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

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 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. 

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