Medic 1 Ambulance is proud to announce the launch of “Graham’s Corner,” a designated space soon to be in every station house for first responders to unwind and decompress after a stressful call or as needed.

The idea came to Rachel Hodge, a Medic 1 employee, over a year ago.

“This is something that I feel was placed on my heart,” said Hodge. “It started off as me just wanting to provide prayer for my co-workers . . .it started to evolve into something bigger after the incident that occurred with NFL star Damar Hamlin.”

The incident Hodge is referring to took place in January of this year. Damar Hamlin, 25-year-old safety for the Buffalo Bills, went into near-fatal cardiac arrest after being hit in the chest while making a tackle.

Watching first responders bring Hamlin back to life struck a nerve with Hodge.

“It was horrific for the public to see. People were so traumatized by it they suspended the rest of the game, and rightly so,” Hodge recalls. “The growing consensus was that for (us) first responders, that was just a regular Monday night.”

Hodge recalls seeing many fellow first responders posting on social media, recounting their experiences. The recollections included the many times they felt they “had to push past the hurt and pain of the not-so-pretty parts of EMS,” Hodge recalls.

Unfortunately, this is the stark reality many of our first responders face. Instead of decompressing after a difficult call, they jump to the next one. This can be attributed to simply not having the time during their shift, not having access to proper resources, or feeling the pressure to “just deal with it.”

According to the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS), a staggering 69% of EMS responders report not having enough time to recover between traumatic events.

Being on duty for up to 24-hours or more, consistently facing stressful situations, and the lack of time to recover between traumatic events can lead to lasting mental health issues including anxiety, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even suicide.

This reality is what Medic 1 Ambulance is striving to change.

Many ambulance organizations have an internal Critical Incident Stress Management Program (CISM). Medic 1 is in the process of creating such a program, and Graham’s Corner is the first step in that process.

“It’s meant to be a self-help station,” said Hodge. A small space at each station that allows for relaxation, decompression, and a place to unwind.

In Graham’s Corner you’ll find self-help tools like books, suicide hotline contact information, and a prayer box. You’ll also find ways to unwind with legos, coloring books, stress balls, and relaxing kinetic sand in a therapeutic space.

Therapeutic resources are also available “when you get back from a really bad call, and you can’t sleep or during your next shift when all you can remember are the bad things from the day before,” Hodge continued. It’s there for anyone who needs it at any time.

A close friend of Hodge and longtime EMS veteran, J. Graham is the inspiration behind the name “Graham’s Corner.”With 23 years of EMS experience, Graham is no stranger to the toll this industry can have on one’s mental health and is a strong advocate for mental health awareness, particularly in the EMS industry.

“(Graham) has always encouraged me to take care of myself and never feel afraid or embarrassed to reach out or ask for help,” Hodge explains. “I wanted to kind of honor him in a way for being so supportive.”

Hodge is hopeful that Graham’s Corner will continue to grow and make a notable impact while encouraging people to take care of themselves properly without feeling embarrassed. Not only at Medic 1 Ambulance but in the EMS industry as a whole.

“If this will help even one or two people, that’s a success in my book,” said Hodge.