MdE, Inc. News

Firefighters serve an entire career of being on-call. Nearly every day, they are out and about, working within their communities. Through hosting kindergarten classroom tours, blaring fire engine sirens in the parades, and hosting community barbecues and firefighter balls, they’ve gotten acquainted with the men and women who govern the town and own businesses. The news reporters have written about their heroism in the local papers many times. Throughout their careers, the community becomes a major part of their lives—one that they are very proud to be a part of. For all firefighters, the day comes when it’s time to retire. Because their communities are such a large part of their lives, moving into retirement is often a bigger adjustment than it is in other professions. It’s also a bigger adjustment than most firefighters thought it would be. Because of the exposure to hazardous materials, firefighters have a shorter life expectancy […]

You might be a corrections officer if. Jeff Foxworthy poked fun at rednecks, jabbing at nearly every occupation along the way, including stressful occupations like corrections officers. High wages, great benefits, and early retirement are benefits that attract workers to the job—one that comes with immense emotional stressors.   The United States Department of Labor reports that corrections officers have the highest rates of injuries and illnesses as compared to all other occupations. Corrections officers receive training in excess of 40 hours, which generally does not include instruction on job-related stress.    Psychologist Caterina Spinaris conducted a study in 2013 which showed that 31% of corrections officers suffered from PTSD—a rate that rivals combat-induced PTSD in veterans. This may be due to multiple types of stressors that affect prison guards.   Line of duty stress—managing inmate behavior manifests in constant hypervigilance and fight or flight response. Organizational stress—striking a balance […]

“Compassion fatigue” is a term that may be unfamiliar to some, but is rapidly becoming a recognized issue in our society.  One day, fire culture may see compassion fatigue listed and treated as a mental hazard along with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Indeed, the two are often parallel .  But what is compassion fatigue?   One of the pioneers of our understanding of compassion fatigue was Dr. Charles Figley, who defined it as follows:   “Compassion Fatigue is a state experienced by those helping people or animals in distress; it is an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it can create a secondary traumatic stress for the helper.”   Compassion fatigue is not a mental illness, but it is a disorder – similar to other mental or emotional disorders like major depression, bipolar disorder, or alcoholism. Studies suggest that […]

Forensic evidence sits at the center of criminal investigations across America. However, training forensic investigators is not the same as training law enforcement officers, EMTs, or firefighters. With this in mind, consider the ins and outs of training forensic personnel, the ethical issues involved, and how MdE Inc. can help. The Sensitivity of Forensic Evidence Forensic evidence is especially delicate as it can change lives, send someone to prison, exonerate the accused, ensure justice is served, and answer pressing questions in any investigation. Because this information is so sensitive, it must be handled with the utmost care and professionalism. This begs the question: should you field train your investigators? Without proper knowledge, a trainee could easily contaminate or compromise prospective evidence..  Providing the right training in the field is often the most effective way for someone to learn their job duties, and teach the manner in which a professional investigator […]