Training for all First Responders-Fire, EMS, Dispatchers, PD

THRIVING, 

NOT JUST SURVIVING; 

THROUGHOUT AND 

BEYOND YOUR CAREER 

This training will challenge New Hampshire First Responders to evaluate their overall wellness, physical, and mental health, identifying changes that they can make as individuals and as a department. Participants will increase their knowledge of the development and prevention of burnout, compassion fatigue, and the potential negative effects related to repeated exposure to traumatic events. Even though exposure to traumatic events cannot be prevented, pre-incident training, post incident support, and accessible resources can help personnel prepare for and recover from these events. Participants will gain a basic understanding of mental health issues and discuss ways in which mental health and suicide prevention topics can be normalized, stigma can be reduced, and help seeking can be encouraged. The benefits of mental health and wellness programs, peer support teams, and critical incident stress management will be discussed. 

Date: February 12, 2025 0800 - 1600 hours 

Location: Souhegan Valley Ambulance Service 

435 Turnpike Road 

New Ipswich, NH 03071 

$ FREE for all New 

Hampshire Law 

Enforcement Personnel 

To Register Contact: 

Officer Justin Breton 

jbreton@manchesternh.gov 

INSTRUCTOR BIO: 

Susan Brown, LCMHC, MLADC30 years in the Behavioral Health Field MA, Antioch New England Graduate School Retired EMT-I 

Certified CISM Team Member 

Proud Daughter of a committed Fire Chief


TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Notice of Annual Meeting - Seminar - Vendor Showcase

Thursday, April 10, 2025,

Common Man Inn and Spa - Plymouth, NH

 

Seminar  (1 PM) - Leadership -

Brigadier General William McCollough,

Commandant of Cadets - Norwich Academy, VT

 

Vendor Area - 3 pm to 6 pm

Dinner - 6 pm, business meeting to follow

 

Meal Choices: Grilled Steak Tips or Statler Walnut Chicken

 

Common Man Inn and Spa

 231 Main Street 

Plymouth, NH 03264

  

Rooms available for overnight stay at reduced rates


Call to reserve and mention NH Association of Fire Chiefs for the reduced rate

Deadline to Register: Friday, April 4, 2025

LIEUTENANT DAVID WHIPPLE IS RETIRING

Lieutenant David Whipple is retiring!

On Monday, March 31, Lieutenant David Whipple will put on his headset for the last time as a full-time

Dispatcher at Southwestern New Hampshire District Fire Mutual Aid.

David was hired in July of 1987 by Chief Coordinator Robert Callahan, filling a full-time position

previously held by Larry Waters. David was the last employee hired by Chief Callahan. David was

promoted to Lieutenant in October of 2007 but served as a senior dispatcher for many years prior. David

has the distinction of being the longest tenured full-time employee working the dispatch console at Fire

Mutual Aid, a feat in itself, working days, nights, weekends and holidays for nearly 38 years!

During his time at Fire Mutual Aid, David has been a part of countless hiring committees, helping to

select our “next” dispatchers. He also volunteered to be a trainer, training many, mentoring all. In his

words, he has “enjoyed helping new dispatchers learn their way in what can be a challenging

profession.” A hallmark of David’s performance at Fire Mutual Aid that many will remember is his calm

demeanor. Whether he is dispatching a simple fire alarm or a multiple alarm fire, his laid-back manner is

the same, he is not easily rattled. This is another part of the job that David notes he has enjoyed the

most, “bringing calmness to chaotic situations.”

David has seen most of the dispatch center’s major upgrades from a room just larger than a closet to a

space large enough for five dispatch console positions and more. He has worked since the equipment

was very “analog” with not a single computer in the room to a center filled with them, radios controlled

by them and information technology abound. David has handled the challenges that these changes

present better than most.

Far beyond the Dispatch Center, for many years on December 24 th , David has left a lasting impression on

many children, and adults alike, with his annual Christmas Eve broadcast. Starting mostly as a report on

Santa’s progress, it has grown into a system wide, family-like update, as well as urging kids to be in bed

before Santa arrives, and of course, a tip of the hat to Mrs. McDonald.

Gordon Graham (lawyer, author, risk management consultant) says “predictable is preventable.” We

knew this day was coming but we were unsuccessful in preventing it. The important thing now is to offer

up sincere congratulations!

Thank you, David (Whip, Whipple), for all your contributions, Fire Mutual Aid was lucky to have you all

these years.

Six, two and even.