Taking Care of Our Own: Peer Support for Burn-Injured Firefighters

When a firefighter suffers burns, the injury heals, but recovery can take a lifetime. The IAFF Burn Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation are partnering with the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors to develop a firefighter peer support component of the Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery (SOAR) program.

Available nationally at 50 burn centers, the SOAR program provides formal training for survivors and family volunteers so they may offer one-on-one support to burn survivors and loved ones affected by a burn injury.

Interviews conducted with burn injured firefighters and their families clearly showed the desire to have access to trained firefighter peer supporters. It also helped the Phoenix Society to identify specific needs of the firefighter when injured. Over the next year, these organization will be developing this program with the help of those who have experienced a line-of-duty injury and the fire service.

How You Can Become Involved
If you or someone you know are a burn injured firefighter and would like to learn more about becoming a peer supporter or how to access peer support, please visit: phoenix-society.org/soarfirefighters or email us at firefightersupport@phoenix-society.