CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGMENT

Transcription

1 CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGMENT A Team Centered Approach to Dealing with Stressful Incidents

2 SCFD CISM Team Mission Statement Exposure to traumatic incidents is an inherent occupational hazard for Emergency personnel. It is the belief of the SCFD CISM team that personnel should have access to a defusing or debriefing that will allow emotional ventilation following a critical or stressful event. The SCFD certified CISM team has been developed to provide debriefing services following critical incidents to any single personnel, crew or agency requesting assistance. The purpose of the service is to minimize the potential damaging effects of job related stress, particularly following an identified crisis. The highest priorities for the team are to maintain confidentiality and to respect the individuals involved. It is not the intention of the CISM team to replace on-going counseling, but to provide immediate post-crisis ventilation and intervention. Through the process the team provides personnel with the potential to relieve stress related symptoms. Personnel who may require additional intervention can then be referred for more advanced follow-up services if the need is identified.

3 When is CISM needed? The following are a list of examples of when the CISM team may be needed, but are not limited to: Crew member LODD Childs death or serious injury Multiple fatalities or seriously injured survivors Suicides Natural disasters Events with high emotional impact or media attention Highly visual injuries Acts of terrorism Acts of violence resulting in death or severe injury Observing any traumatic event

4 What is CISM? CISM is a system of interventions designed to mitigate the adverse psychological reactions that may accompany critical incidents. The CISM process IS NOT therapy; it s focus is to minimize the harmful effects through psychological first aid, education and follow-up.

5 GOALS of CISM Debriefing ACKNOWLEDGE STABILIZE ASSIST ENCOURAGE FACILITATE

6 When should a Debriefing occur? To maximize effectiveness, a debriefing should normally occur hours after an event.

7 GOALS of a CISM Defusing Rapid reduction in intense reaction Normalize the experience so people can return to their routine activities iti as quickly as possible. Re-establish establish the groups social network Provide information on acute stress and how to reduce it Assess groups response to ascertain if a full debriefing is required.

8 When should a Defusing take place? A defusing should ideally take place within 8 hours and last approximately 30 minutes.

9 CISM is psychological first aide, NOT dfiii definitive care!

10 CONFIDENTIALITY All CISM participation is voluntary. No team member will make any written notes during or about a CISMi intervention. i However, an after action report may be used by team members only to be used by team members at meetings to learn about the intervention process. The after action report will be very generic and will not include names or specifics about the intervention.

11 ACTIVATING the CISM TEAM To activate the CISM Team: Contact dispatch at and request a call from the on-call CISM member. To ensure confidentiality, the caller will leave a first name and phone number only. Personnel may also make direct contact with trained members as listed on sarasotafire.com.

12 WHERE TO REFER For further detailed information on the CISM team personnel may refer to Directive #159 as listed on sarasotafire.com

13 REMEMBER: Just because you may not need to utilize the CISM Team, don t disregard the fact that the person sitting next to you may need it more than you may know, but is too afraid to speak up.

14 SCFD CISM Team