1. Reactions in the Aftermath of a Critical Incident
A critical incident is any event that causes unusually strong reactions in the responding personnel or survivors. These reactions/responses can occur immediately or in a delayed fashion.
Immediate 0 to 24 hours
Long Term 2 weeks to 6 months
Anniversary Reaction 6 months to 3 or more years
Disorientation
●Tunnel Vision
Hysterical●
Caregivers Delayed Response●
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●Sensory Distortion
Helpless●
●Rapid Heartbeat
Fearful●
Alienation●
●Inability to Function
Tired●
Memory Triggers●
●Lowered Short-term Memory
Dizzy●
Flashbacks●
Angry●
Anxiety Response 3-4 Days Before Anniversary●
●Shakiness
Sensory, Memory, & Time
Triggers
Hostile●
●Nausea
●Loss of Appetite
●Excitable
●Forgetfulness
Suicidal Thoughts●
●Agitated
The Centre for Living with Dying A program of the Bill WilsonCenter
(408)
Bay Area CISM Team Critical Incident Stress Management
●Exhaustion
Change in Sexual Desire●
●Clammy
●Nightmares
Relationship Difficulties●
●Shock/
Numb
●Shock
●Flashbacks
Inability to Work●
●Startle Response
Substance Abuse●
●Depression
Loneliness●
●Guilt
Isolation●
These symptoms, feelings, reactions or events may occur at any time:
Victim
Physical & Emotional Pain
Phantoms
Out of Control
Paralysis
Repeating Memories
Stuck
Dread
Surprise
Withdrawal
Vulnerability
Crazy