Editor’s note: How does your agency measure up when it comes to wellness? Lexipol’s Wellness solutions help agencies deliver anonymous, 24/7 support, enhance peer support team readiness, and build a culture of wellness. Contact Lexipol at 844-312-9500 to learn more or request a demo.
A two-second clip of a Texas trooper colliding with Texas A&M football players has raced across the internet, underscoring how one moment can rewrite a career.
“We have arguably what’s going to be the viral video of the year,” Greg Friese said, as he opened this week’s Wellness Brief discussion with Emily Hitchings.
Hitchings expressed surprise at the strong reaction because there is so much we don’t know about what happened in the moments before the tunnel collision.
“Maybe he was having a really bad day,” is one of the most common comments Police1 has received about the video. Underscoring the scrutiny, a camera on every street corner and every stadium tunnel, Friese asked Hitchings for tips on how first responders can recognize they are having a bad day and attempt a reset.
“What you’re describing, Greg, is emotional intelligence,” Hitchings said.
She urged officers to pause between calls, before lineup, even in the patrol car, to ask basic grounding questions: Did I sleep? Eat? Fight with my partner? Simple self-checks, Hitchings noted, can lower heart rate, restore focus and keep frustration from spilling onto the public stage.
READ | The viral finger: A trooper made headlines at the Texas A&M game — what comes next?
“It might just be the officer’s responsibility, taking some good, deep breaths. Doing a physiological sigh lowers your heart rate, oxygenates your blood. It helps clear your mind and have better days.”
About The Brief: Wellness Edition
The Brief: Wellness Edition video series explores the wellness implications of current events for public safety professionals. Each episode brings a timely conversation that connects unfolding events to the day-to-day realities of first responder
