FPO Lasher and Chaplain Simons coordinate the implementation of this program. It has a dual focus (1) Serve our fire district personnel and their families and (2) Serve members of our community who have experienced a loss or traumatic incident. This approach enables a broad based network of emotional support that makes for a healthier community and more resilient firefighters.
The primary goal of the Stress Management program is to mitigate the impact of a critical incident and to accelerate the recovery processes of normal people who are having normal reactions to abnormal events; this is consistent with the expectations of the FEMA crisis counseling project and the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.
CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT (CISM)
Approximately 90% of the interventions provided to fire district personnel are ‘one on one’. A continuum of services is provided via the CISM model, which begins with an evaluation performed by trained personnel to determine what level of intervention is needed. (See Core Components).
CISM programs often increase unit cohesion and performance. The program does not have as its goal, the complete elimination of stress symptoms, depression or anxiety nor does it claim to be a cure for PTSD or other psychiatric disorders. It does however, identify individuals who may need additional intervention or a professional referral.
The often heard term ‘Critical Incident Stress Debriefing’ is actually a specific, 7-step group crisis intervention tool designed to assist a homogeneous group of people after an exposure to the same significant traumatic event. It is not a stand alone process and when properly provided is part of an integrated package of interventions within the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) model. CISM does not focus on members of the community but is rather a system designed around emergency responders.
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