First Responders

Can you describe a particularly complex emergency response situation that you had to manage, and how you handled it?

Managing Complex Emergencies: Navigating Car Accidents and Fires

Is a great question in. It's always hard to pinpoint an exact situation, but I think one of the things that always comes into play as car accidents and extrication from car accidents, is it's the amount of experience that you have to be able to understand how to get into a car that's either on its side or on its roof or is dented in and damaged so much that you have to make alternative route. It's to be able to get in there and I'm sure there's a lot of different aspects within complex responses. Every single fire that we go into as a complex response because you don't know the exact layout of the building, you don't know the exact location of the fire. And so a lot of times the complexity of emergency responses relies on our experiences and also on the same point are teams that are no right next to us.

The complexity of emergency responses often relies on experience and the support of other teams.

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Describing a complex emergency response situation is challenging, but one scenario that often requires careful management is car accidents and extrication. Dealing with vehicles that are overturned, on their side, or severely damaged requires experience and the ability to find alternative routes to access the occupants. 

In general, every fire response is complex because the layout of the building and the exact location of the fire are unknown. The complexity of emergency responses often relies on the experience of the responders and the coordination with neighboring teams.

While it's difficult to pinpoint a specific situation, these examples highlight the importance of experience and teamwork in effectively managing complex emergency response scenarios.

What’s the worst work situation you found yourself in and how did you resolve it?

Firefighter Overcomes Injury, Fights to Return Stronger

So I think actually right now is the worst work situation I found myself in where my body is taking a toll and I actually had to get a partial knee replacement and in the fire service it's hard work and hard physically to be able to come back after something like this. So right now I'm in the mix of this of figuring out the best way to come back. I'm Smith and Nephew that you know it's it's more likely that I can come back to the front line and be just as good if not better than I was before without the pain. So I think the biggest thing that we in the fire service and first responders is that we have constant challenges mental and physical and for me this is that physical challenge this is the hardest part of the job is getting back to it as the agony increase is finding a way and I think for me to resolve that is just that resilience of I'm gonna get back I'm gonna do everything that I need to do to get back and that's my goal and nobody's

I recently had to get a partial knee replacement, and as a First Responder I am facing the challenge of returning to work and being able to perform just as well as before. To resolve this challenge I am relying on my resilience and determination to do whatever it takes to get back to work.

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The worst work situation I found myself in was recently when I had to undergo a partial knee replacement. Working in the physically demanding field of the fire service, it has been challenging to navigate my recovery and find a way to come back to the front line. Currently, I am in the process of figuring out the best approach to return to work.

I am exploring options like Smith and Nephew, which could potentially allow me to come back stronger and without the pain I experienced before. As a first responder, we constantly face mental and physical challenges, and this physical challenge has been the toughest part of my job. However, I am determined to overcome it and get back to my role.

Resolving this situation requires resilience and a strong mindset. My goal is to do everything necessary to recover and return to work. I am committed to putting in the effort and taking the steps needed to achieve that goal.

From Forge in the Fire to First Responders: A Diverse Range of Projects

I think the fun thing about my life, I guess, right now is I have a lot of different projects that I'm working on. Everything from, I have an academy, it's called Forge in the Fire's Mindset Academy, to working on the First Responder Resilience Project with the Quall Foundation to help with mental health training for first responders. That's not just one time, it's something that can be continuous, which is so important, to working on helping others to speak with Your Voice Masterclass with Amy Knudsen. And so there's a lot of different projects that I'm working on. I love to still go out there and do speaking engagements as well as seminars, and always looking at different opportunities to be able to not only keep my mental framework going, my ambition, but to also make that impact, make that lasting legacy for myself.

I'm currently working on a variety of projects such as Forged in the Fires, Mindset Academy, and the First Responder Resilience Project with the Koala Foundation. I also enjoy doing speaking engagements and seminars to help make an impact and leave a lasting legacy.

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Currently, I am involved in various exciting projects. One of them is the Forge in the Fire's Mindset Academy, which I have established. Additionally, I am working on the First Responder Resilience Project with the Quall Foundation to provide mental health training for first responders. This initiative is ongoing and crucial for their well-being. Another project I am engaged in is the Your Voice Masterclass with Amy Knudsen, where I assist others in finding their voice. Alongside these endeavors, I enjoy participating in speaking engagements and seminars. Continuously seeking new opportunities allows me to maintain my mental framework, ambition, and create a lasting impact and legacy.

Can you describe a time when you had to overcome your own fear or obstacles in order to take ownership of an experience?

Conquering Fear: Overcoming Obstacles to Find the Finish Line

You know this is a this is a really great question when you talk about personal experiences because it's so it's so unique to each person but realistically my one of my biggest fears or obstacles I had to overcome was the first time I did a race in full firefighter gear because it hadn't been done before for a half Ironman or a full Ironman and I had no idea what to expect. I knew that I was in shape but I didn't know what kind of shape I had to be in to finish it but inevitably I just took ownership of the experience and took ownership of what I could do in that moment and that literally led me to be able to follow my passion being able to find the finish line among all the fears that I had that day of being able to just trust myself in an experience to overcome and and really find what I needed which was clarity. Clarity of myself and ability that I had so that's my ownership story.

My biggest fear I had to overcome was my first race in full firefighter gear. I took ownership of the experience and trusted myself, which allowed me to find the finish line and gain clarity about myself and my abilities.

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One of the biggest fears and obstacles I had to overcome was when I participated in a race wearing full firefighter gear. It was the first time this had been done for a half Ironman or a full Ironman, and I had no idea what to expect. While I knew I was in good shape, I was unsure if I had the necessary fitness level to complete the race.

However, I made a conscious decision to take ownership of the experience and focus on what I could do in that moment. By doing so, I was able to follow my passion and push through the fears that arose during the race. Trusting myself and embracing the experience allowed me to find the finish line and discover the clarity and confidence within myself.

This experience of taking ownership and overcoming obstacles has been instrumental in shaping my journey and pursuing my passions. It taught me the importance of trusting myself and pushing through fears to achieve my goals.

How do you balance relying on your mental strength with asking for help or support from others?

Unlocking the Power of Balance: Mental Strength + Asking for Help

You know, this is a great question when you talk about mental strength and how a lot of people want to solely rely on that mental strength. But when I think about mental strength, it actually is that difference maker when you need help that you're willing and able to ask for help. And that is actually a stronger thing than just relying on your own strength of the mind. So making sure that you have both of those sides of the coin is finding that balance or finding that, I guess, prioritization of when you need it, when you don't, and understanding that both sides, asking for help and relying on your own mindset, are just as strong as each other.

Mental strength is not just relying on your own mindset, but also being willing and able to ask for help when necessary. Both are just as strong as each other and understanding the balance between them is important.

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Finding a balance between relying on your mental strength and seeking help or support from others is crucial. While many individuals want to solely depend on their own mental strength, I believe that true mental strength involves recognizing when you need assistance and being willing to ask for help. This ability to seek support is actually a sign of strength rather than weakness. Therefore, it's important to have both aspects in your life: relying on your own mindset when appropriate and knowing when to reach out for assistance. Both sides, asking for help and relying on your own mental strength, are equally powerful and contribute to overall resilience and well-being.

How do you ensure you remain ready for any emergency?

Balancing Training and Mental Strength: Are You Ready for Any Emergency?

Good question. How do you ensure you remain ready for any emergency? I think it's a great balance of Are you ready for any emergency because of your training? Are you ready for any emergency because of your Mental fortitude. I think it's it's a combination of both is that there's so many dynamic environments that we go into As far as emergencies that you can train to a certain scenario, but at the same time it's coming up with like anything Being able to Have a set of skills that you're able to draw off of on circumstances or in situations to be able to be calm collective efficient and effective in the moment Even though you may not have trained particularly on that skill So I think the biggest thing is to be mentally strong in those situations, but also at the same time is to be Calm and effective that you've done the training, you know what you need to do and you're not afraid to fail

To remain ready for any emergency, it is important to have both mental fortitude and training. It is essential to be calm, collective, efficient, and effective in the moment, even if one has not trained on that particular skill.

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To ensure readiness for any emergency, it requires a combination of training and mental fortitude. Training prepares you for various scenarios, but emergencies can be unpredictable. It's important to have a set of skills that can be applied in different circumstances, allowing you to remain calm, collected, efficient, and effective in the moment. Even if you haven't specifically trained for a particular situation, being mentally strong is crucial. Confidence in your training and the ability to stay composed while carrying out necessary actions are key. It's essential to remember that failure is a possibility, but it should not hinder your ability to act decisively.

Robert Verhelst answers your First Responders questions. See all the advice Robert Verhelst has and get answers to your own First Responders questions.

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Fireman Rob is known as a dynamic storyteller with an inspirational voice, on the courage to lead your life with a resilient mindset. He helps people become greater assets to themselves and others, with the ability to lead with courage, passion and mental strength. 

Fireman Rob delivers powerful impact to audiences through his stories and catalysts that have been Forged In The Fires of his life. From numerous years in the fire service to surviving on Discovery Channel’s show “Ultimate Ninja Challenge” to performing search & recovery after the September 11th attacks. His message resonates with everyone and has proven results. 

From surviving post-traumatic stress disorder to breaking a Guinness World Record to being a dad, he lives his message and delivers the fire to the audience.

ACCOLADES •  2012 Ironman Performance of the Year •  2012 HITS Triathlon Athlete of the Year •  2014 In Business Magazine “25 Most Influential People in Greater Madison” •  2015 Jefferson Award 