By Van Mitchell, Staff Writer
Chrissie Ward previously attended the Oklahoma Aging Advocacy Leadership Academy and wanted to do a project to help Oklahoma’s aging firefighter community.
The mission of Oklahoma Aging Advocacy Leadership Academy (OAALA) is to identify, train and develop volunteer leaders, aging services professionals, and advocates in issues related to aging.
The Academy equips individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as dedicated leaders now and in the future, effectively representing the interests of Oklahoma’s aging population.
“Firefighters face higher risks of cancer, dementia, and mental health issues because of the job,” Ward said in a Facebook audio posting. “When they retire, they have a lot of struggles. Oklahoma has thousands of retired firefighters in the state.”
Ward stated that her project involved developing a Google document accessible via both smartphones and computers. Resources listed in the project are for Oklahoma retired firefighters, families, friends, and community.
Ward created a Facebook page titled “The Oklahoma Aging Firefighter,” which includes a link to her Google resource document to meet retired firefighters where they are.
“The outline of the project is to take a firefighter from where they are now, to give them resources for help,” she said. “Nutrition, substance abuse, help mental crisis, help the difference between respite, palliative hospice care, and how to have end of life discussions and make preparations, and it also leaves a section for grief for those that are left behind.” State Rep. Mike Kelley represents Oklahoma’s 60th District, which includes Canadian County.
Ward reached out to Kelley, a retired Battalion Chief and Shift Commander from the Oklahoma City Fire Department getting his input on her project.
Kelley is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association, and advocates first responders by pushing for better wages, training, and protective equipment.
Ward said Kelley is making sure all firefighters in Oklahoma know of the project and resources available to them.
Kelley had her project link listed on Oklahoma State Firefighters Association website.
“This project originally started out just for the OKC firefighters,” she said. “I became excited to know that this can help all Oklahoma firefighters and retirees. This helps bring much needed awareness to the needs and voices of our aging heroes. This support gives the project a powerful platform and helps reach more retired firefighters and their families. It sends a strong message that even after the uniform is hung up, our Oklahoma firefighters are not forgotten.”
Ward continued “Thank you to Mike Kelley for his encouragement and support,” she said. “It is because of you that any aging firefighter struggling with transition has access to these resources. They miss the comradery, the purpose, the rhythm of the firehouse, and they often face it alone. We all must do better at preparing them for what is next, not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and socially, because there’s life after the fire, but they need help finding it.”
Kelley said Ward realized there was a need for a centralized resource platform for retired firefighters as well as seniors.
“During their career, they (firefighters) have a support system. They are around people all the time,” he said. Some retired firefighters struggle with identity loss and may feel isolated. This (project) gives them a place to pull the various resources together that are all readily available. Anybody in our aging community could use these resources.”
Kelley said Ward’s challenge was finding a platform to get the word out about her project and the resources available.
“Her challenge to me was, ‘How do we get this in more people’s hands?’ And I was like, ‘I can make it available,’ he said. “But it is the adage of you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them drink. I cannot promise you that people will use it.”
Kelley said Ward’s initial focus was firefighters in the Oklahoma City area. He said they needed to cast their net wider.
“A good percentage of them are in the rural areas,” he said. “Obviously, her passion was about Oklahoma City. But I said we need to look broader. Many of these same resources are available to people in other communities around the state. That is why we put it (Facebook link) on our state website.”
Ward said firefighters face dangers everyday that can impact their life expectancy.
“Most people don’t realize this, but the life expectancy of a retired firefighter is about 10 years shorter than the general population, and it is not because they stop taking care of themselves, is because of everything they were exposed to during their service,” she said. “Firefighters face repeated exposures to toxic chemicals even with the best gear.”
Ward said a firefighter’s job is physically intense, emotionally draining, and often traumatic. “The mental toll of witnessing tragedy combined with years of interrupted sleep from cause and shift changes, has real consequences on long-term health,” she said.
She noted that some retirees have reported a reduced sense of purpose after leaving the firehouse.
“Without strong support, this can lead to depression, isolation, and even substance abuse,” she said. “This is why it is so important that we support our firefighters, not just during their service, but after. This project offers state and federal resources to help you, your spouse, or your child address potential challenges. No matter what life brings, you are not alone.”
For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/oklahoma.aging.firefighter.
