2 9t h A n n u a l F i r e D e p a r t m e n t I n f o r m a t i o n C o n f e r e n c e
FDIC ATLANTIC
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2026 REGISTRATION OPEN
CLASSROOM WORKShOP
CLASSROOM WORKShOP
"The Reality After the Call: Normal Stress Reactions, Critical Incidents, and Resilience Resources for Firefighters"
"The Reality After the Call: Normal Stress Reactions, Critical Incidents, and Resilience Resources for Firefighters"
Dave Regimbald
Dave Regimbald
Saturday Afternoon13:00 - 14:30
Saturday Afternoon15:00 - 16:30
Synopsis
Firefighters are trained to perform under extreme stress, but many members are never taught what to expect during and after their first critical incident. This presentation normalizes common stress reactions and explains why these responses are not weakness, but predictable survival mechanisms. The session also explores how fire service culture can unintentionally discourage early support-seeking, and why delayed coping often increases long-term impacts. Participants leave with practical ways to recognize normal recovery versus warning signs, and simple check-in language that supports crew members with dignity and without judgment. The class closes with a clear overview of referral pathways and resources, including peer supports, CISM/EAP options, and crisis supports such as Canada's 988.
Bio
Dave Regimbald is a public safety professional and highly experienced instructor with a career-long focus on operational readiness, emergency care, and frontline resilience. Teaching first aid since 1998, Dave has dedicated decades to developing lifesaving capability in others through clear instruction, real-world application, and a calm, confident approach under pressure.
As a certified First Aid and CPR Instructor, he delivers training that supports both workplace safety and high-stress emergency response environments. He is also certified in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), bringing advanced trauma knowledge and evidence-based casualty management principles to those who may be first on scene in critical incidents. In addition, Dave is qualified to teach Mental Health First Aid, reflecting his strong commitment to supporting psychological well-being and early intervention for personnel facing stress, trauma exposure, and cumulative operational fatigue.
Dave serves as a Border Services Officer with the Canada Border Services Agency and is an active firefighter with the Windsor Fire Department in Nova Scotia, combining enforcement, service, and instruction into a single mission: building stronger, safer, and more prepared teams.
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