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Some of you may have caught yesterday’s news stories of the man who attempted to open an airplane door midflight and then rushed a flight attendant with a utensil after spending long minutes ranting about being Balthazar. I wasn’t even in that plane and was affected by viewing the video. It starts out with the man verbally ranting, then getting out of his seat, and attempting to hurt the flight attendant at which moment he is jumped by a number of passengers and brought down. Whether you were one who heard “Balthazar” or rushed him, there is not one person on that plane who was not affected by these moments. How to react and to help in such situations, well, here’s a start: understanding Psychological First Aid.

Before talking about the course, I will need to give more unsolicited advice while hearing an Owlet whisper “no one cares, mom.” If it were me sponsoring this event, I would be trying for a cameo of Stewie Vuitton the therapy mini-horse, or barring a willingness to clean up horse poop, let’s get Otis the Comfort Dog over from the Maynard Police. Why wouldn’t we?

Fine, onwards to the specifics of the course —

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Training: Psychological First Aid, Foundation Course

Trainer / Presenter: Lisa C. Kaufman, ATR-BC, LADC1

What is Psychological First Aid or PFA? PFA aims to reduce stress symptoms and assist in a healthy recovery following a traumatic event, natural disaster, public health emergency, or even a personal crisis.

The training will provide:

·      Disaster Behavioral Health Overview

·      Psychological First Aid Definition, Goals and Concepts

·      Observe, Approach, Stabilize, Interact, Support

·      PFA and Self-Care

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 2:30-4:30 pm and again at 6:30-8:30 pm.  Approximately 25 seats are available for each identical session. 

Cost: Free!

The link to register is here, and offers the option to choose your preferred session while seats are still available.

Location: Weston Police Department Training Room, 180 Boston Post Road By-pass (Route 20)

Note: for those in the nursing community, and others for whom relevant, CEUs will be available upon completion of the course. Please indicate your election to receive CEUs on the registration form available here.

The course is sponsored by the Weston Emergency Reserve Corps (WERC) and the Weston Board of Health. There is more information about the WERC on Facebook here and on the Weston Town website here.