"When all of this is going on, you just think, 'Oh my God, this is it. This is the moment where it's not going to be good.'"

In a dangerous situation, it isn't uncommon to see your life flash before your eyes. But, what if the life you saw wasn't the one you knew you were meant to live? Vehicle accidents are often life-threatening but not always life-changing. For 47-year public service veteran Christine, an on-duty ambulance wreck turned out to be both.

Join host and former firefighter/paramedic  Phil Klein as Christine shares the harrowing details of the deadly crash and the epiphany that led her to the life she knew she always wanted.

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"You have these deputies who are screaming on the radio, ‘Bring more quick clot, bring more quick clot!’ So, it dawns on me, as I’m walking up to the house… these are the same deputies that were screaming, ‘Bring more fire extinguishers!’ last night."

Every first responder has a call that sticks with them long after the final flame is extinguished or the last chest compression is performed. While the circumstances and details vary, every story is an integral piece of the puzzle of what it means to be in public service. Sometimes that picture is happy and sometimes it’s heart-wrenching, but each is framed by the foundational role mental health plays in first responders’ experiences individually and collectively.  

Join former firefighter/paramedic and host Phil Klein as he sits down with Lt. Drew, a nearly 29-year veteran of law enforcement, to discuss the re-emerging topic of mental health. A frequent contributor to law enforcement-related podcasts, Drew shares both personal and professional events that have made him a fierce advocate for ensuring first responders receive the mental and emotional support they need. 

Are you a first responder who has a story from the road you’d like to share? Email storiesfromtheroadpodcast@gmail.com, and you could be featured in an upcoming episode.  

https://linktr.ee/DrewBreasy

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"Soon as my hand went through the window, I felt a leg and I just remember my first thought being, 'Damn, they’re in here.’" 

From navigating the route to a scene to getting on gear and operating equipment, first responders know on each call that an untold number of factors may be working against them. They’re programmed, both innately and through extensive training, to improve or fix a complicated situation, and this mentality is undoubtedly what fuels their ability to deal with the difficult day in and day out. But what happens when everything goes exactly to plan – and the outcome still isn’t what they wanted?

Join former firefighter/paramedic Phil Klein as he talks to Captain Brian, a 19-year veteran of the fire service, to discuss how a call gone right still led to a troubling end when he and his crew were called to a working fire at the home of a family of five. He addresses how disheartening a call like this can be to first responders, the toll it can take on their mental health, and the importance of accepting the mind’s “normal reaction to an abnormal situation.”

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