OFM_Dept_Society_First_Responders_0319_FINAL_DEPT 2 / 22 / 19 5 : 18 PM Page 3 to get over your fear of German shepherds that way . “ In virtual reality what we do is we recreate the about their experience . He also hopes they will help … We have to recreate what happened and by person’s traumatic event , so the sights , the sounds , the the community understand how they can assist doing that we can more closely treat people cor - smells and any kind of physical sensation such as those in need of help . rectly , and there’s a higher likelihood that they will rocking after a bomb explodes , ” says Deborah Beidel , “ We assume this is [ the first responders ’ ] job benefit from the training . founder and executive director of UCF Restores . and so it won’t affect them , but sometimes it does “ I think it’s important for people to understand “ We have this system that we had purchased that we and when it does , I think we have to be able to that more first responders commit suicide every use called Bravemind . The problem is that there respond to that , ” Wyche says . “ By doing these kinds year than die in the hands of a felon or die in the aren’t any scenes in there that are appropriate for first of trainings it not only allows an ongoing training line of duty , ” she adds . “ Unlike veterans there’s no responders , so we don’t have car accidents , we don’t to be founded in the agencies , but it gives people the VA for first responders , so we need to have people have burning buildings , we don’t have anything that understanding of how to recognize stress in them - who are trained and understand the first responder occurred in some of these mass shootings . ” selves . Not only that , it allows them to recognize culture and be able to provide services to them that With funding , UCF Restores will be building a stress in others , so when their peers aren’t doing well , are desperately needed . ” virtual reality tool that will be able to match the it’s an opportunity to reach out and once that starts trauma through scenes being the norm , I think you have a healthier work - and environments that force in any first responder agencies . ” closely reflect what the person went through . “ The most effec - n organization , which got its start tive therapy is the closer ain 2011 , was given another portion of the you can get to the ini - AEAP grant . UCF Restores was originally geared tial traumatic event , the toward treating veterans and active duty military more successful the with PSTD , but has expanded to treating first therapy will be , ” Beidel responders and survivors of mass shootings . The says . “ For example , if organization is the first in the nation to provide you are afraid of an intensive outpatient treatment program while German shepherds , bringing together multiple disciplines including and the only dog I ask exposure therapy and group therapy . you to be around is a The AEAP grant will be used for UCF Restores ’ little French poodle , new VR system technology , which will recreate UCF RESTORES you’re really not going scenes for those with PTSD . 18 ORLANDO FAMILY march 2019 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM