Stress and importance of psychological preparation of firefighters

Abstract

A firefighter career is one of the most demanding in the world. Everyday effort and stress, as well as the dangers of this profession, make it one of the most difficult occupations. Firefighters are exposed to various sources of stress that can cause certain psychological issues. Indicators of stress in firefighters can be classified into physical, emotional and behavioral. There are various ways to prevent the occurrence of stress, as well as how to reduce the effects of stress if it occurs. Significant factors affecting the effectiveness of firefighters during intervention are firefighting equipment, techniques and tactics. However, if the firefighter is not mentally prepared, motivated and trained, the outcome of firefighting intervention could be unpredictable. Therefore, the role of the psychologist is to provide psychological assistance to firefighters after difficult interventions.