FIRST

Florida Immediate Response Stress Team

Our Mission is to provide stress relief to those in need following a disaster or critical incident.

This fireman is dressed to sift debris from the World Trade Center buildings at New York's Fresh Kills land fill on Staten Island. He gives a "thumbs up" to FIRST to say "Thanks for being here for us."

Recent Events

F.I.R.S.T is a non-profit organization of licensed massage therapists who provide therapeutic massage to rescue workers and victims of natural and man-made disasters throughout Florida. FIRST was there:

Florida	Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan & Jeanne	2004
Florida	Brush fires	2002
Florida	Bayflite 3 Helicopter Crash	2002
Florida	American Express Cargo Plane Crash	2002
New York	9/11 World Trade Center collapse	2001-02
North Carolina	Hurricane Floyd	1999
Florida	Tampa mass shooting	1999
Florida	Brush fires	1999
Florida	Tornados	1998
Oklahoma	Tornados	1998
Oklahoma	Oklahoma City bombing	1995

top | home

More about FIRST

FIRST began in 1998 as a result of three tornadoes touching down outside of Orlando in February 1998 killing over 40 people. Sue Welfley, LMT, NCTMB provided chair massages to the rescue workers and uninjured victims in the Salvation Army "Comfort Station" for seven days. Therapists from Tampa and Bradenton helped during this time.

Mark Wilson, LMT, NCTMB provided chair massages in the Red Cross tent at a separate command station. Although at the time Mark and Sue did not know each other, they met a couple of months later and decided to join forces to establish FIRST (Florida Immediate Response Stress Team).

In 1999 FIRST was incorporated in the State of Florida and received tax exempt status (501 c 3) from the Internal Revenue Service.

In 2000 FIRST entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with ESF 15 of the Division of Emergency Management in Florida and became a supporting agency along with several agencies including the Red Cross, Salvation Army, numerous Church supported organizations and the Christian Contractors.

FIRST's mission is to provide stress relief to those in need following a disaster/critical incident

To accomplish this mission, FIRST has several hundred licensed massage therapists and supporters who are all un-paid volunteers. They respond to disasters to provide chair massages for stress management to the rescue workers, responders and uninjured victims of disasters and/or critical incidents.

FIRST is a tax deductible corporation. It is funded trough private donations. The money raised from donations and fund raising events is used to pay the expenses such as travel expenses and food for the FIRST members who respond to disasters. Tax deductible donations can be sent to FIRST, P.O. Box 272487, Tampa, FL 33688-2487.

To be a member of the FIRST team you must be a Licensed Massage Therapist in Florida; provide proof of professional liability insurance; and have a desire to help those in need during a disaster.

In addition, you should attend a one-day basic training course that is offered for $75 and 8 CE hours. This is not mandatory to belong to the team but members are encouraged to attend the course to learn about the Emergency Management System in Florida and how FIRST plays an important role in response.

In the event of an emergency, the Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee calls the FIRST director who, in turn, calls the Team Leaders. Team Leaders then notify their team members of the possible call-out.

FIRST has been an exhibitor at the FSMTA (Florida State Massage Therapy Association) annual convention, Florida Fire Chiefs convention and the CLINCON convention. In addition, the team provides chair massages annually at the Governor's Hurricane Conference in Tampa.

FIRST responds to all statewide declared emergencies in Florida as requested. Local disasters or critical incidents are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Availability of FIRST members to respond may be an important factor.

FIRST is a non-profit tax deductible corporation in Florida. For more information contact Sue Welfley, LMT 813.932.2558.

top | home

Training Staff

	Sue Welfley, LMT, NCTMB, has been a licensed massage therapist for over 11 years with more than seven years experience with massage therapy during emergency response events. She is Co-Director of FIRST (Florida Immediate Response Stress Team). She served on the AMTA FL MERT from 1995-1997.
	Diane Fojt, Msc., REMT-P, has an extensive 25 year career in medicine. She developed, coordinated and became the Administrator/Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Regional Critical Incident Team. In 2000, she served as President of CISM Florida, Inc. Ms. Fojt is an international trainer for the Critical Incident Stress Foundation and President of MECA, Inc.
	Mark A. Wilson, LMT, NCTMB, holds an A.S. in Natural Health from the Orlando College of Natural Health. He has over five years experience in providing massage therapy during emergency response disasters. Mark is Co-Director of FIRST.

top | home