TVF&R's Chaplaincy Program is
a valuable adjunct to the services provided by District
firefighters. Several local members of the clergy are
retained on a part-time basis to respond to incidents
and provide crisis intervention and support to persons
involved in traumatic incidents.
Depending on the patient's religious convictions, Chaplains
can provide either non-sectarian emotional support and
assistance with immediate needs, or can minister to them
or connect them with their own clergy. District chaplains
carry pagers and are either dispatched automatically in
case of serious emergencies or as requested by firefighters
at a scene.
Chaplains also coordinate relief efforts with
the
Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross, and
next-of-kin notifications with local medical examiners.
The program places skilled crisis interventionists at
emergency scenes - ensuring appropriate care - and allows
firefighters to more quickly make themselves available for
subsequent emergency calls.