Frontline Strong Together

07/26/2025

First responders share heartfelt advice they’d give to their younger selves.

Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org.
In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG
(1-833-347-8766)

07/24/2025

🚨 Michigan First Responders & Mental Health Pros — Don’t Miss This!
🚨Free, 3-day, in-depth training to build resilience, master crisis support, and step up for your peers when it matters most.
Spots are limited — register now via the link in comments!

📣 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀!

As first responders, no one understands the challenges you face better than those who walk in your shoes. These 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘, in-depth, three-day trainings are designed to empower you to support your peers and yourself through the unique stresses of critical incidents. Together, we’ll build a stronger, more resilient community of professionals equipped with the tools and techniques to manage the psychological impact of crises and ready to step up for one another when it matters most.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿:
Police Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Services, 911 Dispatchers, Correctional Officers, Mental Health Professionals.

✅ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻:

- Deep understanding of psychological crisis and stress management

- Apply evidence-based strategies to critical incidents

- Gain hands-on practice in crisis interventions

- Learn to reduce risks during crisis response

📝 REGISTER BY CLICKING THE LINKS IN THE COMMENTS 👇
(Check your junk folder for the confirmation email from noreply@jotform.com)

💬 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱?
When critical incidents happen, having trained peers to lean on can make all the difference. These trainings equip you with the tools to provide emotional support to others, ensuring that no first responder has to navigate the aftermath of a crisis alone.

Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org.
In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG
(1-833-347-8766)

07/22/2025

Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org.
In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG
(1-833-347-8766)

07/22/2025

Cold water immersion triggers a powerful physiological response. When you hit cold water below 59°F, your body launches into cold shock. Gasping occurs and breathing becomes rapid and uncontrollable. Heart rate spikes. Blood pressure rises.

Staying in the water for too long can lead to hypothermia, a condition where a person's core body temperature drops dangerously low.

Shivering may begin within minutes in cold water. Confusion or fainting are more serious signs that hypothermia may be developing.

Occasionally, this "cold shock" response can lead to a heart attack or stroke – especially if you have an undiagnosed condition affecting your heart, blood vessels or brain.

Even after you get out, your core temperature can continue to fall – a phenomenon known as afterdrop. So you can encounter problems, such as collapse, even after leaving the water.

And even young, healthy people can be caught off guard. The body isn't designed to endure freezing water for extended periods.

Cold exposure can also cause long-term damage to nerves and blood vessels in the hands and feet, known as non-freezing cold injury. This is more likely if someone spends an extended period immersed in cold water. Symptoms such as numbness, pain and sensitivity to cold can persist for years.

Here are 6 tips for safer recreational ice bath use.

Resource: Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate in Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney and Michael Tipton, Professor of Human and Applied Physiology, University of Portsmouth.

_
Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org.
In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG
(1-833-347-8766)

07/18/2025

Driven. Determined. Stepping into the unknown.
We asked seasoned first responders:
“If you could go back, what would you tell your younger self?”
Here’s what they said.👇

07/17/2025

⚠️Stuck in alert mode? Here’s how to reset.

Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org.
In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG
(1-833-347-8766)

07/15/2025

PTSD Self-Screen: Check In With Yourself

Not sure if what you’re feeling might be PTSD? This confidential self-screen can be of help.

💡 Please note: Your responses are private and secure — they are not saved or shared.
This is for you. If you’re concerned about someone else, please send them the link instead.

🛑 Do not take the screen for someone else.
Only a trained provider can diagnose PTSD. This is only a screening tool.

Take the self-screen now → Link in the first comment.

If positive, ask for help.

Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org.
In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG
(1-833-347-8766)

07/14/2025

Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org.
In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG
(1-833-347-8766)

07/11/2025

What Do First Responders Regret Most?
We asked. They answered.
👉 Swipe through.

Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org.
In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG
(1-833-347-8766)

07/10/2025

📣 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀!

As first responders, no one understands the challenges you face better than those who walk in your shoes. These 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘, in-depth, three-day trainings are designed to empower you to support your peers and yourself through the unique stresses of critical incidents. Together, we’ll build a stronger, more resilient community of professionals equipped with the tools and techniques to manage the psychological impact of crises and ready to step up for one another when it matters most.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿:
Police Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Services, 911 Dispatchers, Correctional Officers, Mental Health Professionals.

✅ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻:

- Deep understanding of psychological crisis and stress management

- Apply evidence-based strategies to critical incidents

- Gain hands-on practice in crisis interventions

- Learn to reduce risks during crisis response

📝 REGISTER BY CLICKING THE LINKS IN THE COMMENTS 👇
(Check your junk folder for the confirmation email from noreply@jotform.com)

💬 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱?
When critical incidents happen, having trained peers to lean on can make all the difference. These trainings equip you with the tools to provide emotional support to others, ensuring that no first responder has to navigate the aftermath of a crisis alone.

Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org.
In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG
(1-833-347-8766)

07/08/2025

An incredible roundtable. An even more important conversation.
Thank you to everyone who registered and joined us for the powerful discussion on mental health in the first responder community. We’re especially grateful to the first responders who spoke up, shared their stories, and reminded us why safe, honest spaces matter.

If you missed it, please make time to watch—you’ll hear truth, healing, and hope.

🎥 Watch via the link in the first comment under this post.

🌐 Visit your FST5 website at fst5.org
📞 In 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 or in need of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬, call:
1-833-34-STRONG (1-833-347-8766)

07/04/2025

🇺🇸 Happy 4th of July

Today we celebrate freedom, unity, and the spirit that holds our communities together. As we gather with loved ones, let’s also take a moment to recognize the strength, sacrifice, and resilience of those who serve — especially our first responders, who continue to protect and support us, even on holidays.
Thank you for showing up, standing strong, and keeping us, our families, and neighborhoods safe.

Wishing you a safe, joyful, and meaningful Independence Day.
— From all of us at FST5.