Critical Incident Stress Critical Incident Stress ManagementManagement

Everyone has the potential to develop Post-Everyone has the potential to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in his or her lifeTraumatic Stress Disorder in his or her life

Critical Incident Stress is a normal reaction Critical Incident Stress is a normal reaction in normal people to an abnormal eventin normal people to an abnormal event

Critical Incident Stress Management is a Critical Incident Stress Management is a method used world wide for assisting method used world wide for assisting disaster personnel to recover from disaster disaster personnel to recover from disaster relief workrelief work

CISM is not a cure for Post-Traumatic CISM is not a cure for Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderStress Disorder

Crisis intervention is not psychotherapyCrisis intervention is not psychotherapy CISM should be provided by a trained CISM CISM should be provided by a trained CISM

team memberteam member CISM contains interventions for individuals, CISM contains interventions for individuals,

groups, families and organizationsgroups, families and organizations

Crisis intervention is a temporary, but active Crisis intervention is a temporary, but active and supportive entry into the life situation of and supportive entry into the life situation of another during a period of acute distressanother during a period of acute distress

Those who provide the crisis intervention Those who provide the crisis intervention have an obligation to provide follow-up have an obligation to provide follow-up servicesservices

Common signs and symptoms of critical Common signs and symptoms of critical incident stress show up in four main incident stress show up in four main categoriescategories

1.1. CognitiveCognitive

2.2. PhysicalPhysical

3.3. EmotionalEmotional

4.4. BehavioralBehavioral

Crisis intervention is also known as Crisis intervention is also known as

““Emotional first aid”Emotional first aid”

People who require help during and after a People who require help during and after a disaster do not always display signs and disaster do not always display signs and symptoms right awaysymptoms right away

Victims and operational personnel do not Victims and operational personnel do not always benefit from the exact same always benefit from the exact same psychological interventions in the after math psychological interventions in the after math of a disasterof a disaster

A person’s time orientation can be disrupted A person’s time orientation can be disrupted in a disaster situationin a disaster situation

One common fallacy is that once the One common fallacy is that once the damage has been done by a disaster, you damage has been done by a disaster, you cannot really alter the psychological cannot really alter the psychological reactions of the disaster victims in a field reactions of the disaster victims in a field hospitalhospital

There are seven distinctive psychological There are seven distinctive psychological phases of a disasterphases of a disaster

1.1. Warning Warning 5.5. RescueRescue

2.2. AlarmAlarm 6.6. RecoveryRecovery

3.3. ImpactImpact 7.7. ReconstructionReconstruction

4.4. InventoryInventory

The word psychological always implies two The word psychological always implies two factorsfactors

1.1. CognitiveCognitive

2.2. EmotionalEmotional

All three of the following conditions have to All three of the following conditions have to be present to develop Post-Traumatic be present to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Stress Disorder (PTSD)

1.1. Experiences a horrible, terrible, frightening, Experiences a horrible, terrible, frightening, or threatening eventor threatening event

2.2. Displays symptoms that last longer than 30 Displays symptoms that last longer than 30 daysdays

3.3. Experiences a significant disruption to Experiences a significant disruption to normal life pursuitsnormal life pursuits

Phases of CrisisPhases of Crisis

1.1. Pre-crisis phasePre-crisis phase

2.2. Crisis PhaseCrisis Phase

3.3. Disorganization phaseDisorganization phase

4.4. Reorganization phaseReorganization phase

5.5. Post-crisis phasePost-crisis phase

There are seven core elements to a CISM There are seven core elements to a CISM programprogram

1.1. SimplicitySimplicity2.2. BrevityBrevity3.3. InnovationInnovation4.4. PragmatismPragmatism5.5. ProximityProximity6.6. ImmediacyImmediacy7.7. ExpectancyExpectancy

Goals of Crisis InterventionGoals of Crisis Intervention

1.1. To stabilize the current situationTo stabilize the current situation

2.2. To mitigate the impact of the crisisTo mitigate the impact of the crisis

3.3. To mobilize appropriate resources to assist To mobilize appropriate resources to assist those in the crisis statethose in the crisis state

4.4. To normalize the crisis responseTo normalize the crisis response

5.5. To assist people to turn to adaptive functionsTo assist people to turn to adaptive functions