Area first responders celebrated EMS week with dinner and education provided by Phelps Memorial Health Center to learn how to better understand and cope with the experiences and feelings that come with working in the field of emergency services. The presentation, titled “Soul Injury” was presented by mental health provider Lisa Follmer, PLCSW, PLMPH, of Kearney.
EMS workers answer the call day or night, in all kinds of weather and under all kinds of conditions. They see people at their worst and work to give them life-saving care before transferring to other medical professionals. Paramedics and first responders also face traumatic situations they can hold with them for extended periods.
Mrs. Follmer explained to EMS responders that soul injury can be defined as an “unaddressed wound, unforgiving hurt, a sense of shame, remorse or regret, or unresolved feelings of helplessness or powerless.”
She said that the unmourned loss and unforgiven guilt become stored in peoples’ bodies and minds and can sabotage their lives and generate both physical and emotional symptoms.
She told them with the years of service that many of them have served as emergency responders they have likely been exposed to traumatic events.
“Soul injury encompasses more than a one-time event,” she said.
“In general in our country, we don’t teach people how to grieve and say goodbye to losses. We teach people to be resilient and keep moving,” she said.
She added, “It’s not the emotional pain itself, it’s the fear of the emotional pain that causes us to avoid at all cost something that hurts us.”
Mrs. Follmer encouraged attendees to re-own painful parts of themselves that they have disconnected from and re-home that pain. She also shared the importance of connecting and sharing their stories.
Marlene Williams, EMT-B, shared a story from an experience early in EMS careers and how she was able to work through her emotions.
Over 50 first responders from Beaver City, Bertrand, Eustis, Funk, Loomis, Oxford, Holdrege, Stamford, and Wilcox attended. Tanis Twohig, Wilcox Volunteer Fire and Rescue, won a door prize for being the first responder with the longest years of service in EMS, 46 years. Preston Smith, EMT-B, won for being the newest EMT in attendance.
Pictured: Miki Nichols, Director of ED, EMS, OB, and PCC at Phelps Memorial Health Center, Lisa Follmer, PLCSW, PLMPH, and Marlene Williams, EMT-B, are shown following an EMS education provided by Phelps Memorial Health Center. Mrs. Follmer presented to first responders who are at high risk of soul injury as a result of a multitude of traumatic events due to the profession.
