'Defying Our Demons' PTSD Tour
Donation protected
JUST $5/ea x 4000 OF YOU!
As you consider whether or not you're willing to contribute your $5 to the development of this Tour, we would invite you to please take a few minutes to read this story (one of thousands and thousands of stories that any number of your neighbors who battle PTSD every day remember vividly):
You’re freshly certified in the world of EMS, and are attending a Christmas Party for children of fellow EMS volunteers only hours after receiving clearance and certification. As Santa enters the building – children’s eyes wide in excitement and anticipation, radios go off advising on a motor vehicle accident with injuries on the highway.
2 crews are immediately dispatched, and a senior crew (comprised of 3 of your instructors) ask you if you want to ride along. This is what you’d signed up for. You jump at the chance.
The ride is long. You’re in the midst of a major snow storm. Siren blaring, and traffic moving to the side of the highway when safe to do so. Your adrenaline is pushing through you at an alarming rate, and a million scenarios are whipping through your mind.
As you near the scene, one of your crew tells you to pay attention. You look at him, and he’s looking you square in the eyes. He points his 2 fingers at your eyes, then back at his, and he holds your stare. “The second we stop, I’m going to open this door. As I do, I want you to take a deep breath, and jump out with both feet on the ground at the same time. Exhale when you land, and then stick to me. Listen to me. Listen to what’s going on around you. Know your surroundings. Do as I say. You’re trained for this. You’re ready."
The rig stops. He opens the door, still looking at you. As he turns his eyes to the outside, he nods and you jump and exhale. Screaming. Crying. Vehicles running. People talking loudly. Blood. Lots, and lots of blood. Blood and tears. Debris everywhere. Wait, not just debris…wrapped Christmas presents.
Imagine this being you. Imagine it being me. Imagine this happening every day, all across the country, and imagine how hard it is to process a day in the life.
First Responders; Paramedics. Fire Fighters. Police.
Members of our Military at home, or on deployment.
Corrections Officers and other Law Enforcement.
Healthcare; Nurses, Doctors, hospital and special care staff
Eye witnesses before First Responders arrive.
Victims of abuse, or horrific accidents...
...And so many others.
So many people experience events beyond their control, and so outside of the ability of our minds to forget. How do they cope? How do they move past it? How do their families?
With the rise in suicides, and even more dramatic still – the staggering numbers of alcoholism, broken marriages and families, lost careers, and everything else associated with PTSD and mental health challenges, more needs to be done. More CAN be done. I want to do more. I know that others want to do more, and I’m hoping to provide the staging area for ‘more’.
My sincere hope is that you ALSO want to see more done to protect those who protect you, and so I’m here asking for YOUR help.
Your donation (or, if you’re unable to donate, I would strongly encourage you to please share across your social media platforms, email, etc.) will help launch a National Tour of Speakers and Workshops designed to provide top-shelf training, experiences, explanations, and encouragement to attendees with a consistent level of delivery from coast-to-coast. Furthermore, these 2-day events will also host panels, breakouts for family and friends of those battling PTSD, access to professionals, and more.
I know our First Responders, our Military, and our families NEED this, and I know because the story above is mine. I know because while my volunteerism in FIRE and EMS was almost 12yrs of my adult life (and started over 20yrs ago), I still remember most. I remember those who didn’t make it. I remember during daylight hours when a smell will suddenly and unexpectedly draw my attention and flash me back to a call. I remember in the middle of the night in the darkness.
You don’t forget. Ever.
Whether it’s the calls of our First Responders, or the unimaginable scenes of deployment within our valued Military, they don’t ever forget. It’s not about forgetting. It’s about coping. It’s about support systems, and it’s about those around those affected understanding what’s happening.
Let’s help them. Together.
As you consider whether or not you're willing to contribute your $5 to the development of this Tour, we would invite you to please take a few minutes to read this story (one of thousands and thousands of stories that any number of your neighbors who battle PTSD every day remember vividly):
You’re freshly certified in the world of EMS, and are attending a Christmas Party for children of fellow EMS volunteers only hours after receiving clearance and certification. As Santa enters the building – children’s eyes wide in excitement and anticipation, radios go off advising on a motor vehicle accident with injuries on the highway.
2 crews are immediately dispatched, and a senior crew (comprised of 3 of your instructors) ask you if you want to ride along. This is what you’d signed up for. You jump at the chance.
The ride is long. You’re in the midst of a major snow storm. Siren blaring, and traffic moving to the side of the highway when safe to do so. Your adrenaline is pushing through you at an alarming rate, and a million scenarios are whipping through your mind.
As you near the scene, one of your crew tells you to pay attention. You look at him, and he’s looking you square in the eyes. He points his 2 fingers at your eyes, then back at his, and he holds your stare. “The second we stop, I’m going to open this door. As I do, I want you to take a deep breath, and jump out with both feet on the ground at the same time. Exhale when you land, and then stick to me. Listen to me. Listen to what’s going on around you. Know your surroundings. Do as I say. You’re trained for this. You’re ready."
The rig stops. He opens the door, still looking at you. As he turns his eyes to the outside, he nods and you jump and exhale. Screaming. Crying. Vehicles running. People talking loudly. Blood. Lots, and lots of blood. Blood and tears. Debris everywhere. Wait, not just debris…wrapped Christmas presents.
Imagine this being you. Imagine it being me. Imagine this happening every day, all across the country, and imagine how hard it is to process a day in the life.
First Responders; Paramedics. Fire Fighters. Police.
Members of our Military at home, or on deployment.
Corrections Officers and other Law Enforcement.
Healthcare; Nurses, Doctors, hospital and special care staff
Eye witnesses before First Responders arrive.
Victims of abuse, or horrific accidents...
...And so many others.
So many people experience events beyond their control, and so outside of the ability of our minds to forget. How do they cope? How do they move past it? How do their families?
With the rise in suicides, and even more dramatic still – the staggering numbers of alcoholism, broken marriages and families, lost careers, and everything else associated with PTSD and mental health challenges, more needs to be done. More CAN be done. I want to do more. I know that others want to do more, and I’m hoping to provide the staging area for ‘more’.
My sincere hope is that you ALSO want to see more done to protect those who protect you, and so I’m here asking for YOUR help.
Your donation (or, if you’re unable to donate, I would strongly encourage you to please share across your social media platforms, email, etc.) will help launch a National Tour of Speakers and Workshops designed to provide top-shelf training, experiences, explanations, and encouragement to attendees with a consistent level of delivery from coast-to-coast. Furthermore, these 2-day events will also host panels, breakouts for family and friends of those battling PTSD, access to professionals, and more.
I know our First Responders, our Military, and our families NEED this, and I know because the story above is mine. I know because while my volunteerism in FIRE and EMS was almost 12yrs of my adult life (and started over 20yrs ago), I still remember most. I remember those who didn’t make it. I remember during daylight hours when a smell will suddenly and unexpectedly draw my attention and flash me back to a call. I remember in the middle of the night in the darkness.
You don’t forget. Ever.
Whether it’s the calls of our First Responders, or the unimaginable scenes of deployment within our valued Military, they don’t ever forget. It’s not about forgetting. It’s about coping. It’s about support systems, and it’s about those around those affected understanding what’s happening.
Let’s help them. Together.
Organizer
Joe Trevors
Organizer
Keswick, NB
