1. CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT

2. Common Causes of Stress
Every day, we experience stress.
Whether it’s getting to work, being under pressure at work or patrolling at the ski hill, each of us experiences our own level of stress and deals with it in our own ways.

3. What is Critical Incident Stress?
A normal reaction, by normal people, to an abnormal event
What is a Critical Incident?
Any situation/incident faced by anyone:
- which causes you to experience unusually strong emotional reactions, and
- which has the potential to interfere with your ability to function as you did prior to the incident

4. Causes Death or serious injury of a person Suicide or unexpected death
Multiple patient incident
Death of a child
Serious injury or death of the patient or bystander during the rescue

5. Causes – Cont’d
Situations when there is personal identification with the patient or the circumstances
Any incident that attracts media attention
When the signs, sounds and/or smell of the incident are so distressing as to produce a high level of immediate or delayed emotional reaction

6. Signs and Symptoms Physical: Sudden fatigue Nausea or vomiting
Shock-like symptoms
Twitching or tremors
Thinking process:
Memory loss
Inability to clearly identify things by proper terms
Confusion
Impaired thinking
Reduced attention span
Facts about Post-Traumatic Stress:
Trauma can cause post-incident symptoms in anyone
Intrusive imagery, numbness, rage, grief are NORMAL
Symptoms can be experienced years afterwards
It is normal to fear losing control
Affected people are responsive to counselling
Some symptoms may never go away

7. Signs and Symptoms May also experience Irritability/Frustration
Difficulty in concentrating/Sleeplessness
Flashbacks/nightmares
Displays of anger
Extremely self-critical of personal skills and questioning ability to provide help

8. Time is of the Essence; Work Quickly !
Treatment
The sooner an incident is discussed, the better
Talk to a trusted Patroller
Talk to those Patrollers involved
Discuss each incident at “Boots Off” meeting
Contact a CISM Team member
If you have experienced a traumatic event, keep these points in mind while still at the ski hill.
Be cognizant of the potential for Critical Incident Stress in your team members.
If you suspect a potential for post-traumatic stress for yourself or a team member, immediately notify your Patrol Leader providing details of incident and names of those involved.
Contact a CISM Team Member
Time is of the Essence; Work Quickly !

9. Do’s and Don'ts Do: Talk about it Maintain your routine Eat well
Spend time relaxing and on hobbies
Accept your symptoms are perfectly normal
Connect with CISM team
Learn more about delayed stress
Expect the incident to upset you

10. Do’s and Don'ts Don’t: Avoid friends and family Avoid work
Question your sanity
Drink to excess
Try to explain away the incident
Expect immediate recovery
Believe that you are the only one experiencing symptoms
Ignore the symptoms…they will not go away by themselves

11. Interventions One-on-One Defusing Debriefing Follow-up CONFIDENTIAL!!!
one-on-one at the scene or immediately thereafter
mini-debriefing or defusing (individual or small group) within 8 hours
formal debriefing hours after the incident
follow-up
debriefing for special groups - work groups, spouses, family members
CONFIDENTIAL:
Everything that is stated in any type of intervention is confidential.
Trained CISM people are there:
to assist patrollers in recognizing the emotional, cognitive, and physical reactions to a critical incident
to help patrollers work through these reactions and feelings
to mitigate/lessen the effects of unresolved stress
to accelerate recovery

12. Please do not hesitate to use it!
Critical Incident Stress Management is critical to the well-being and health of our CSPS team
Please do not hesitate to use it!

13. Relieve Your Stress!

14. Useful Resources Critical Incident Stress Foundation www.icisf.org
Association of Traumatic Stress