CS13 - Laughing through the Flames: Coping, Culture, and PTSD in Firefighting
SCURS Disciplines
Business
Document Type
General Poster
Invited Presentation Choice
Not Applicable
Abstract
Firefighting is a long, complex occupation witnessed by the public yet truly understood only by those who serve within it. For generations, firefighters have responded to emergencies of every kind, absorbing the same traumatic sights, sounds, and losses that victims experience. This repeated exposure has always been part of the profession, but only recently has the fire service begun to fully acknowledge how deeply it affects mental health. Unsurprisingly, the cumulative nature of these experiences places firefighters at significantly higher risk for developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a reality that continues to shape the culture and expectations of the job.
Building on this professional context, this presentation seeks to bridge the long‑standing gap between academic research and fire department administration. By connecting evidence‑based findings with practical leadership strategies, the goal is to reduce the number of firefighters diagnosed with PTSD through both formal and informal organizational changes. Formal changes, aimed at department decision‑makers, include resilience training, healthier coping strategies, family‑support initiatives, maintaining mentorships, reducing fatigue-sensitivity, decreasing avoidance coping, and addressing chronic sleep disruption. Informal changes, designed for crew commanders, focus on the lived experience of firefighters during their shifts. One widely recognized coping mechanism is dark humor: a tool that has long helped firefighters process trauma collectively. This presentation explores why dark humor emerges in the firefighting profession, how it functions psychologically, and what guidelines can ensure it strengthens camaraderie without crossing harmful boundaries.
Ultimately, PTSD should not be viewed as an inevitable consequence of a career in the fire service. By applying research‑driven strategies to firefighters’ experiences, departments can better protect the psychological endurance of their firefighters.
Start Date
10-4-2026 9:30 AM
Location
University Readiness Center Greatroom
End Date
10-4-2026 11:30 AM
CS13 - Laughing through the Flames: Coping, Culture, and PTSD in Firefighting
University Readiness Center Greatroom
Firefighting is a long, complex occupation witnessed by the public yet truly understood only by those who serve within it. For generations, firefighters have responded to emergencies of every kind, absorbing the same traumatic sights, sounds, and losses that victims experience. This repeated exposure has always been part of the profession, but only recently has the fire service begun to fully acknowledge how deeply it affects mental health. Unsurprisingly, the cumulative nature of these experiences places firefighters at significantly higher risk for developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a reality that continues to shape the culture and expectations of the job.
Building on this professional context, this presentation seeks to bridge the long‑standing gap between academic research and fire department administration. By connecting evidence‑based findings with practical leadership strategies, the goal is to reduce the number of firefighters diagnosed with PTSD through both formal and informal organizational changes. Formal changes, aimed at department decision‑makers, include resilience training, healthier coping strategies, family‑support initiatives, maintaining mentorships, reducing fatigue-sensitivity, decreasing avoidance coping, and addressing chronic sleep disruption. Informal changes, designed for crew commanders, focus on the lived experience of firefighters during their shifts. One widely recognized coping mechanism is dark humor: a tool that has long helped firefighters process trauma collectively. This presentation explores why dark humor emerges in the firefighting profession, how it functions psychologically, and what guidelines can ensure it strengthens camaraderie without crossing harmful boundaries.
Ultimately, PTSD should not be viewed as an inevitable consequence of a career in the fire service. By applying research‑driven strategies to firefighters’ experiences, departments can better protect the psychological endurance of their firefighters.