LETHBRIDGE POLICE & WWC PARTNER TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE NEW TRAINING
Through a partnership led by Lethbridge Police Service, Wounded Warriors Canada is proud to announce the completion of a pilot delivery of Down-Regulation Skills Training (DRS-T). This innovative program equips Trauma Exposed Professionals with simple, practical interventions they can use not only after a high-stress call, but during the event itself as long as it’s safe to do so.
“I initiated talks with Wounded Warriors Canada about creating resiliency training applicable close to critical incidents. Their National Clinical Director, Dr. Tim Black, developed a unique North American training based on that concept. Seeing it implemented is fantastic – it fills a significant void in addressing mental health and trauma. I thank Wounded Warriors Canada for their collaboration in making this new training a reality.” – Deputy Chief Gerald Grobmeier, Lethbridge Police Service.
High-risk, high-intensity physical activities involve physiological components that require training, monitoring, and maintenance. Achieving physical readiness, fitness, and acquiring applicable skills not only prevents injury in the long term but is a requirement for high levels of performance on the job. Just like high performance athletes who take time to recover following intense competition and physical exertion, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Public Safety Personnel whose limbic systems are highly activated must engage in a period of recovery or what can be termed “down regulation” of their nervous systems to avoid chronic limbic activation and physiological stress.
“Collaborating with the Lethbridge Police Tactical Team in developing Down-Regulation Skills Training ensures the training has real-world relevance and is being field-tested with the very people who risk the most and who have the most to gain. We look forward to continuing our partnership with LPS and working with other public safety organizations to help reduce the likelihood of traumatic psychological injury in the line of duty.” – Dr. Tim Black, National Clinical Director, Wounded Warriors Canada
The first training session recently took place when Dr. Black spent a full day embedded with the LPS tactical team observing scenarios to better understand the pressures they face. This was followed by a second full day including classroom-based learning and additional scenario-based training, where the Deputy Chief, senior training staff, and tactical members put the newly learned skills into action, while providing Dr. Black with feedback and suggestions regarding application and implementation of the skills in real time.
About a week later, the tactical team had a call they attended and on their own, they conducted self-checks to know how they were doing. “It was really neat to see how they took the simple tools and started to apply them right away,” says Grobmeier.
If your agency is interested in learning more about this pilot program, please contact Wounded Warriors Canada Director of Training, Steven Boychyn, to learn more: boychyn@woundedwarriors.ca