1023 - Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Peer Support

10 Questions

To provide emotional release and support to members

A process to reduce stress resulting from exposure to critical incidents

Both mental health professionals and peer support members

Only those involved in the incident and Peer Support Team and Chaplain Corp members

All members

On-scene debriefing, initial defusing, formal debriefing, and follow-up debriefing

Only members directly exposed to the traumatic aspects of an incident

Provide input and assistance to the development and implementation of the CISD program

The committee chairperson should prepare a summary report and forward it to the CISD program committee for statistical record-keeping

Any member

Study Notes

The Chesapeake Fire Department has a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) and Peer Support program.
The program aims to provide support and professional intervention to members who may experience emotional trauma while on duty.
CISD is a standardized approach using a group format to provide education, emotional release, and support.
The program is not a diagnostic or treatment process but provides education and support.
The department should establish a committee responsible for implementing and managing the CISD program.
The committee should provide input and assistance to the development and implementation of the CISD program.
The program should include pre-incident, on-scene, and post-incident activities, including education, emotional reaction diffusion, and debriefing.
Mental health professionals and peer support members should be involved in the CISD program.
Peer support personnel should have good communication skills, the respect and trust of peers, and experience and knowledge about the types of incidents and situations to which members may be exposed.
Members are responsible for recognizing incidents that may need a CISD, and any member may request peer support or professional help as needed, on an individual basis.

CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) is a process to reduce stress resulting from exposure to critical incidents.
The form of CISD utilized should depend upon how early the intervention is activated and the nature of the incident.
Common formats for CISD include on-scene debriefing, initial defusing, formal debriefing, and follow-up debriefing.
No one has rank during a debriefing process. Everyone is equal.
Only those involved in the incident and Peer Support Team and Chaplain Corp members should be present during the CISD.
Members directly exposed to the traumatic aspects of an incident are strongly encouraged to participate in CISD.
Incident Commanders should minimize members' exposure at critical incidents by rotating or removing initial responding personnel from the immediate scene and reassigning them to less stressful operations as soon as possible.
Trained peer support personnel may make a request to their Company Officer or Battalion Chief for relief or reassignment during a shift to participate in CISD activities.
The Department considers all CISD interventions as strictly confidential.
Following a CISD intervention, the committee chairperson should prepare a summary report and forward it to the CISD program committee for statistical record-keeping.