Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Laura Pierson, Administrative Specialist, City Of Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications
Laura Pierson from the City of Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications opened the class by sharing her deep connection to the outdoors— having hiked 20–25 mountains and led three separate expeditions to the Himalayan Mountains. After a recent health diagnosis, she reevaluated her own wellness priorities, focusing on creating “a summer with her kids where she wasn’t missed.” Her personal story set the stage for understanding why wilderness wellness matters so profoundly for those working in emergency communications.
Wilderness wellness is built on three simple pillars: engaging with nature, connecting with others and incorporating movement. For 9-1-1 dispatchers, whose work demands constant exposure to trauma, this approach offers a science‑backed method for lifting the mental “cloud” that forms when difficult calls linger in our minds. In the dispatch environment, we rely heavily on just a few senses — mostly hearing and vision — and they’re often engaged in negative or high‑stress ways. Stepping into nature, even briefly, activates all five senses in positive, grounding ways that rebuild the connection between mind and body.
The need for wilderness wellness is both physical and mental. Dispatch work is inherently sedentary, and sitting just 23 hours per week increases cardiovascular risk by more than 60 percent. Mentally, we become our caller’s eyes and ears, entering the crisis fully but never seeing its resolution. This can leave us stuck in scenes that never quite close. Nature brings perspective, restores balance, strengthens relationships, and even triggers endorphins that improve mood and resilience. Movement also plays a critical role; just two hours a week of conversational‑pace walking (Zone 2 activity) can delay the onset or progression of disease.
Implementing wilderness wellness doesn’t require strenuous hikes or hours outdoors. Small, accessible practices can make a meaningful difference: adding indoor plants, watching nature webcams, stepping outside for a few minutes of “nature bathing,” or doing simple stretches or leg lifts during a shift. Social interaction, especially with friends outside of public safety, reinforces connection and support. Laura encouraged making wellness fun through walk‑and‑talk meetings, dispatch gardens, meet‑up groups, and friendly monthly competitions that reward moments of walking, movement, connection, and sharing nature.
Ultimately, the goal is sustainable momentum. Begin with five minutes of nature each day, reconnect with people who ground you, and set realistic goals for the week, month, and year. Wilderness wellness isn’t a one‑time activity; it’s a practical, enjoyable way for dispatchers to protect their health, strengthen their resilience, and create balance in a profession that demands so much.
Written by Heidi Meyer
