Dangers of Working In High Risk Environments

Did you know that working in a “high risk environment” is defined as work that carries a significantly higher risk of physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological injury or death? Work environments in this category include disaster response, emergency and law enforcement response, service in the military, local and international missions or non-profit work, service in the emergency medical field, etc.

Do you or your personnel work in high-risk environments? Are you aware of the risk factors that may be faced? Do you have the resources on hand to care for people who may have experienced emotional, spiritual, physical, or psychological injury as a result of their work?

This course is a candid look at risk factors that personnel face when they choose to work in dangerous places or in high-risk environments. It is a holistic picture of how people are affected spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally as they serve in challenging circumstances with marginalized or traumatized people groups. It focuses on testimonial evidence from those who have spent their lives in this kind of service and what they have experienced.

Objectives:

• Set expectations of those that wish to serve in dangerous and challenging contexts with a realistic view of the cost of serving.
• Validate experiences of those continuing to serve or returning from serving in high-risk capacities.
• Build a language of expression for the effects that personnel may observe in themselves and others.
• Receive tools and resources to assist in avoiding compassion fatigue and burnout
• Introduce foundational principles of spiritual and psychological first aid