Volunteers needed as shoulders to lean on

Tragedy is rarely, if ever, expected, and when it occurs, it helps to have a shoulder to lean on.

The volunteers of the Trauma Intervention Program provide that shoulder, but they are in need of more willing people.

Starting June 2 in Okaloosa County, and June 9 in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, TIP will hold a two-week training academy at night and on weekends. During the academy, volunteers will learn what is called emotional first-aid, said to Laurie Ford, crisis team manager for Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. This type of first-aid is taught because TIP volunteers respond to the scene of a tragedy to provide emotional support.

“We are called by the fire, police or law enforcement and emergency rooms to go to a tragedy. It’s usually a death. We go right to the scene of a car accident, house fire ... We want to be there for the people … who are watching their house burn or in the emergency rooms when someone unexpectedly dies and the family member is very upset,” Ford said.

For more on this story, see the June 2 edition of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.