David Santos

Captain
City of Colton Fire Department, CA
David Santos is a 22-year veteran of the Fire Service. David began his career with Cal Fire in 2001, where he served for three years in the San Diego Ranger Unit. In 2004 he was hired by the City of Colton where he has worked as a Firefighter, Engineer, and since 2013 has held the rank of Fire Captain. A strong believer of professional development Captain Santos is a Graduate of California Baptist University master’s in organizational leadership, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of La Verne. Captain Santos is graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Managing Officer Program, Training Program Management from the National Fire Academy, and NFIRS Program Manager from the National Fire Academy. He is a certified DISC personality profile trainer through People Keys Professional Development, he is also a self-development and organizational health and development consultant through RightPath. David is also a Credentialed Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, and a California State Fire Marshal Instructor.

Sessions by David Santos

08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Elderberry 

Stress First Aid

First responders are faced with a myriad of stressors that go beyond what the general population may experience. The effects of first responder stress events can factor into behavioral health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and depression. Resources available today, like Stress First Aid (SFA), address the unique stressors related to first responders and build on the strengths of first responders, including a sense of belonging, support from one another and a strong sense of purpose.

SFA is a flexible set of tools used to care for stress reactions in fire and EMS personnel. Unlike other acute stress management procedures, SFA was designed specifically to support firefighters and EMS personnel. The goal of SFA is to restore health and readiness after a stress reaction. SFA is a toolkit that emphasizes the importance of continuously monitoring the stress of fire and rescue personnel, to quickly recognize and appropriately help individuals who are reacting to stress and are in need of interventions to promote healing.