Chaplain, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
San Diego Fire-Rescue
Escondido, CA, United States
Kevin Johnstone serves as a Chaplain for San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, assigned to Battalion One. He holds many certifications in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and has performed numerous Defusing's for First Responders, Dispatchers, City Employees and Victims throughout San Diego. He joined in the fire service in 1970 in the suburbs of Chicago and served in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman in the final months of the Vietnam War. Kevin is on staff at the Rock Church and is a manager in the Safety Department and is a Certified CPR/AED Instructor thru San Diego Project Heart Beat.
In 2019 Chaplain Johnstone helped establish the Crisis Response Canine program and, after many hours of training, became the first Crisis Canine Handler for San Diego Fire-Rescue Department in March, 2020. He, and his partner Kassie, volunteer dozens of hours each month responding to significant incidents, providing defusing and debriefings, making station visits, as well as participating in community events representing the department. Along with being a Chaplain, he is a Commissioned Minister.
The Gap and Need for Critical Incident Stress Diffusion (CISD) after a Cardiac Arrest Incident
Saturday, December 2, 2023
10:25 AM – 10:50 AM PST