CRITICAL INCIDENTS
PURPOSE
This policy establishes a procedure for responding to members of the department who through their work assignment become involved in a critical or traumatic event that may possibly affect the members work performance and cause stress.
GOAL / STRESS MANAGEMENT
To intervene and to attempt to normalize stress reactions to abnormal work related critical or traumatic events. The intervention will attempt to:
- Reduce the intensity of the stress reaction
- Render the situation less harmful and reduce the recovery period.
- Help members to better identify their own coping mechanisms.
- Re-establish social network so members do not isolate themselves from those who may be having similar reactions to the event.
- Provide a mechanism for members to discuss their actions, reactions, feelings, and ideas regarding the event in a controlled and confidential environment.
- Lessen the impact on members who may also be victims of the same event.
ACTIVATION
Any member of the department may activate the CISM team but he/she should notify his superior officer that he is going to do so. The superior officer may decide to assume that responsibility himself, but should follow the prescribed procedure, as should any member.
EXAMPLES OF DEBRIEFING SITUATIONS
The following incidents are not mandatory, but highly recommended for all involved personnel:
- Deaths – line of duty, co-worker, family member or personal acquaintance.
- Death, sever injury, or abuse of a child. (Not necessarily infant CPR’s).
- Excessive media coverage.
- Fire fatalities.
- Severe burns.
- Mass casualties.
- Persons that died while in the care of paramedics or potentially rescuable victims that die.
This is not an all-inclusive list and depending on circumstances, these incidents may not require a debriefing. Anyone can contact the team for any incident – the team representative and the affected personnel can jointly decide the best course of action. SERVICES PROVIDED
- One on one sessions (not long term).
- Referrals
- Defusings
- Debriefings
- Grief Counseling
- Scene responses for ESW’s
- Scene responses for civilians
PURPOSE
This policy establishes a procedure for responding to members of the department who through their work assignment become involved in a critical or traumatic event that may possibly affect the members work performance and cause stress.
GOAL / STRESS MANAGEMENT
To intervene and to attempt to normalize stress reactions to abnormal work related critical or traumatic events. The intervention will attempt to:
- Reduce the intensity of the stress reaction
- Render the situation less harmful and reduce the recovery period.
- Help members to better identify their own coping mechanisms.
- Re-establish social network so members do not isolate themselves from those who may be having similar reactions to the event.
- Provide a mechanism for members to discuss their actions, reactions, feelings, and ideas regarding the event in a controlled and confidential environment.
- Lessen the impact on members who may also be victims of the same event.
ACTIVATION
Any member of the department may activate the CISM team but he/she should notify his superior officer that he is going to do so. The superior officer may decide to assume that responsibility himself, but should follow the prescribed procedure, as should any member.
EXAMPLES OF DEBRIEFING SITUATIONS
The following incidents are not mandatory, but highly recommended for all involved personnel:
- Deaths – line of duty, co-worker, family member or personal acquaintance.
- Death, sever injury, or abuse of a child. (Not necessarily infant CPR’s).
- Excessive media coverage.
- Fire fatalities.
- Severe burns.
- Mass casualties.
- Persons that died while in the care of paramedics or potentially rescuable victims that die.
This is not an all-inclusive list and depending on circumstances, these incidents may not require a debriefing. Anyone can contact the team for any incident – the team representative and the affected personnel can jointly decide the best course of action. SERVICES PROVIDED
- One on one sessions (not long term).
- Referrals
- Defusings
- Debriefings
- Grief Counseling
- Scene responses for ESW’s
- Scene responses for civilians
