Tips for Working Under Pressure in Public Safety and How FirstTwo Helps

In public safety, the stakes are high and the margin for error is small. Dispatchers and first responders are expected to perform under pressure. But when situations escalate, can your team still make sound decisions, follow procedure, and protect their community?

Sustained stress takes a toll. Without the right support, it can impact safety, judgment, and long-term wellbeing.

That’s why stress management matters. With personal resilience training, organizational support, and modern technology, responders can stay grounded when pressure spikes. The right tools can help.

CentralSquare acquired FirstTwo in December 2025. FirstTwo delivers real-time situational intelligence to help responders make faster, safer decisions when every second counts.

Keep reading to learn how stress shows up in the field, how agencies can support their teams, and how FirstTwo strengthens decision-making under pressure.

Understanding Pressures in Public Safety

First responders operate under a level of strain most people never encounter. According to a 2020 study on the impact of stress, public safety professionals face three unique stressors.

First, repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events (PPTEs) can affect physical and mental health in the short- and long-term. Second, organizational stressors (i.e. chronic understaffing, shift work, and leadership challenges) create daily friction that drains capacity and energy. Third, communication-related stress is prevalent in 911. Dispatchers face high-stakes decisions every day, often with incomplete information and only seconds to act.

Recent data shows the prevalence of these challenges. A 2025 survey of more than 6,000 first responders in New York found that 68% feel stressed, 59% feel burned out, and 52% experience anxiety. These numbers highlight the importance of mental health awareness, as well as the need for proactive training.

Resilience training, organizational support structures, and modern technology all play a role in reducing cognitive load. Tools like FirstTwo give responders situational intelligence from the start, helping them navigate high-pressure moments with more confidence.

Strengthening Personal Resilience Before Duty

Personal resilience isn’t optional in public safety. It’s a protective skill—one that helps you navigate pressure and recover faster when the job gets overwhelming. The first step is awareness. Recognizing the signs of stress and how they show up day-to-day is essential for long-term wellness.

Start by identifying physical and emotional signals: fatigue, irritability, headaches, tension, or trouble concentrating. Track these patterns over time, because stress isn’t just acute. It can be chronic. It can build cumulatively. Simple practices like controlled breathing, grounding exercises, and mindfulness can help reset your nervous system before and after difficult calls.

Physical self-care also plays a critical role. Regular exercise helps release stored stress from the body. Consistent sleep (7–9 hours) supports memory, judgment, and emotional regulation. Proper nutrition and hydration stabilize energy levels and reduce mood swings.

Emotional self-care deserves equal attention. In the survey of 6,000+ New York first responders, 80% reported stigma as a major barrier to seeking help. Professional support can be a lifeline, offering tools to manage trauma and prevent burnout.

If you need support, click here for a list of free mental health services available, specifically for public safety professionals.

Organizational Support For High-Pressure Work

Agencies are responsible for resilience too, not just individuals. By planning for stress, creating predictable routines, and normalizing mental health conversations, you can equip responders to perform under pressure.

Preventive stress-management planning is essential. When an agency shows wellbeing matters, it reduces stigma and builds a culture where it’s safe to seek help.

Operational structure plays a major role too. Designing shifts with more predictability, reducing mandatory overtime where possible, and improving schedule visibility help responders build healthier routines outside of work. Stability off duty directly supports performance on duty.

Not only that, programs like EAPs (employee assistance programs), peer counseling, and wellness resources ensure responders aren’t navigating stress alone. These support systems help officers decompress, process difficult calls, and return to duty more prepared.

Technology strengthens each of these efforts. When communication is clear and decisions are easier to make, cognitive load decreases. Teams feel more supported and more capable—even during the hardest shifts.

Using Data and Technology For Better Decisions

During emergencies, uncertainty is one of the biggest stressors. The less you know walking into a scene, the harder it is to make confident decisions. That’s where technology makes a difference.

FirstTwo gives responders real-time intelligence the moment they need it. Powered by voice activation and mobile access, officers can see mission-critical details before, during, and after an event. Instead of piecing information together in transit, they get actionable insights that improve situational awareness and safety.

With quick access to geospatial data, responders can assess a location and identify potential risks on the go. FirstTwo also integrates directly with your CAD system, overlaying information about addresses, residents, vehicles, and known threats. The same data your agency depends on is now available in the field, in real time.

This supports faster dispatching and helps teams make smarter decisions. When every second matters, better information means better outcomes—for your officers and your community.

Supporting Everyday Heroes

Working under pressure is part of public safety, but no one should have to do it without support. Understanding what causes stress is the first step to better decision-making. The next step is building a system that protects your team.

That means training staff on personal resilience, restructuring your agency to reduce strain, and investing in the right tools. With technology like FirstTwo, you can help responders succeed in critical situations.

When officers have access to real-time intelligence and situational awareness, they can respond with confidence and care. They make better decisions, stay safer in the field, and serve your community with excellence.

Learn more about FirstTwo to see how real-time intelligence can help your agency reduce stress and perform at its best.