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CISM - Section III
STRESS SURVIVAL SUGGESTIONS
When emergency personnel experience significant stress from CIS, the following steps may help reduce the stress until the incident is over or until a trained CISM team is located:
Limit exposure to sights, sounds, odors,
Provide an immediate rest break for 15 minute
Have a friend stay with the distressed person
Provide fluids, non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated
Provide foods low in salt, sugar and fat
Allow the person to talk about the experience
Do not rush the person to return to work
Protect the person from bystanders and MEDIA
Reassure the person that the stress experience is normal, most people recover well from stress
Show appreciation for the person’s work
Do nothing to embarrass the person
Help the person make decisions
THINGS TO TRY
Within the first 24-48 hrs, periods of strenuous physical exercise, alternated with relaxation will alleviate some of the physical reactions.
Structure your time-keep busy
You are normal having a normal reaction-do not label yourself as CRAZY
Talk to people-talk is the best medicine
Be aware of numbing the pain with overuse of drugs or alcohol
Reach out-PEOPLE DO CARE
Maintain as normal a schedule as possible
Spend time with others
Help your co-workers as much as possible by sharing your feelings and checking out how they area doing
Give yourself permission to feel rotten and share your feelings with others
Keep a journal; write your way through those sleepless hours
Do things that make you feel good
Realize you are under stress
Don’t make any big life changes
Do make as many daily decisions as possible which will give you a feeling of control over your life. i.e. if someone asks you what you want to eat-answer them even if you are not sure
Get plenty of rest
Recurring thoughts, dreams, flashbacks are normal-don’t try to fight them-they will decrease over time and become less painful
Eat well balanced and regular meals (even if you don’t feel like it)
FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
Listen carefully
Spend time with the traumatized person
Offer your assistance and a listening ear, even if they have not asked for help
Reassure them that they are safe
Help them with everyday tasks like cleaning, caring for the family, etc.
Give them some private time
Don’t take their anger or other feelings personally
Don’t tell them that they are “LUCKY IT WASN’T WORSE”-traumatized people are not consoled by those statements. Instead tell them that you are SORRY such an event has occurred and you want to understand and assist them.
For additional information or inquiries, email njcismteam@aol.com
Visit the following websites for more CISM information:
http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/lobby/3082
www.geocities.com/capitolhill/congress/7988
Click here to return to CISM - Section I.
Click here to rerurn to CISM - Section II.
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