I Love a Fire Fighter What the Family Needs to Know

How can fire fighter families manage the stress that comes with life in the service? How do you keep a grip on fears and worries during long hours of separation from your spouse? Where can you turn when times get tough?With this practical, no-nonsense, yet compassionate guide, Dr. Ellen Kirschman provides the first self-help book written to address the questions and concerns of today's fire fighter families. From the effects of shift work on your marriage, to the emotional side of physical injuries and trauma, to ways to deal with job pressures and resolve conflicts at home, read on to see what you can do to help yourself, your mate, and your children navigate the highs and lows of the best job in the world.

Introduction1. Beepers in Your Bedroom: The Givens and Realities of the Fire Service2. Spillover: Managing the Relationship between Home and Work3. Profiles: The Fire Fighter Personality4. Climbing the Career Ladder: From Recruitment to Retirement5. Emergency Medical Services: False Alarms and Frequent Fliers6. Organizational Stress: Fractures in the Fire Service7. Diversity8. Injuries and Fatalities9. Fitness, Health, and Safety10. Trauma and Stress11. Treating Traumatic Stress: Help for Individuals and Families12. Fire Fighters in Hot Water: Alcoholism, Arson, Divorce, and Infidelity13. Fire Fighting Couples14. Getting HelpEpilogue

Ellen Kirschman, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, volunteer clinician at the First Responder Support Network, and sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator. Dr. Kirschman is a recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Police and Public Safety Psychology from the Police and Public Safety Section of Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service) of the American Psychological Association and the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology award from the California Psychological Association. She is coauthor of a book for mental health professionals, Counseling Cops, and author of the self-help guides I Love a Cop, Third Edition, and I Love a Fire Fighter, as well as the mystery novels Burying Ben, The Right Wrong Thing, and The Fifth Reflection. She lives in Redwood City, California. Her website is www.ellenkirschman.com.