The Hardest Knock: Death Notifications, Duty & Resilience with Dr. Alexandra Jabr

Send us a text

 We’re back with Season 9 of Sirens, Slammers, and Service, and we’re kicking things off with a powerful and perspective-shifting conversation.

In this episode, host Nikki Cloutier sits down with Dr. Alexandra Jabr, Ph.D., EMT-P — an Independent Educator, seasoned paramedic, and founder of EmergencyResilience.com. Known for her no-fluff approach to integrating difficult but essential topics into first responder training, Alexandra opens up about the career-altering workplace injury that forced her off the front lines and into a new calling: helping other first responders build resilience.

We dive into one of the most emotionally loaded responsibilities in emergency services — delivering a death notification. Alex walks us through the realities of this task, sharing practical, compassionate, and trauma-informed strategies that every responder should know. From understanding your own body language to managing the silence that follows the words “I’m sorry to inform you…”, her insights are invaluable.

🔥 Key moments to catch:

• The life-changing incident that rerouted Alex’s career
• What most responders get wrong about delivering death notifications
• The importance of mental preparedness — and where routine training is falling short
• Tools to build resilience before you're in the moment of crisis

If you’re in emergency services, law enforcement, or any first responder role — or training to get there — this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Subscribe and stay tuned — Season 9 is just getting started, and we’ve got more bold, raw, and real conversations on the way.

Follow Alex on Instagram @emergencyresilience and visit her site for training resources and more.

Garett Martin, Mortgage Broker with The Mortgage Group, is our official podcast sponsor for Season 9 and supports other first responders by offering discounted mortgage rates, flexible communication, and industry-leading service. 

Learn more
 https://garettmartinmortgages.com

 Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. 

Support the show

Follow our show on Apple Podcasts so that you get notified each time a new episode is available!
If you already follow our show, help a friend follow the show too.

Want to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here!

Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more!
Email - [e-mail]
Blue Line Fitness Testing
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstesting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/
LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier