Duxbury, MA – On August 15th and 16th, 25 first responders attended a 2-day workshop focused on mental, physical, and emotional health. The workshop came to life through a collaboration between O2X and FirstNet®, Built with AT&T – a communication network for first responders and those who support them.
Shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet® stands above commercial offerings. The FirstNet® network provides public safety with truly dedicated communication coverage and capacity when they need it. These advanced capabilities help fire, EMS, law enforcement and other public safety professionals save lives and protect their communities.
Recognizing the importance of optimizing the performance of first responders, FirstNet® extended it’s support of public safety by providing funding to agencies nationwide in order to access O2X’s training and education. To date, FirstNet® and O2X have collaborated on fourteen engagements across eleven states – including Iowa, California, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Connecticut, Arizona, Michigan, Delaware, and Colorado. Each engagement has pulled from a variety of first responder populations and has provided evidence-based skills that assist in mitigating the stressors that come with a career in public safety.
Through the FirstNet® and O2X collaboration, first responders in Duxbury (MA) were able to access the 2-day workshop designed to enhance occupational performance and increase career longevity. This provided O2X the opportunity to work alongside local first responders, as the O2X Headquarters is based out of Scituate, Massachusetts.
“O2X is thrilled to collaborate with FirstNet® to provide our training and education to first responders in Duxbury, a community situated right down the street from our Scituate (MA) headquarters.” said Adam La Reau, Co-founder at O2X Human Performance. “We’re excited to engage with the local first responders who tirelessly protect the very community we call home. Through this program, we aim to elevate their performance and enable them to attain peak potential, creating a safer and stronger community where O2X is deeply rooted.”
Participants of the workshop learned ways to optimize each pillar of human performance from O2X’s team of experts. Led by O2X Director of Operations and retired U.S. Army Infantry Officer Zack McAdams, the O2X team of specialists included experts in the fields of nutrition, sleep and fatigue management, yoga and iRest, mental performance, and high stress jobs & resilience.
“We are sincerely grateful to have the opportunity to collaborate with O2X Human Performance and FirstNet®, Built with AT&T,” said Chief Reardon of Duxbury Fire Department. “This workshop has the potential to be truly life-changing for our department members, further equipping them with the tools and knowledge necessary to excel both on and off the job.” Chief Reardon concludes, “I have confidence that this workshop will not only enhance our individual and collective performance but also serve as a catalyst for positive change within our department. Together with O2X, we are committed to fostering a culture of resilience and continuous growth.”
Customized to meet the needs of first responders, each session addressed the unique job demands they face every day. The O2X team of subject matter experts not only acknowledged the specific challenges encountered by participants, but targeted actionable solutions they can make to create small, incremental changes that will lead to lifelong improvements.
As of late, Duxbury Fire Department has encountered high profile emergency cases – emphasizing the vital need and importance of mental health support for first responders. Those serving in public safety face extreme challenges on a regular basis while working tirelessly to keep communities safe. This line of work can result in compounding stress over a 20+ year career. O2X strives to support first responders and keep people on the force healthy, so they can finish their careers just as strong as they started.
“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our community and we take their health and wellness seriously,” said Dr. Anna Fitch Courie, DPN, RN, PHNA-BC, Director, Responder Wellness, FirstNet® Program at AT&T. “This program has proven successful and we’re hoping our collaboration will allow more first responders to feel equipped both mentally and physically to handle their jobs.”
Moving forward, O2X and FirstNet® plan to continue their collaboration, with a workshop being delivered to first responders in Cincinnati (OH) this October.
