CISM

Tri-County Critical Incident
Stress Management
 

Caring for the community and each other
ON CALL 24 HOURS Call 911
  OR
  Call St. Joseph's Hospital at 607-733-6541
ask that they page the ON-CALL person for TRI-COUNTY CISM
or say that you need a debriefer.
"Our team keeps your team on the job"
CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSONNEL
What is a Critical Incident?
Normal Responses to Critical Incident Stress
If You Experience Symptoms of Stress
For Immediate Assistance in the Tri-County Area
Critical Incident Debriefings

Application for Membership (PDF file)
What is a Critical Incident?Any incident faced by service personnel that causes them to experience unusually strong emotional involvement.
For example:
  • Serious injury of an emergency service worker at an incident or en route.
  • Mass Casualty Incidents.
  • Suicide of a crew member.
  • Serious injury or death of a civilian resulting from emergency service operations, i.e., auto accident, etc.
  • Death of a child, or violence to a child.
  • Loss of life of a patient following extraordinary and prolonged expenditure of physical and emotional energy during rescue efforts by emergency service personnel.
  • Incidents that attract extremely unusual or critical news media coverage.
  • Any incident that is charged with profound emotion.
    -An incident in which the circumstances were so unusual or the sights and sounds so distressing as to produce a level of immediate or delayed reaction.

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Some Normal Responses to Critical Incident Stress:Everyone is unique and everyone responds uniquely to critical incidents. Some people experience stress reactions, while others have no stress reactions or symptoms.
Kinds of Stress:
Acute - within 24 hours after the event
Delayed - days or months after the event
Burnout - accumulated stress from the job
Acute Stress Reactions
  • Difficulty thinking
  • Memory losses
  • Inability to name familiar objects
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Difficulty solving problems
  • Confusing trivial with major problems
  • Concentration problems
  • Loss of attention span
  • Difficulty adding, subtracting, etc.
Physical Signs & Symptoms
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Muscle tremors
  • Twitches
  • Shock symptoms
  • Profuse sweating
  • Chills
  • Dizziness
  • Gastro-intestinal upset
Emotional Symptoms
  • Anxiety
  • Fear
  • Grief
  • Depression
  • Hopelessness
  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Identification with victims
Delayed Stress Responses:
  • Intrusive images - visual, sound, taste, smell
  • Dreams
  • Fear of repetition
Cumulative Stress Reactions (burnout)
A state of fatigue or frustrations resulting from disappointment and excessive exposure to stress over time. It is a problem born of good intentions, unrealistic expectations, and excessive striving.
Burnout Behaviors

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Some Things To Do If You Experience Symptoms of Stress
Air it out - don't hold the problem within. Talk is cheap (cheaper than a breakdown). Confide in someone you trust (friend, spouse, doctor, clergyperson). You will find that talking relieves strain. Many times others can help you to see what you can do about a problem because they are not involved emotionally as you are.
Avoid drugs and alcohol to relieve your symptoms. These substances will slow your recovery.
Take care of your body - get plenty of exercise, sleep, and good nutrition.
Know that your symptoms are normal reactions, by a normal person, to an abnormal strain.

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For Immediate Assistance in the Tri-County Area
Call your county 911 center OR call St. Joseph's Hospital at 607-733-6541 and ask that they page the ON-CALL person for TRI-COUNTY CISM and/or mention that you need a debriefer. Give your name and telephone number. Responding team members will be given information for immediate contact.

"Our team keeps your team on the job"

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Critical Incident Debriefings
What: Critical Incident debriefings are beneficial when a single or multiple incident causes stress to Emergency Service Providers. They are not critiques!
Why: Critical incidents may cause Emergency Service personnel to experience intense stress which, if unresolved, could cause physical or emotional symptoms that interfere with their work and personal lives. These efforts may result in "burnout" and a desire to leave the Emergency Services. Examples include multiple deaths or injuries, youthful victim, peer death or injury, police shootings, busy ERs, etc.
Who: The Tri-County CISM Team is a dedicated and trained peer group of Emergency Services providers and mental health professionals who have volunteered to help YOU in a relaxed and confidential setting.
Where: They will meet with you in a place near your agency for quiet, confidential meetings.
When: Preferably 24-72 hours after an incident. Very major incidents can be addressed in progress.
Fee: None.
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