Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) American Military University Daytona Beach Police Department Chuck Russo, PhD Carrie Courtney, RCSWI

CISM Definition of a Critical Incident The Role of CISM What CISM Does Not Do How CISM Helps the First Responder Return

Definition of a Critical Incident A critical incident is defined as: A sudden or disturbing event That generates a strong emotional and cognitive reaction

Critical Incidents Examples encountered in may include: Officer involved shootings Line of duty injuries Line of duty deaths Incidents when a child is a victim Incidents involving death/serious injury to others Disasters Employee suicide

What is CISM CISM is: Early psychological support for First Responders

Goals of CISM To mitigate the impact of the event Facilitate normal recovery processes Restoration to adaptive function

Role of CISM To provide: Temporary Active Supportive Confidential Assistance to aid the individual in crisis

What CISM Does Not Do CISM is NOT a function of/to: Professional standards/internal affairs Determine fitness for duty Determine if policy was followed Determine if state law was followed Pass judgment on someone’s actions

How CISM Helps First Responders CISM helps by providing: One-on-one peer support Demobilization of information Crisis management briefings Defusing Critical incident stress debriefings

One-on-One Peer Support Peer support is provided to individuals: Mitigate symptoms Return to previous level of functioning Provide referrals if needed

Responding to Critical Incidents This occurs: At anytime post crisis To inform and consult Provide psychological decompression Stress management Typically occurs in large groups/organizations

Defusing This occurs: Post crisis (within a12 hour time period) To address symptom mitigation To assist with providing possible closure Triage of services and presenting symptoms Typically occurs in small groups

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing This occurs: Post crisis (occurs within 1-10 days, 3-4 weeks following mass disasters) Facilitates psychological closure To address symptom mitigation Triage of services and presenting symptoms Typically occurs in small groups

CISM Team The CISM Team consists of: Team Coordinator Team Leader Team Members Mental Health Professional Police Chaplin Volunteers

CISM Team Team members: Have a responsibility and duty to keep information communicated to them confidential Shall not accuse or blame others of wrong doing Shall refrain from engaging in any discussion involving responsibility or blame

CISM Team Activation Activation: Responsibility of Shift/On-Scene Commander Notify the CISM Team Coordinator of: –Officer involved shootings –Employee suicide –Mass casualty incident –Death or life threatening injury to a child –Incidents producing a high level of immediate or delayed emotional reaction

When Activated Team Members should: Avoid direct involvement in the incident Make contact with the involved employees Separate the employee from the scene when approved for such action Ensure involved employees are allowed to contact family members if desired Assist the involved employee until such time as he/she becomes stabilized

When Activated Team members should ensure involved employees: Are allowed to stabilize/calm down in a private environment Permitted to shower and change when approved for such action Have clergy and other spiritual needs met Have food and drink if desired Are encouraged to seek follow up counseling, if needed

CISM Is for the employee experiencing a normal reaction to an abnormal event Is to help the employee recover quicker from such an event Is temporary, active and supportive Is confidential

Questions Questions concerning CISM should be directed to: Daytona Beach Police Department CISM Team Chuck Russo, PhD Carrie Kahn Courtney, RCSWI