Emotional Stress for First Responders

“If you had to define stress, it would not be far off if you said it was the process of living. The process of living is the process of having stress imposed on you and reacting to it.” - Stanley J. Sarnoff

In yesterday's blog I discussed the emotional issues that disaster survivors may face during recovery. In addition, people who serve in the various emergency services, such as police, fire, EMS and other rescue personnel are at a heightened risk for traumatic stress and other powerful emotional reactions in the wake of a major disaster. During an emergency responders try to suppress their fears and emotions and deal with calmly with a not so calm public. After hours or days of control, these bottled-up emotions need to be released and dealt with.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has a series of slides and a pdf on surviving field stress for first responders, http://www2.cdc.gov/phtn/webcast/stress-05/. Field stress impacts one's ability to think clearly, to concentrate, and to think quickly. There is an increased risk of making a dangerously wrong decision.

A recent TV show on PBS described the efforts of firemen to rescue pets from a burning animal shelter. The firemen did not want to leave the burning building and abandon the pets to certain death. The fire chief had to order them out for their own safety. The sorrow and grief and guilt over death can be overwhelming.

Ways to Manage Field Stress

1. Have experienced officers supervising
2. Provide on scene briefings for new personnel
3. Limit caffeine and sugar
4. Ensure adequate rest and rotation of personnel
5. Provide mental health counselors for debriefing

Common Aftereffects of a Response

1. Anger or Sorrow
2. Dreams and nightmares
3. Distracted by frequent thoughts about what happened
4. Strains in family and work relationships
5. Difficulty sleeping

Severe effects can include depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

BOTTOM LINE
Disaster field stress and aftereffects are normal and nothing to be ashamed of. It helps to talk about what happened. Check the Internet for first responder support groups in your area where you can share stories and grief together.