.41 ACTION NEWS ANCHORCYNTHIA NEWSOME TELLSHOW SOME FIRSTRESONDERS HAVE FOUNDSUPPORT DURING THISPANDEMIC.FIREFIGHTERS RUNNINGINTO BURNINGBUILDINGS....G.

Matz firefighter"Pack my lunch, go to work,do what we've got to do.POLICE OFFICERS RACINGTOWARD GUNFIREJonathon Westbrook, kcpdWe're exposed to a lot oftraumma, day in and day out.... ADD TO THATTRAUMMA, THEPOTENTIALLY DEADLYCOVID 19 VIRUS..

.AND THEDANGER-FACTOR FORFIRST RESPONDERSSKYROCKETS TO A BRANDNEW LEVEL.G.

Matz"We've been tasked with anew duty of decontaminatingany and all rigs or stationsthatcome in contact or potentiallycome in contact with theCOVID 19.VETERAN KCKFIREFIGHTER, SAFETYOFFICER G.

MATZ ISWELL-SUITED FOR HISNEW BATTLE AGAINSTCOVID 19..THIS SPRAY KILLS THESHELL OF THE VIRUS.PREVENTING CROSSCONTAMINATIONAnd everytime I touchsomething new I take off thatlayer of gloves and put it in asecure locationGLOVES PROTECT THEBODY FROM THECORONAVIRUS.

BUTTHOUGHTS AND EMOTIONSOF FIRST RESPODERS ARESTILL EXPOSED..

ANDAFFECTED BY COVID 19.Jonathon WestbrookOne of the unique thingsabout this whole pandemic isthe fact that we are having torely on each other even more.Mallory SuperWe're a family here at the kckfire department and any of uscan reach out and check inand make sure the otherperson is doing okay.IT'S CALLED PEER TOPEER SUPPORT ---ANDBOTH THE KCK FIREDEPARTMENT AND THE KCKPOLICE DEPARTMET HAVETHE PROGRAM...FIRST RESPONDERSONE-ON-ONE AT WORKAND AFTER-WORK INGROUP SETTINGS WITH ALICENSED THERAPIST, ---SHARING FEARS WITHTHEIR PEERS -- ABOUTBRINGING THE VIRUSHOME TO THEIR FAMILIESAND LIFE'S STRESSESBEFORE THE VIRUS.DOES IT WORK?Jonathon WestbrookI've seen it happen whereofficers have been able to justtake down that shield that wehave to carry all day and bereal , be raw, be emotionaland dump those feelings andwe're able to surroud themand give hem what they needto be successful.AND SUCCESS MANAGINGTHEIR EMOTIONSTRANSLATES INTO ALESS-STRESSED MORESATISFYING LIFE...FORFIRST RESPONDERS ANDTHEIR FAMILIESCYNTHIA NEWSOME, 41ACTION NEW