By Rick Winterson

     Life, even in our modern world, is filled with emergencies. Immediate help is available to someone experiencing one of these emergencies in the form of what we call "first responders".

     The best-known contact in an emergency is the "9-1-1" phone number. Use it, especially if an emergency involves a suspected crime that is about to happen or is in progress. Other emergencies involve other first responders - the fire department, the EMTs and their ambulances. Here again, use 9-1-1.

     Additional emergency numbers, such as the Poison Control Center, are listed one Page One of the white pages - just open the cover and there they are. Even better, post a list of key emergency numbers on the wall over your telephone.

     However, no matter how well the emergency has been handled, there are lingering effects. It could be important to get further help after the first responders have completed their jobs, because individuals involved in an emergency may be overwhelmed by stress.

     To get this help, call (617)269-9331. That's the phone number of FANS ("Families Advocating Neighborhood Strengths"), which has set up the FANS Trauma Response Teams.

     Who are the members of the FANS Trauma Response Teams? They are well-known people in the South Boston community. Among them are FANS Director Kate Johnsen Meunier and several members of the Action Center - Guisella Mariluz, Paul Degenkelb, Kay Walsh, and Jessica DeFrancisco. Trauma team personnel from Station C-6 include Sgt. Bill Meade and Officers Richie Doherty and Jeanne Carroll.

     On September 22 and 23, these and 35 other concerned people from schools, non-profit agencies, and South Boston neighborhoods spent 16 hours in "Post Traumatic Stress Management" (PTSM) training at the Laboure Center. The teacher was Stephen Gross, who is the Director of Programs for the Children's Trauma Recovery Foundation. Gross has worked with and taught stress response all over the world.

     The trained members of the FANS Trauma Response Team then broke themselves down into four South Boston quadrants. Each quadrant has two leaders, who will handle requests for trauma response and send the needed resources into the field. They will take action as soon as they receive a call that comes into the FANS phone number - (617)269-9331.

     What can the FANS Trauma Response Team do? There are several services they can provide, including a compassionate presence, one-on-one interventions, and education in managing stress. For example, the teams can explain the bodily reactions to stress and help an individual get his/her adrenal system under control. Recently, team members helped students at a local school, during a memorial service. The FANS Trauma Response Team action consisted of "being there" for the student body.

     You will hear more about "quadrants" in South Boston. It was the subject of a recent article in South Boston Online ("The Quadrant Connection", October 13, page 5). FANS is not only using the quadrant concept to organize the Trauma Response Teams. FANS is also setting up works of art in each quadrant (more about that in a future issue).

     It bears repeating that you should call 9-1-1 FIRST, whenever an emergency is occurring or is about to happen. Later on, for assistance in dealing with the stressful after-effects of the emergency, contact the FANS Trauma Response Team at (617)269-9331.