"Gory" vehicle crashes are among the traumatic emergency callouts Northland firefighters face which can affect their mental wellbeing. Photo / File
Suicide attempts, horrific crashes, and medical emergencies have slowly become the bread and butter of firefighting – with a huge emotional toll, an association boss says.
But Northland firefighters say their desire to help communities supersedes concerns about the changing face of firefighting.
In Northland, medical emergencies and vehicle crashes
formed about 33 per cent of the total 10,404 callouts attended by the region's 45 brigades since January 2019.
Medical emergencies included "purple calls" that were life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrests, breathing difficulties, and suspected suicide.
Fires – structural, vegetation, and "other" – made up around 34 per cent; rescues, dangerous substances, calls for special service, public assistance, and false alarms formed the remaining 33 per cent of tasks completed by Northland firefighters.
According to a report by senior firefighter Joshua Darby, firefighters experienced "elevated rates" of psychological injuries when compared with the general public.
United Fire Brigades Association (UFBA) chief executive Bill Butzbach said the mental wellbeing of firefighters was a big concern.
"We're dealing with almost an epidemic of people suffering from trauma and Fenz [Fire and Emergency New Zealand] is doing a hell of a lot to make sure awareness is raised amongst the troops and they get the appropriate help," he said.
"But it's a big issue ... I think it's one that's going to hit us with a bit of a bang in time."
Butzbach said the "manner" in which a memorandum between the former New Zealand Fire Service and St John was implemented in 2013 had added to firefighters' stress.
It had been "insufficient" when it came to preparing firefighters, he said, especially given the "exponential increase" in purple calls they would attend.
"The fact we go to purple calls means we see some suicides ... that's horrendous for any first responder."
Brigades agreed to either first or co-respond to medical emergencies because they were closer than the nearest ambulance station in some areas.
Northland has 17 St John ambulance stations – the most southern in Kaiwaka and as far north as Pukenui near Houhora - compared with 43 fire stations.
Butzbach described firefighters as "well trained", "well capable", and "highly equipped" with technical skills to administer high-level resuscitation.
But they needed more specific training focused on coping with high-level trauma.
"For example, it's enormously private when you go into someone's home and the family is there and their loved one is on the floor – that's where it's difficult.
"They're not trained to deal with that huge emotional experience ... Frankly, it's bloody awful. I've been brought to tears myself – we've all got families," he said.
Whangārei Station career firefighters attended the most medical emergencies in Northland, with 298 callouts since January 2019.
The Ruawai Volunteer Fire Brigade was close behind with 215 medical callouts; ahead of Whangārei Heads and Te Kopuru volunteer brigades, which both attended 135.
Ruawai fire chief Kevin Evans said their tight-knit community, with a population of around 2500, meant his brigade of 20 often knew the people they were called to help.
He said medical emergencies encompassed anything from severe sore stomachs to cardiac arrests or suicide attempts - however, the latter were rarer.
"You don't forget many of the deaths or suicides or car crashes but over time it fades."
Although Evans can pinpoint the locations of car crashes he's attended along State Highway 12 between Dargaville and Matakohe.
He said the brigade chose to become first responders because of their remote location.
"It's something we do for our community as we're 30 minutes away from the Dargaville or Maungatūroto ambulance station. We all joined to help our community."
Evans believed mental health among firefighters hadn't changed much in his 27 years despite their first-responder status.
"Yes, we're exposed to more death but nothing more gory than the motor vehicle accidents ... we were exposed to before. But we have a better handle on how to help our members where possible and have better access to wellbeing assistance."
Debriefs continued to be an effective tool for dealing with a distressing callout – more likely to be "gory" vehicle crashes rather than medicals, he said.
Firefighters could also access free counselling , professional psychological support, peer support, dedicated safety health and wellbeing advisers, a welfare officer, a health monitoring programme, chaplaincy, and tikanga Māori-based counselling services.
Evans said the options encouraged firefighters to utilise the help available, if needed.
"Different people react to different things. Some people feel guilt – that they could've done better, or blame themselves.
"But it's about reminding them they tried their best and that we can't create miracles."
Maybe not miracles, but firefighters have been credited with increasing a cardiac arrest patient's chances of survival by "more than double" by providing early defibrillation, according to the New Zealand Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Registry 2019/20.
Whangārei Heads fire chief Paul MacDonald said his brigade had been first responders well before the 2013 memorandum.
They attended a variety of medical emergencies – not just cardiac arrests – involving patients ranging in age from 2-week-old infants to 90-year-olds.
"But in the last five years there's definitely being more of a push towards the wellbeing of firefighters. There's always been support but now there's more awareness around it."
Fire and Emergency area manager Wipari Henwood said the organisation recognised emergencies could be "as psychologically demanding" as it was physically for firefighters.
"Our Northland firefighters do a remarkable job of protecting life, property, and our environment. Nothing is more important than our volunteer and career firefighters."
Henwood was pleased more firefighters were accessing available support.
In the past two years, nearly 330 Northland career and volunteer firefighters took part in psychological wellbeing workshops where they learned what support was offered, signs of stress, and how to respond if they or someone else needed mental health support.
Henwood said the workshops were being integrated into Fire and Emergency's training framework to "help manage the psychological risks they are exposed to".
Brigade leaders also had training in supporting crew members in terms of wellbeing.
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Helpline: 1737
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Driver: 'I had a heavy addiction and that was a huge part of what happened. I apologise.'