When The Call Hits Home | Bonus Episode: 2024 Kenosha County EMS Olympics

When The Call Hits Home Bonus Episode: 2024 Kenosha County EMS Olympics

Hosts:

- Dr. Ashlee Gethner DSW, LCSW: Licensed Clinical Professional, child of a police officer

- Jennifer Woosley Saylor LPCC S: Licensed Clinical Professional, child of a police officer

Guests:
- Chris Oliver: Firefighter at Pleasant Prairie Fire Department. Seven years of experience, with a background in the military and previous experience at the Bristol Fire Department.
- Ben Kessel: Associate Medical Director for Kenosha County EMS with 24 years in EMS, including roles as EMT, firefighter paramedic, and physician assistant in emergency medicine. Also involved with medical training, education, and the sheriff’s department tactical response team.

Episode Overview:
In this special bonus episode, we dive into the 2024 EMS Olympics event, which brings together first responders from various disciplines to compete, learn, and build stronger community bonds. Hosts Ashlee and Jennifer, alongside guests Chris Oliver and Ben Kessel, explore the unique culture of public safety professions and the importance of events like the EMS Olympics for training, camaraderie, and mental health support.

Key Topics Discussed:
1. Public Safety Culture:
   - Emphasis on the solidarity and community support within public safety professions.
   - The prevalent concept of brotherhood/sisterhood among first responders.
2. EMS Olympics Event:
   - Purpose: Raise funds for a scholarship to provide additional training for police officers and firefighters.
   - Event Benefits: Training, networking, and building professional support systems.
   - Location: Bristol Woods Forest Preserve, Kenosha County.
   - Event Components: A roughly 2-mile course with physical and mental challenge stations simulating critical real-life scenarios.
   - Participation: Teams of three carrying a collective weight of 60 pounds.
   - Atmosphere: Shared experiences, awards, and lunch post-event.
3. Positive Impact:
   - Promoting the bravery and sacrifices of public safety workers.
   - Highlighting positive stories to counter negative media narratives.
4. Training, Budget, and Recruitment Challenges:
   - Discussing budget constraints and the need for continuous training.
   - Addressing recruitment and retention challenges in public safety roles.
5. Fitness and Wellness:
   - Focusing on the importance of fitness for job performance and injury prevention.
   - Inclusion of communication and cognitive components in the event challenges.

**How to Get Involved:**
- Visit the event’s website to register your team or learn more. https://www.kcemsolympics.org/
- Check out past event photos and beneficiary stories.
- Donate via the QR code to support the scholarship fund if you can't attend in person.

Closing Notes:
Hosts Ashlee and Jennifer express their commitment to promoting and supporting the EMS Olympics and similar initiatives through their platforms. They highlight the critical role of community support in enhancing training, building professional bonds, and addressing mental health issues within the public safety community.

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