Midstate EMS CISM Team

05/01/2026

May is mental health awareness month. Please take care of yourself, your mental health and wellbeing. Stay strong you are not in this alone.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in EMS, this conversation matters more than most.

This work asks a lot of you.
Long shifts.
High stress calls.
Decisions that don’t leave you when the shift ends.

And while EMS leaders are focused on taking care of their teams, it’s just as important to recognize that support starts at the top.

Checking in with your people.
Creating space for honest conversations.
Normalizing the need for support.
And making sure resources are more than just something on paper.

Mental health isn’t a once a year conversation. It’s part of building a sustainable, healthy workforce.

If you’re leading, this is part of the job.
And if you’re struggling, you’re not alone.

Let’s keep this conversation going all month.

(Photo credit: Chris Swabb, On Assignment Studios, sister company of Janet Smith & Associates)

04/02/2026

Moral injury in our first responders

🚨 Not all trauma comes from what you see…

Some of it comes from what you had to do.
Or what you couldn’t do.

This is what we call moral injury.

And for first responders, it’s more common than we talk about.

Research shows that moral injury often:
🧠 Happens as part of the job—not outside of it
⚠️ Is hard to recognize in the moment
💔 Shows up as guilt, shame, or feeling like you failed someone

Over time, it can lead to:
• Isolation from others
• Loss of trust
• Lower self-worth
• Even spiritual or identity struggles

💡 Here’s the part we need to pay attention to:

Many first responders don’t talk about this—
because it doesn’t always look like “trauma” the way we expect it to.

It looks like:
👉 “I should have done more”
👉 “I made the wrong call”
👉 “That shouldn’t have happened”

🛡️ What first responders in the research said actually helps:
✔️ Talking about it openly
✔️ Breaking the stigma around needing support
✔️ Being proactive—not waiting until it gets worse
✔️ Building a trusted support system

👉 This isn’t about weakness.
👉 This isn’t about doing the job wrong.

This is about carrying the weight of decisions made in impossible situations.

If this hits home for you—
you’re not the only one who has felt it.

And you don’t have to carry it alone.

03/27/2026

To all our dispatchers and communication specialist. This lunch and learn is for you. Focusing on Compassion fatigue at the consol. April 16th, 2026, from 12-1 pm. As dispatcher's and communication specialist, every emergency starts with you. You are there for everyone's worst moments, and your voice of reason and calm is what makes the rest of the incident go smooth. Your not alone and we are here for you. Stay safe and remember to breath through the pressure.

Join us for a free Lunch ad Learn to commemorate National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in April! Public safety telecommunicators are often the first point of contact during emergencies, serving as a calm and steady voice for callers experiencing crisis and trauma. We will explore the impact of compassion fatigue within the 911 profession.

Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4HYmxt5WSkqa7q1-Tvrd3w #/registration

03/26/2026

Come join us at the Midstate EMS spring fling. We will have a table setup with our CISM members, handing out flyers, stickers and answering any questions you may have about CISM. Applications will be on hand. We will also be doing a 50/50 and raffle baskets to support our education in CISM. May 22nd, 2026. CME day from 8 am to 4 pm for $10, and 6 pm to 10 pm for the annual recognition and awards ceremony, $15. Spots are limited so signup soon.

03/26/2026

Oneida County has received the State Cares up grant. This week is First responder wellness week. If you have a moment please use the link they have provided and fill out their survey. Our first responders mental health and wellness is our top priority.

🚨First Responder Wellness Week🚨

This week, we recognize the importance of taking care of those who dedicate their lives to taking care of others. First responders face challenges that most will never fully see or understand-long hours, high stress, and critical moments that require strength, focus and resilience.

Wellness is not a luxury-it's a necessity.

First responders throughout Oneida County are invited to complete a survey to help guide the program and ensure it reflects the real needs of those on the front lines by clicking the following link:

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8688863/CARES-UP-Team-Member-Survey-Cohort-4

Strong responders build strong communities.

Follow this page to stay up to date as the CARES UP initiative continues to roll out across Oneida County.

03/10/2026

To all our female first responders, this lunch and learn is for you. This is for education and awareness impacting reproductive health in female first responders.

Firefighting and other first responder roles expose members to hazards that may affect fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and long-term reproductive health. These include combustion byproducts, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, heavy metals, heat stress, shift work, sleep disruption, and chronic stress. As more women enter the fire and EMS workforce, important gaps in research, policies, and workplace protections are becoming clear. Join us for an open discussion on how we can support a healthier workforce and healthier families across the profession.

Register - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CRtHr1XCQFKNKzWgbWJh-A #/registration

03/08/2026

Oneida County has been awarded a grant to implement a comprehensive wellness initiative designed to support first responders and uniformed personnel. See link below ⬇️

📸 Oneida County

01/24/2026

Free health, Wellness and safety symposium, March 6th-8th right here in Utica. Use the QR code to register.

01/22/2026

🧠✨ FREE Mental Health First Aid Training ✨🧠

Just like CPR prepares you to help someone having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to support someone experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge/crisis.

✅ FREE full-day training
✅ Designed for older adults + anyone who lives in or serves rural communities
✅ Build confidence recognizing warning signs & offering meaningful support
✅ Certificate of Completion included
✅ Lunch + refreshments provided at no cost

📅 When: Friday, February 13th | 9:00am – 5:00pm
📍 Where: Midstate EMS
14 Foery Dr. Utica, NY 13051

📝 Register here:
https://forms.gle/XNyhBvyLukGQQVL5A

(Or scan the QR code on the flyer!)

12/24/2025

Free Mental Health online Peer to Peer training.

Overview of the Be There Certificate course.

12/10/2025

Send a message to learn more