Anne Arundel County Fire Department Critical Incident Stress Management

anne arundel county fire department critical incident stress management cism team access and activation the critical incident stres

Anne Arundel County Fire Department
Critical Incident Stress Management
CISM Team Access and Activation
The Critical Incident Stress Management Team is a partnership between
Mental Health professionals and specially trained departmental "Peer
Supporters". The CISM Team will employ a wide range of pragmatic
programs and timely intervention strategies with professional clinical
oversight and strict adherence to the "Mitchell Model" (Mitchell &
Everly, 1997). These programs and interventions have been designed to
prevent stress in emergency service personnel and to assist them in
managing and recovering from traumatic stress, should they encounter
it in their work. The CISM Team=s intent, composition, administration
and protocol are compliant with NFPA 1500 section 10, Critical
Incident Stress, and are consistent with all aspects of employee
Behavioral Health and Wellness.
I. Critical Incident Stress
Critical Incidents are characteristically sudden, powerful and unusual
events that are outside the range of ordinary human experience. The
response to such an event is a normal reaction, by a normal person, to
an abnormal situation. Fortunately, the emergency care provider's
experience, training, coping mechanisms and support systems help to
immunize them from the negative impact of traumatic stress. However,
from time to time events occur that become overpowering--not only to
an individual but to the organization as a whole. The subsequent list
contains reoccurring themes that may generate just such an impact.
Line of Duty Death
Serious Line of Duty Injury
Serious Line of Duty HAZ-MAT Exposure
Serious Line of Duty Infectious Disease Exposure
Suicide of Co-worker
Terrorist/WMD Incident
Multi-casualty Incident/Disaster
Significant event involving children
Knowing the victims involved in the event
Prolonged operational incident with loss
Incidents provoking excessive media interest
Actual or threats of physical/emotional harm (real or perceived) to an
emergency care provider
Injury/Death of a civilian or emergency care provider by another
emergency care provider
Observation of a Traumatic Incident
Multi-Significant Incidents within a short time frame
The victim/observance of Workplace Violence
Any meaningful event (real or perceived) affecting the emergency care
provider
II. CISM Team Access and Activation
Access to the CISM Team, or any of its members, may be made on or off
duty, 24 hours a day, regardless of rank, through one of the methods
addressed below. The following access points were developed to ensure
the internal customer ease of access, anonymity and most important,
confidentiality. The CISM Team or member activation will occur only
after a careful pre-deployment assessment by one of the CISM Team
Senior Support Staff.
A. Emergency Care Providers Released From Duty
The CISM Team shall be notified any time that emergency care providers
are to be released from duty due to the negative impact from an
incident. Whenever possible, prior to the release of any personnel, an
initial assessment and the most appropriate intervention shall be
applied.
B. 410-222-8CIS CISM Peer Support Line
The CISM Peer Support Line is staffed 24 hours a day, year round, by
departmental "Peer Supporters" who are specially trained in Critical
Incident Stress Management. This Peer Support Line may be accessed by
any departmental member at any time by simply dialing 410-222-8CIS
(8247) and leaving a voice mail message. An on duty CISM Team member
will be notified via a paging system and respond to the recorded VM
message as soon as possible. Any departmental member having an actual
emergency should directly contact the Fire Alarm Supervisor at
410-222-8271.
C. Access through the Fire Alarm Supervisor
1. Any departmental member may access the CISM Team at any time
through the Fire Alarm Supervisor at 410-222-8271.This can be
accomplished by simply requesting access to the CISM Team and leaving
a valid callback number; no further information will be requested or
required.
2. Departmental Supervisors at any level may request the CISM Team at
any time through the Fire Alarm Supervisor. Whenever possible, due to
the nature of this request, the supervisor should utilize the phone to
ensure confidentiality.
D. Access to Individual CISM Team Members
Some personnel may obtain a higher comfort level by contacting a
specific CISM Team member they know, respect and trust to ensure
anonymity and confidentiality. The current pager numbers of all CISM
Team members, including Mental Health Support are listed for easy
access in the locations listed below. The availability of these
numbers will ensure departmental members an alternate access point
that may be utilized by contacting a specific CISM Team member.
Duty Deputy Book
Battalion 5 Duty Book
BLS/Fire/Rescue Station Commanders One Book
ALS/Fire/Rescue SOG Book
The following divisions will place this list in a location accessible
to all departmental personnel under their command:
Fire Marshal
Training Academy
Emergency Operations Center
Communications
Maintenance
Administration
III. CISM Team Strategies and Interventions
The following list identifies some of the more common services
provided by the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. These
strategies and interventions are designed to utilize a comprehensive,
organized approach for the prevention and mitigation of the harmful
aspects of Critical Incident Stress. These services are uniquely
focused, not only on the affected emergency care provider, but also on
their main support systems, their spouses, significant others,
families and co-workers.
Pre Incident Education
CISM Incident Pre-deployment Assessment
On-Scene Support Services
Crisis Intervention
Individual One on One
Critical Incident Stress Defusings
Critical Incident Stress Debriefings
Critical Incident Stress Demobilizations
Disaster Response
Specialty CISM - Community Outreach
Informal Discussions
Spousal, Significant Other and Family Support Services
Follow-up Services
Professional Referrals
Chaplain Services
Assistance to Regional, State, National and International
CISM Teams
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