| The Newport News Fire Department’s (NNFD) first responders often work with individuals experiencing extreme stress. Emergencies often include loud noises and a chaotic environment, which can make communication with a patient difficult. Each NNFD medic unit and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicle is now stocked with a “sensory bag,” which contains items that can be used by the patient to help reduce stress or assist in communicating with first responders. NNFD medics and firefighters are there when someone is experiencing one of the worst days of their lives, and these bags can provide a tool to assist in calming the patient’s fears and anxieties. The bags also contain a communication board with pictographs and an alphabet. Patients are offered a variety of objects, such as noise cancelling headphones or a stress ball when dealing with a sensory issue. The project came to fruition through the teamwork of the Newport News Fire Department’s Public Education Office, the Newport News Fire Department Citizen Fire Academy Alumni and Backing the Thin Line organization. Theresa Crowson, an Educational Specialist at Old Dominion University’s Training and Technical Center, provided guidance and education for the project. For more information about this program, contact Lisa King at 757-975-5406 or at kingla@nnva.gov. |
