2 Heroes Lost

Kansas City Fire Department lost 2 brave heroes in an apartment fire last night when a wall collapsed trapping 4 firefighters. 2 were pronounced dead at the hospital and 2 others suffered non-life threatening injuries. Fire Chief Paul Berardi identified the deceased firefighters as 17-year department veteran Larry J. Leggio and 13-year veteran John V. Mesh. The firefiighters had entered the building to rescue 2 residents trapped by the fire. These firefighters died heroes. How many people run in to burning buildings while the rest of us run out? My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of these Kansas City heroes. 

True definition of a hero!

I don't know if I have adequate words to express how I feel right now. As a Red Cross volunteer I witness first hand how wonderful our firefiighters and first responders are! Our first responders are incredible people! The firefighters are always great to work with. Always helping on scene with information about the families we are there to help and staying on scene when they can to keep Red Cross volunteers safe (if police aren't on scene). We couldn't do what we do without such a great relationship with the local fire departments.

I wasn't dispatched to last nights fire. That was likely intentional. Apartment fires are still emotional for me. I guess that's something you never get over. I know the volunteers that were dispatched to the fire and they are wonderful people. I know they did a great job taking care of the residents displaced by the fire. 

Red Cross assisted residents displaced by the apartment fire.

 I am lucky enough to call many first responders friends. It takes a special heart to do what you do! Thank you to all first responders! Prayers to KCFD! RIP to the 2 lost heroes last night. I know our KC community is supporting you today. 

Love and support you KCFD!

There are no words that can describe the pain these firefighters are experiencing after losing 2 of their own. 

  

RIP Larry J. Leggio and John V. Mesh Thank you for your service! 

Running the Marine Corps Marathon to Raise Awareness for Suicide Prevention in First Responders

Hi all! I am running the Marine Corps Marathon in October to raise awareness for suicide prevention for first responders.

Why do I want to raise awareness for suicide prevention? Because one suicide is one too many!

Why do I want to focus on raising awareness for suicide prevention for first responders? Because they are the helpers. Who are they supposed to call when they need help?

The stigma for suicide is very real. People are afraid to ask for help because they don't know how others will view them when they say they need help. Having been there I know this issue all too well. People don't want to talk about suicide because of the stigma associated with it. It's time to start a conversation worth having.

What makes suicide so difficult to prevent is that it is not a condition or disorder, but rather an outcome that may result from the presence (or accumulation) of many risk factors. What makes suicide in first responders even more difficult to prevent is that they are the helpers. Those who work in Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement face the risk of my behavioral concerns such as anxiety, depression, burnout, ptsd to name a few. But the problem is that they don't talk about behavioral health when it comes to each other. The often mentioned mantra in first responders is "We help others but never ourselves." 

Why is it so difficult for someone in Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement to ask for help? Risk of losing their peer’s respect, fear of being viewed as weak and unable to perform their jobs, fear of confidentiality, fear of losing their career? It’s no wonder so many of the helpers suffer in silence. Why do I want to raise awareness for suicide prevention for first responders? For Nico and TJ and all other first responders who ended their life too soon because they couldn’t ask for help.

Nicholas “Nico” Cruz passed away on July 27, 2014. He was a firefighter with more than 20 years on the job. He received numerous accolades for saving lives. When he wasn’t at work he gave his time to many charitable organizations including MDA, BACA and Brotherhood for Children. Nico was a firefighter, a husband, a father and so much more. What might have been the greatest hurdle for Nico was the loss of his wife to suicide nearly a year prior to his suicide. After her death Nico made it a mission to educate others about suicide prevention. Those of us who knew Nico knew the anniversary of Carli’s death was difficult and may have been too much for him to endure. Someone who ends their life by suicide doesn’t necessarily want to die; they just want their pain to end. Nico was struggling with the loss of Carli and didn’t know how to make the pain end.

Timothy J. “TJ” Shavers passed away December 8, 2012. TJ was a detective who spent a good portion of his career in cyber-crimes investigating online sexual predators, identity theft, email scams, internet theft, etc. He was trained specifically to focus on investigate crimes against children and spent nearly the last 7 years of his career catching these predators. TJ was a law enforcement officer, a husband and a father. He, like many law enforcement officers, struggled with the pressures of undercover work vs personal life balance. 

Was it the constant exposure to horror at work or something going on at home that proved too much for Nico or TJ to handle? We may never know. All we do know is they wanted the pain to end. For whatever reason, neither reached out for help. I can’t say I know what it’s like to walk in the shoes of first responders but I have many friends who do and if I can help even one of them get help when they need it, it is worth the effort. Asking for help is hard. I should know; it was the bravest thing I ever did!

I am running the Marine Corps Marathon to support the groundbreaking collaboration of The Sweeney Alliance and Rethink The Conversation to develop national programs to educate first responders about suicide prevention and coping with the aftermath of a suicide.

Will you support my cause? Here's a link to my campaign:  http://www.gofundme.com/suicidehelp
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog entry! This cause has my heart, I hope it has yours too!

If you or someone you know is struggling please ask for help. Where there is help, there is hope!

MLK Day of Service - Make it a day on, not a day off!

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and for many that means a day of service. 

What did you do today to make MLK Day a day on and not a day off?

For many who don't have today off, Saturday was our designated Day of Service. I participated by serving with the Red Cross. 

On Saturday January 17, 2015 the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City volunteers worked with our partners at KCMO CERT and KCFD to visit homes in the Tri-Blenheim Neighborhood today, installing a total of 52 smoke alarms!! This neighborhood had been identified as a high risk area for home fires. In the ZIP code 64132, we've assisted an average of three families per month needing help because of home fires. Many thanks to those working with us and supporting us in the effort!!

January 5, 2015, ‪#‎RedCross‬ volunteers teamed up with KCMO firefighters and KCMO CERT members to distribute door hangers in the Tri-Blenheim neighborhood…. The hangers advised residents in the neighborhood to call us to make an appointment for us to come back to their home on January 17 to install a free smoke alarm.

Anyone in the greater metropolitan area needing a new smoke alarm to be installed may contact the Red Cross smoke alarm installation team at (816) 841-5242.

Here are pictures from Saturday's event:

Thanks to the Neighborhood Association President (Mr Kennedy) for the opportunity to make a difference, and Research Medical Center (Dr McArthur and staff) for the meeting space!

We hear stories every day of how Smoke Alarms REALLY DO Save Lives!!

Some homes had smoke detectors but as you can see they were out dated. Our goal was to replace those old smoke alarms with new 10 year smoke alarms.

Before we headed out in to the neighborhood we needed to meet up for some instructions and supplies: 

Coffee and Donuts were provided to volunteers prior to and upon return from the field.

We broke up in to teams and headed out to the homes that responded to the January 5th survey. Here's some pics of the team I went out with:

The group I tagged along with included one Red Cross Staff, one Red Cross volunteer (me! - not pictured) and 2 CERT volunteers.

Here are a few of the other teams:

Here are some of the archaic smoke alarms we ran across while out installing new ones: 

Overall, it was a great day! Saturday's ‪#‎FireSafety‬ event by the numbers:

10 American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City Volunteers + 5 Staff Members, with 5 KCMO CERT Volunteers and 5 KCFD Fire Fighters visited 24 homes and installed 52 Smoke Alarms. Great job everyone!!! 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

What is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service?

All government agencies and many private businesses will be closed this Monday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but don’t let the appeal of a three-day weekend overshadow the purpose of the day.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together to serve their neighbors and communities.

Established as a federal holiday in 1983, MLK Day was designated a National Day of Service by Congress in 1994. Across the country, volunteer groups turn Monday into “a day on, not a day off” by building community gardens, distributing food, sprucing up schools, and helping the homeless.


Plan

MLK Day is a chance to start the year off right by making an impact in your community. Here are some Toolkits to help you plan for the Day of Service.

Serve

Join the hundreds of thousands of people who serve on MLK Day and throughout the year. Find a volunteer opportunity in your community by searching volunteer websites such as United We Serve, Do One Thing  and Bright Impact to name a few. You may also register your own project so that volunteers can find it.

Learn

Find free lesson plans that teach Dr. King’s legacy of service for grades K-8.

Impact




What are your plans for MLK Day? Share your plans and share your project’s impact after MLK Day. You can share your story on Serve.gov, on the MLKDay Facebook page, or by sending an email to MLKDay@cns.gov. Your stories will help highlight the many ways Americans are honoring Dr. King through service, improving lives, and making a difference in our communities.

If you’re interested in volunteering but don’t know where to begin, websites like volunteermatch.org, idealist.org, and allforgood.org can connect you with opportunities in your area. 

I will be working on Monday - the company I work for is not one of the many that get to take the day off - but that doesn't mean I won't be serving. I will be doing my part on Saturday with the Red Cross. We will be teaming up with the Kansas City Fire Department and KCMO CERT teams to install smoke detectors in a KC neighborhood. I will post about that next week after the event has been completed.  Enjoy the weekend and don't forget to serve!

ACT. Ask...Care...Take

The Kansas City Fire Department is starting a new program this month aimed at ending suicides within the fire department family. The program is called ACT. It stands for 'Ask, Care and Take'.

If you read my previous post titled Because One Suicide is One Too Many! or another post titled Suicide in Law Enforcement... What can be done to prevent it? then you know suicide is often not talked about in Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement. The often mentioned mantra is ‘We help others but never ourselves.’ That’s our culture. ‘ Don’t ask for help.’” It's time we change that! After losing one of their own recently to suicide as well as 3 others in the last 10 years, KCFD has decided it's time to step up and talk about suicide prevention. With help from Richard Gist, principle assistant to the fire chief and public health psychologist with KCFD, they have come up with the ACT program to help fire fighters who may be struggling.

The concept of the program is this: Ask what's going on with someone and if they are thinking about hurting themselves. Care is about showing a person that you care about them. Take stands for taking that person to a place where they can get help if you determine they need help.

Nico Cruz, a 23 year veteran of the KCFD took his life on July 27, 2014. His service was held on Saturday August 2, 2014. He is survived by four children. His oldest daughter, Catalina Cruz, said that she decided to speak out about her father's suicide in hopes of preventing other suicides. Her interview can be seen by clicking on the picture below and following the link.

I attended Nico's service. Having gone to high school with Nico and catching up periodically over the years I know what a big heart he had! He volunteered with MDA and BACA. He was passionate about protecting kids from child abuse. And personally, I will always remember that he took the time to call me after my fire 2 years ago to make sure I was okay and ask if I needed anything. In this day and age, who takes time to do that? Nico did! His death was a shock to so many of us who knew him. He did so much for others but was unable to ask for help for himself when he needed it. It's time to stand up and talk about mental health not only in the fire industry, EMS and Law Enforcement but to the public in general. I was so impressed with Nico's family during his service. Many times when suicide is the reason for someones death the family won't mention it. Not only did Nico's family mention it as cause of death but they took the opportunity to use his service as a forum to advocate suicide prevention. They asked everyone in attendance to reach out and speak to someone if they were hurting and needed help. Pamphlets about suicide prevention were available for anyone to pick up. I guarantee you, there was not a dry eye in the house! This was a family in pain that desperately wanted to reach out to others in hopes of preventing another family from going through similar pain. I admire the family for their courage during such a difficult time!

Catalina's message was this... "My message would be if you know anyone who is struggling with suicide, please talk with them and get some help!"

Cousin Desmond McIntyre, also a fire fighter with KCFD, explained that firefighters see things that you can never erase from your mind and deal with stresses and family and work that are incredibly difficult. He encouraged others to take the time to talk with people and find out how they're really doing and do it often. It's not clear what caused Nico to take his life. It is clear he was hurting.

If you suspect someone is hurting, reach out to them. Sometimes people are afraid to talk to family or friends regarding things they may be struggling with. If you know someone who is struggling but fear they may be afraid to talk, there are good resources you can point them to. One such resource is the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 

If you call the Lifeline you can remain anonymous. They are there to listen and help! You do not have to be suicidal to call. Anyone who is hurting and needs to talk can call. They also have a chat line if you prefer. Having used this resource myself I can assure you, it is a great resource and you can remain anonymous! What I learned from my experience (I used the chat function) is that you really can remain anonymous and people really do want to help! The only time they will disclose your identity is if you are going to hurt yourself. I wasn't suicidal when I contacted the Lifeline, I just really needed to talk through something that I wasn't sure I could talk to my family or friends about. Thanks to having a positive experience with the Lifeline, I now see a therapist on a regular basis and that is a great help to me. Sometimes it's not easy to talk to family or friends and that's when talking to a professional can help. I had to wait until I was insured again before I could start working with a therapist but I am glad I did. She is a good resource for me and I feel safe talking to her about any issues including Nico's suicide. I know a lot of people are hurting after losing Nico in such a shocking way. If you are struggling with Nico's death or any other issue please reach out for help! 

IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS AND NEED IMMEDIATE HELP, 

please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). 

Seeking help is a sign of strength not of weakness. It is the first step in reestablishing control in your life. Always remember when there is life there is hope!

RIP Nico! You are loved and so very much missed! 

Fire Safety Canvassing Event

Thursday January 16, 2014 the American Red Cross and Kansas City Fire Department partnered up to canvass an area neighborhood in the northeast part of Kansas City recently devastated by a fatality house fire. The fire happened on January 4, 2014  near St. John and Lawndale Avenues.

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The goal was to promote safety such as having working smoke detectors and a fire escape plan for the entire family so everyone knows how to escape a fire safely. Volunteers and fire fighters went door-to-door in a 3-block radius (of St. John and Lawndale Avenues) hanging up door hangers and sharing information about fire escapes and smoke alarms. Over 600 Fire Safety door hangers were distributed.

Fire Marshal Floyd Peoples said the fire department will often organize a neighborhood canvas following a fatal fire because it's a time when people close-by will have a higher likelihood to make a permanent behavioral change. That is the goal for the neighborhood near St. John and Lawndale Avenues, that people will make a change and install working smoke detectors in their home. There were two smoke detectors inside the home, but they did not have any batteries.

The victims family including his mother Nancy as well as sister Debbie Finley were on hand for the event. She said her family grew up being taught to check their smoke detectors twice a year (January 1st and July 4th) so she didn't understand why her brother didn't have working smoke detectors. She said her hope is the message from today will get out and everyone will have working smoke detectors in their home so that no other family has to grieve.



The fire department offers smoke detectors and will even come and install them.

Visit http://www.kcmo.org/Fire for more information on how to sign up.




Here are some pictures from Thursdays Fire Safety promotion event:

Thank you to KCFD for inviting Red Cross volunteers and staff to assist with this safety event! Fire safety will always be a topic close to my heart so I appreciate that I am able to participate in events like this!

Several local news channels were present at the event. There coverage is included via links to their pages:

Here is a link to KSHB Channel 41's coverage of Thursday's Fire Safety Canvassing Event:  http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/local_news/firefighters-volunteers-canvas-neighborhood-to-promote-safety-following-fatal-fire.

Here is a link to KMBC TV 9's coverage of Thursday's Fire Safety Canvassing Event: 
http://www.kmbc.com/news/kansas-city/grieving-family-takes-fire-safety-message-door-to-door/-/11664182/23964744/-/btfehiz/-/index.html