SURVIVING
FIELD STRESS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
Originally
aired
>>> USE OF TRADE NAMES OR COMMERCIAL SOURCES IS FOR INFORMATIONAL
PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OR THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.
VIEWS EXPRESSED BY GUEST PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
VIEWS OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
CDC IS ACCREDITED BY THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING
MEDICAL EDUCATION TO PROVIDE CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR
PHYSICIANS.
THE CDC DESIGNATES THIS EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY FOR 2.0 CATEGORY 1
CREDIT TOWARD THE A.M.A. PHYSICIANS RECOGNITION AWARD.
EACH PHYSICIAN SHOULD CLAIM ONLY THOSE CREDITS THAT HE OR SHE
ACTUALLY SPENT IN THE ACTIVITY.
THIS ACTIVITY FOR 2.2 CONTACT HOURS IS PROVIDED BY THE CDC, WHICH
IS ACCREDITED AS A PROVIDER OF CONTINUING EDUCATION IN NURSING BY
THE AMERICAN NURSES CREDENTIALING CENTER'S COMMISSION ON
ACCREDITATION.
CDC HAS BEEN APPROVED AS AN AUTHORIZED PROVIDER OF CONTINUING
EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND AWARDS 0.2 CONTINUING
EDUCATION UNITS.
CDC IS A DESIGNATED PROVIDER OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CONTACT
HOURS IN HEALTH EDUCATION BY THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR HEALTH
EDUCATION CREDENTIALING INCORPORATED.
THIS PROGRAM IS A DESIGNATED EVENT FOR THE CERTIFIED HEALTH
EDUCATION SPECIALIST TO RECEIVE 2.0 CATEGORY 1 CONTACT HOUR IN
HEALTH EDUCATION, CDC PROVIDER GA0082.
CDC, OUR PLANNERS AND OUR PRESENTERS, WISH TO DISCLOSE THAT THEY
HAVE NO FINANCIAL INTEREST OR OTHER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
MANUFACTURERS OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS, SUPPLIERS OF COMMERCIAL
SERVICES, OR COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS.
PRESENTATIONS WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY DISCUSSION OF THE UNLABELED
USE OF A PRODUCT OR A PRODUCT UNDER INVESTIGATIONAL USE.
VIEWERS MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE DURING THE
LIVE WEBCAST BY SUBMITTING QUESTIONS.
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY CALLING 800-793-8598.
OR VIA FAX TO 800-553-6323.
INTERNATIONAL VIEWERS CALL 404-639-0180 OR SEND A FAX TO
404-639-0181.
CE CREDIT IS AVAILABLE ONLY BY REGISTERING AND COMPLETING AN
ONLINE EVALUATION AT WWW.PHPPO.CDC.GOV/PHTNONLINE.
THERE YOU WILL FIND THE APPROPRIATE ACCREDITATION STATEMENTS.
THE ORIGINATION DATE OF THIS LIVE WEBCAST IS
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR THIS LIVE ACTIVITY WILL EXPIRE ON
THE LIVE CE ACTIVITY NUMBER IS WC0074.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT IS OFFERED FOR ENDURING MATERIALS,
WEB ON DEMAND, CD OMs, AND VIDEOTAPES.
THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE BY VISITING WWW.PHPPO.CDC.GOV/PHTNONLINE
FROM
^^
^^
>>> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME.
I'M KYSA DANIELS YOUR MODERATOR FOR "SURVIVING FIELD STRESS FOR
FIRST RESPONDERS" WE'RE BROADCASTING FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION IN
THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH/AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE
REGISTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH
TRAINING NETWORK.
THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE PHYSICAL,
EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL STRESSORS FIRST RESPONDERS FACE WHEN CALLED
TO TECHNOLOGICAL OR MANMADE DISASTERS AND HAZMAT INCIDENTS.
DURING THE PROGRAM, YOU WILL RECEIVE TIPS AND INSTRUCTION ON
TECHNIQUES FOR COPING WITH STRESS IN THESE SITUATIONS.
OUR GOAL IS TO HELP FIRST RESPONDERS UNDERSTAND THE STRESSORS
INVOLVED IN HUMAN REACTION TO DISASTERS.
THIS CAN HELP YOU BETTER PROTECT YOURSELF AND THE PUBLIC FROM THE
STRESSES OF 21ST CENTURY DISASTERS.
TODAY'S PROGRAM IS TWO HOURS LONG.
INCLUDED IN OUR PRESENTATION IS A LIVE, INTERACTIVE QUESTION AND
ANSWER PERIOD WHERE YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A QUESTION
OR MAKE A COMMENT.
I'LL GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION, ON HOW TO CONTACT US, MOMENTARILY.
WE HAVE SCHEDULED A TEN-MINUTE BREAK.
YOU CAN ALSO USE THAT TIME, IF YOU'D LIKE, TO SEND IN YOUR
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
AND NOW, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU A FEW MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
IT WILL CONSIST OF FOUR SEGMENTS.
THE FIRST DEALS WITH THE QUESTION, "WHAT IS STRESS?"
WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL
STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS.
NEXT, WE WILL COVER SOME CAUSES OF FIRST RESPONDER STRESS.
THEN, OUR PANEL WILL GIVE YOU INFORMATION, AND TIPS, ON HOW TO
MANAGE FIRST RESPONDER STRESS.
AND FINALLY, WE WILL DISCUSS WAYS WE CAN HELP THE GENERAL PUBLIC
DEAL WITH THEIR DISASTER RELATED STRESS.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE SIX OBJECTIVES OF OUR PROGRAM.
UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION, OF OUR PRESENTATION, YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO --
---
NUMBER ONE, DESCRIBE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS.
TWO, EXPLAIN THE COMMON CAUSES OF STRESS.
THREE, DESCRIBE THE PHYSICAL HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE STRESS.
FOUR, DESCRIBE THE CAUSES OF STRESS IN FIRST RESPONDERS DURING A
DISASTER RESPONSE.
FIVE, IDENTIFY METHODS TO COPE WITH FIELD-RELATED STRESS.
AND SIX, IDENTIFY STRATEGIES FOR ASSISTING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
ADULTS AND CHILDREN, WITH THEIR DISASTER-RELATED STRESS IN YOUR
ROLE AS FIRST RESPONDER.
ACCOMPANYING THIS COURSE IS A MANUAL TITLED, "SURVIVING FIELD
STRESS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS", WHICH CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT
THE TOPICS THAT ARE COVERED IN THIS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS RESOURCES
AND REFERENCES YOU CAN USE FOR FURTHER
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND IT, STARTING THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY, ON
OUR PROGRAM WEBSITE AT--
WWW.PHPPO.CDC.GOV/WEBCAST/ STRESS-05.
NOW, DON'T FORGET, YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN THIS LIVE INTERACTIVE
PROGRAM BY CALLING OR FAXING IN YOUR QUESTIONS TO OUR PANELISTS.
WE WILL ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS AS TIME ALLOWS DURING THE
PROGRAM, AND WE WILL POST ALL THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE
PROGRAM WEBSITE.
IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE RECEIVES THIS PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, THE
NUMBER TO CALL IN THE UNITED STATES IS 800-728-8232.
FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL CALLERS THE NUMBER IS 404-639-1289.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS BY CALLING US, THE
PHONE NUMBER IN THE UNITED STATES IS 800-793-8598.
IF YOU ARE AN INTERNATIONAL VIEWER, PLEASE CALL 404-639-0180.
YOU CAN ALSO FAX YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT TO US AT 800-553-6323.
FOR THOSE OF YOU OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, THE FAX NUMBER IS
404-639-0181.
OUR TTY NUMBER IN THE UNITED STATES IS 800-815-8152.
THE INTERNATIONAL TTY NUMBER IS 404-639-0182.
IN ADDITION, YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS BY E-MAIL TO--
---
STRESSWEBCAST@CDC.GOV.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT YOU MUST
REGISTER WITH THE CDC/ATSDR TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
ONLINE SYSTEM AT --
---
WWW.PHPPO.CDC.GOV/PHTN.
ONLINE.
ONCE YOU HAVE REGISTERED, YOU MUST COMPLETE AN EVALUATION FOR THE ACTIVITY.
TO BEGIN OUR PRESENTATION, LET'S MEET THE MEMBERS OF OUR PANEL.
WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THESE PROFESSIONALS WITH US BECAUSE THEY
REPRESENT A DEPTH OF REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND
KNOWLEDGE.
SO A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO TODAY.
FIRST, WE HAVE DR. PAMELA TUCKER, A PSYCHIATRIST FROM THE
DIVISION OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE, CDC/ATSDR.
HER SPECIALTY IS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCES.
SHE ALSO WORKS WITH EPA'S PEER SUPPORT AND CRITICAL STRESS
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM.
JOINING DR. TUCKER IS SCOTT WRIGHT, WHO IS AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
COORDINATOR, FOR THE DIVISION OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
MEDICINE HERE AT CDC/ATSDR.
SCOTT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING, ASSESSING, AND MITIGATING
HEALTH ISSUES RAISED DURING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, OR HAZMAT
INCIDENTS.
THE NEXT MEMBER OF OUR PANEL IS JIM MACDONALD, WHO IS AN ON-SCENE
COORDINATOR WITH THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE BRANCH EPA, REGION 7.
JIM HAS WORKED AT RESPONSES SUCH AS THE DIOXIN CLEANUP IN TIMES
BEACH, THE
RESPONSE AND THE
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IS
ENGINEER WHO WORKS WITH THE CITY OF
DEPARTMENT.
AN IMPORTANT PART OF HIS JOB INVOLVES RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES
THROUGHOUT
ENVIRONMENT.
WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.
FIRST RESPONDERS TO A TRAUMATIC EVENT WORK UNDER, AS YOU WOULD
IMAGINE, SOME INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL CONDITIONS.
WE'LL BEGIN BY HEARING FIRSTHAND ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES AS WELL
AS SOME OF THE REWARDS OF BEING A RESPONDER.
AND
>> SURE, I'D LOVE TO.
LIKE MOST
SUFFERING TO LAST A LIFETIME.
OUR WORK INVOLVES LONG HOURS AND UNPREDICTABLE WORK DEMANDS.
AND YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT EXPOSURE TO UNKNOWN RISKS AT THE
SCENE LIKE UNIDENTIFIED CHEMICALS AT THE SITE.
WE WORRY ABOUT WHETHER WE ARE ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR THE
SITUATION AND CARRY THE BURDEN OF BEING THE EXPERT AND HAVING TO
KNOW EVERYTHING WE NEED.
WE ALSO HAVE THE FEAR OF MAKING LIFE-THREATENING MISTAKES FOR
PEOPLE WE SERVE AND EVEN OURSELVES.
AT TIMES, THERE IS A LACK OF RESOURCES AND THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT ON
THE SCENE.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAN REALLY CAUSE STRESS.
BUT CERTAINLY MUST BE --
>> MUST BE SOME REWARDS INVOLVED.
>> SURE, THERE ARE.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE REWARDS?
>> WELL, A STORY FRESH OFF WHEN I JUST BECAME A FIREFIGHTER, I
WAS OUT AT A RESTAURANT WITH MY WIFE AND A GUY COMES UP TO ME AND
SAYS, WELL, YOU'RE A FIREMAN.
I'M GOING, YEAH.
WELL, DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
I'M GOING, NO.
HE SAYS, WELL, THANKSGIVING MORNING YOU WERE AT OUR HOUSE AND OUR
LITTLE GIRL HAD A STOMACH ACHE AND YOU SAID IT COULD BE POSSIBLY
APPENDICITIS.
THEY RUSHED HER TO THE HOSPITAL, AND IT RUPTURED RIGHT WHEN SHE
GOT TO THE HOSPITAL.
>> OH, WOW.
>> AND I'M GOING, OKAY, I GUESS I REMEMBER THAT ONE.
AND MY WIFE WAS RELIEVED.
SHE GOES DOES THAT HAPPEN TO YOU ALL THE TIME?
I'M GOING, WHAT, SAVING PEOPLE OR HAVING PEOPLE THANK YOU FOR IT?
BECAUSE WE DO SAVE PEOPLE ON CALLS BECAUSE THAT'S --
WE'RE
PROVIDERS.
>> THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CALLED TO DO.
AND AGAIN, THAT STRESS THAT'S RELATED TO THAT JOB.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NOW LET'S BEGIN THE FIRST SEGMENT OF THE PROGRAM.
AND WE WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION, "WHAT IS STRESS?"
THIS SEGMENT OF THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS.
THE EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES ARE TO DESCRIBE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS,
EXPLAIN THE COMMON CAUSES OF STRESS, AND DESCRIBE THE PHYSICAL
HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE STRESS.
DR. TUCKER, COULD YOU BEGIN BY DISCUSSING THE COMPLEXITY OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS?
>> THANK YOU.
CERTAINLY.
SINCE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS IS A COMPLEX CONCEPT, I WILL BE GIVING
YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO DEFINE STRESS.
BUT FOR ME THIS ONE IS THE BEST.
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS IS A
DISTURBING CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAUSE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS.
THE THINGS THAT CAUSE IT ARE THINGS LIKE OTHER PEOPLE, OUR OWN
THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS, OR PHYSICAL CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT
SUCH AS HEAT AND COLD.
WE ALL NEED SOME STRESS, OR CHANGE, TO KEEP
AND GROWING.
THERE IS A SPECTRUM OF INTENSITY TO STRESS.
AT THE LOW END IS NO STRESS, OR BOREDOM.
DISTRESS IS WHAT WE FEEL WHEN IT'S GETTING MUCH HIGHER ON THE
STRESS SCALE AND WE CAN'T COPE WITH OR RESPOND TO A CHANGE.
AT THE VERY FAR END OF THE SPECTRUM IS A HIGH-INTENSITY STRESS
CALLED TRAUMATIC STRESS.
TRAUMATIC STRESS MAY OCCUR IN PEOPLE AFTER AN EXTREME EVENT LIKE
A VIOLENT ASSAULT.
TRAUMATIC INCIDENTS CAN RESULT IN PHYSICAL INJURY, AND THEY CAN
ALSO PRECIPITATE OR AGGRAVATE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS.
ALSO, LEVELS OF STRESS VARY BETWEEN DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.
WHAT CAUSES STRESS FOR ONE PERSON MAY NOT EVEN BOTHER ANOTHER.
THIS VARIABILITY IS EXPLAINED BY THE FACT THAT WHEN PEOPLE NOTICE
A CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT, ONE PERSON MAY PERCEIVE IT AS A
THREAT AND SOME NOT.
THE THOUGHT, "IS THIS A THREAT OR NOT?"
DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT STRESS OCCURS.
THE SECOND THOUGHT, "WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?" DETERMINES HOW MUCH
STRESS IS FELT.
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS PRODUCES BOTH PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL
RESPONSES.
THE PERCEPTION OF THREAT CULMINATES IN THE BODY'S STRESS
RESPONSE, OR AS IT'S KNOWN, THE FIGHT/FLIGHT OR FREEZE REACTION.
ALL ANIMALS HAVE THIS MECHANISM WHICH IS TIED TO SURVIVAL
INSTINCTS.
IN BRIEF, THE STRESS RESPONSE IS A PRE-PROGRAMMED SET OF BODILY
CHANGES WHICH AROUSE AND STRENGTHEN THE BODY SO WE CAN DEAL WITH THREATS.
IT'S THE MASSIVE "AAGH" YOU FEEL WHEN YOU GET BAD NEWS.
THE WAY PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS WORKS IS BY SETTING OFF A CASCADE
RESULTING IN CHANGES IN NEUROTRANSMITTER LEVELS IN THE BRAIN
LEADING TO RELEASES OF CHEMICALS BY THE BODY LIKE EPINEPHRINE AND CORTISOL.
TOGETHER, ALL THESE CHEMICALS SET OFF MANY PHYSICAL CHANGES IN THE BODY.
FOR INSTANCE, ON HEARING AN ALARM, A FIRST RESPONDER ON A CALL
COULD EXPERIENCE INCREASED HEART RATE AND RAPID BREATHING.
ALSO, BLOOD IS BEING REDIRECTED AWAY FROM HIS STOMACH TO HIS LUNG
-- LEG AND ARM MUSCLES.
THE EFFECTS OF THE STRESS RESPONSE COULD CAUSE INDIGESTION AND A
POUNDING HEART, BUT ALSO BRING ABOUT A GENERAL INCREASE IN
PHYSICAL ENERGY AND STRENGTH, INCREASED MENTAL ALERTNESS, AND
SHARPER SENSES.
IN THE ABSENCE OF A CONTINUED THREAT, THE BODY RELAXES AND GOES
BACK TO ITS NORMAL STATE OF TENSION.
SMALL DOSES OF DAILY STRESS ARE NOT UNHEALTHY AT ALL.
STRESS IS PART OF LIFE, AND OUR BODIES ARE ADAPTED TO IT.
OF COURSE, SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, THE DOWN
TIME FOR RECOVERY MAY NOT COME AND THE ON/OFF SWITCH FOR THE
STRESS RESPONSE CAN GET STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION.
THIS BRINGS UP THE FACT THAT THE FIRST RESPONDER FACES A BLEND OF
BOTH SHORT AND LONG-TERM STRESS.
IN THE CLASSIC DEFINITION A SHORT-TERM, OR ACUTE, STRESS IS WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN WE MUST RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO A THREATENING
SITUATION LIKE A NEAR MISS IN TRAFFIC.
OR FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER, THERE ARE SHORT-TERM DANGERS FACED IN
THE FIELD DURING A CALL LIKE AN EXPLODING BUMPER ON A MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR TRYING TO DEAL WITH A HOT, ANGRY RESIDENT
TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD DURING A FIRE.
ON SCENE, THE STRESS AND THE RESPONSE ARE CLOSELY LINKED IN TIME.
HOWEVER, AS PEOPLE WE ALL FACE LONG-TERM, OR CUMULATIVE STRESS.
THIS TYPE OF STRESS IS STRESS THAT OCCURS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME AND IS A RESULT OF SITUATIONS THAT DO NOT PRESENT AN EASY OR
QUICK SOLUTION LIKE THE EVERYDAY EVENTS OF MODERN LIFE -- THINGS
LIKE OVERDUE BILLS, AN UNDEPENDABLE CAR, OR TROUBLES AT HOME.
ALSO, YOU CAN HAVE VERY INTENSE LONG-TERM STRESS CALLED
ADVERSITY.
THIS IS THINGS LIKE ILLNESSES OR DEATHS IN THE FAMILY.
WHAT FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE TOLD ME, IS THAT WHAT WEARS THEM OUT
IS BEING UNDER A LOT OF STRESS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
AND THEY'RE RIGHT BECAUSE CARRYING A HEAVY BURDEN OF LONG-TERM
STRESS TENDS TO HAVE WORSE EFFECTS ON HEALTH THAN JUST THE
OCCASIONAL SHORT BURST OF STRESS.
NOW, LET'S LOOK AT HOW STRESS AFFECTS OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.
THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS TALK ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE BODILY
CHANGES THAT OCCUR WHEN WE FEEL THREATENED.
THE STRESS RESPONSE CAN LEAD TO SOME PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS THAT CAN
MAKE LIFE UNPLEASANT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS SUCH AS NAUSEA AND
TROUBLE DIGESTING THAT BIG MEAL YOU MAY HAVE EATEN BEFORE THE
CALL, A RACING HEART WITH PALPITATIONS, PROFUSE SWEATING, RAPID
BREATHING, DIZZINESS, MUSCLE TREMORS, AND SENSORY CHANGES.
OBJECTS CAN SEEM UNUSUALLY CLEAR NEARBY OR, CONVERSELY, OBJECTS
CAN SEEM UNREAL OR DIM.
DURING THE STRESS RESPONSE, THE LEVELS OF CERTAIN NERVE
TRANSMITTERS SHIFT IN THE BRAIN.
THIS CAN LEAD TO PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL CHANGES UNDER STRESS
SUCH AS FEAR, ANXIETY, ANGER.
YOU CAN BECOME TENSE.
YOU CAN BECOME INCREASINGLY IRRITABLE OR JITTERY AND JUMPY OR
OTHERS FEEL SORROW AND ANGUISH UNDER STRESS.
PLUS WHEN THERE'S EXTREME STRESS YOU CAN FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LOSING
CONTROL, WORRY ABOUT BEING CRITICIZED, OR FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING MAD.
SERIOUSLY, UNDER EXTREME STRESS, FEAR LEADS TO INDELIBLE MEMORIES
BEING LAID DOWN.
YOU DON'T FORGET WHAT FEAR TEACHES YOU.
THESE FEAR-LADEN MEMORIES ARE THE FLASHBACKS OF PTSD.
DURING THE AROUSED STATE OF THE STRESS RESPONSE, THE INCREASED
PSYCHOLOGICAL TENSION, PHYSICAL ENERGY, AND INCREASED MUSCULAR
STRENGTH CAN LEAD TO SOME CHANGED BEHAVIORS SUCH AS PACING TO
RELIEVE TENSION, IMPULSIVENESS, FEELING KEYED UP AND ARGUING WITH
PEOPLE, HAVING DIFFICULTY SPEAKING, ALL THE WAY TO INCOHERENT.
SOME PEOPLE BECOME CLUMSY AND HAVE IMPAIRED COORDINATION, OR SOME
PEOPLE BECOME VERY PHYSICALLY RESTLESS.
YOU CAN ALSO SUFFER FROM HYPERVENTILATION.
AND THE SIGNS OF HYPERVENTILATION SUCH AS SHORTNESS OF BREATHE
AND DIZZINESS MIMIC THOSE OF MORE SERIOUS DISORDERS SUCH AS
CARDIAC, RESPIRATORY, OR NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS.
IN RARE INSTANCES, THE MOST EXTREME REACTION IS TO FREEZE UP.
FREEZE REACTIONS TEND TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN.
BUT THEY CAN OCCUR IN ADULTS, ESPECIALLY DURING COMBAT.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MIND UNDER STRESS.
MENTAL SHIFTS OCCUR UNDER STRESS.
YOUR SENSES BECOME MUCH SHARPER WHEN YOU'RE STRESSED OUT.
AND ALSO UNDER STRESS YOU'LL FIND YOU CAN BECOME FORGETFUL.
IT BECOMES MUCH HARDER TO CONCENTRATE.
YOUR THINKING MAY SLOW DOWN AND YOU'LL PROBABLY EXPERIENCE
DIFFICULTY IN THINKING REALLY LONG, ANALYTICAL THOUGHTS.
YOU CAN GET CONFUSED, AND YOU MAY HAVE TROUBLE MAKING DECISIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, FEAR-RELATED CHANGES CAN CAUSE EVERYDAY FACTS TO
SLIP AWAY.
YOU CAN BECOME MORE VIGILANT AND DISTRACTIBLE.
AND THERE TENDS TO BE A LOSS OF OBJECTIVITY AND PERSPECTIVE.
ALSO UNDER STRESS PEOPLE TEND TO USE MORE EMOTIONAL GUT THINKING
RATHER THAN RATIONAL, LOGICAL THOUGHT.
THEREFORE, WHEN PEOPLE ARE ACUTELY STRESSED OUT THEY TEND TO ACT
AUTOMATICALLY BASED ON PAST MEMORIES.
THIS IS GOOD FOR IF YOU'VE BEEN WELL TRAINED YOU WILL DEFAULT TO
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TRAINED TO DO.
NOW, LET'S SWITCH GEARS AND TALK ABOUT HOW TO TURN OFF THE STRESS
RESPONSE AND RETURN TO A
DR. HERBERT BENSON NAMED THIS CALMING PHYSICAL REACTION THE
RELAXATION RESPONSE.
IT IS OUR "OFF SWITCH."
DURING THE RELAXATION RESPONSE AS WE RECOVER FROM THE STRESS OF
THE DAY, OUR BLOOD PRESSURE GOES DOWN, OUR HEART WILL SLOW TO A
NORMAL RATE, WE'LL STOP BREATHING SO FAST, AND WE WILL CALM DOWN
EMOTIONALLY.
THE RELAXATION RESPONSE IS WHY A
NOT AFFECT OUR HEALTH, FOR IT HELPS US TO RECOVER.
BUT, PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM CHRONIC STRESS THAT IS NOT RELIEVED
BY PERIODS OF RELAXATION ARE MORE AT RISK FOR NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON
THEIR HEALTH THAN SOMEONE WHO SUFFERS AN ISOLATED EPISODE OF EVEN
INTENSE STRESS AND HAS TIME TO RECOVER.
CHRONIC STRESS IS A KNOWN RISK AND CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO MANY
PHYSICAL DISEASES.
WHY IS THIS?
LONG-TERM STRESS RESULTS IN CHRONIC, DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVATION OF THE
STRESS RESPONSE.
OVER TIME THIS CHRONIC AROUSAL OF THE BODY KNOCKS THE BODY'S
SYSTEMS OUT OF BALANCE.
HOWEVER, USUALLY STRESS BY ITSELF, IS NOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE DISEASE.
LET'S LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE.
AN ACUTE STRESSOR LIKE AN ARGUMENT CAN TRIGGER A HEART ATTACK IN
SOMEONE WHO'S PREDISPOSED TO HEART DISEASE.
BUT RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THAT'S IT'S THE CHRONIC EVERYDAY STRESS
OVER THE YEARS THAT LED TO THE CORONARY ARTERY BLOCKAGES.
STRESS-RELATED CHEMICALS, SUCH AS EPINEPHRINE, WHICH IS LIKE
ADRENALINE, CAN ALSO IRRITATE THE TISSUES THAT CARRY THE HEART'S
ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY AND CAN CAUSE IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS IN PEOPLE
WITH UNDERLYING HEART DISEASE.
ALTHOUGH HYPERTENSION HAS OTHER RISK FACTORS, CHRONIC STRESS IS
ONE AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO HYPERTENSION IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE
RIGHT GENETIC PREDISPOSITION.
THE RISK OF INFECTION IS HIGHER WHEN A PERSON IS SUFFERING FROM
CHRONIC STRESS BECAUSE THE STRESS-RELATED INCREASE OF THE
CORTISOL HORMONE SUPPRESSES THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM.
IF YOU SUFFER FROM AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS, LIKE RHEUMATOID
ARTHRITIS, IT WILL TEND TO FLARE UP DURING STRESSFUL PERIODS.
FINALLY, THE GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM IS NOT IMMUNE TO THE EFFECTS
OF CHRONIC STRESS EITHER AND A DISORDER CALLED IRRITABLE BOWEL
SYNDROME IS RELATED TO PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS.
CUMULATIVE STRESS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO FIRST RESPONDERS WHO MUST
TAKE EMERGENCY CALLS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS HAVE TIME TO RECOVER, AND ACCORDING
TO WHAT I HEAR THEY CAN LOSE THEIR ON/OFF SWITCH ALTOGETHER
THROUGH CHRONIC STRESS AND PHYSICAL FATIGUE.
SO WHAT CAN THE FIRST RESPONDER DO?
HOW DO THEY CONTROL STRESS?
KNOW FIRST, WE ARE NOT HELPLESS AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF STRESS.
THERE ARE WAYS TO TURN OFF THE STRESS RESPONSE AND TURN ON THE
CALMING RELAXATION RESPONSE.
WE WILL BE LEARNING WAYS TO TURN ON THE RELAXATION RESPONSE LATER
IN THE PROGRAM.
SECOND, REMEMBER, WE ALL POSSESS INNATE STRESS BUFFERS.
THESE BUFFERS CAN PREVENT AHEAD OF TIME THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF STRESS.
RIGHT NOW WE'LL LEARN WAYS TO STRENGTHEN OUR INNATE PREVENTION FACTORS.
OUR NUMBER ONE STRESS BUFFER IS, COPING SKILLS.
COPING SKILLS ARE AUTOMATIC MENTAL WAYS IN WHICH WE DEAL WITH STRESS.
OUR COPING STYLES COLOR THE WAY WE THINK AND THEREFORE FEEL ABOUT
A SITUATION.
HERE ARE THE THREE MAIN COPING STYLES.
SOME TYPES OF STYLES ARE GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY FIT A CERTAIN
SITUATION BETTER THAN OTHERS.
THE FIRST COPING TYPE IS CALLED APPRAISAL FOCUSED COPING, MEANING
PEOPLE WHO SEEK AND INTERPRET THE MEANING IN EVENTS.
AT BEST THIS COPING INVOLVES THE USE OF LOGICAL ANALYSIS AND
MENTAL PREPARATION.
AT ITS WORST, THIS TYPE OF COPING CAN RESULT IN DENIAL OR, IF
YOU'RE THINKING WRONG, NOT THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS YOU NEED TO.
THE SECOND TYPE OF COPING IS PROBLEM-FOCUSED COPING, FINDING
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS.
AT BEST THIS TYPE OF COPING INVOLVES LOOKING FOR INFORMATION IN
ORDER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND THEN TAKING ACTION.
THIS WAY DOESN'T WORK WELL, AND IN FACT MAY CAUSE FRUSTRATION IF
APPLIED TO CHRONIC, NOT EASILY SOLVED PROBLEMS LIKE IN
RELATIONSHIPS.
THE THIRD TYPE OF COPING IS EMOTION-FOCUSED COPING, MEANING TO
REGULATE YOUR EMOTION UNDER SITUATIONS.
AT BEST THIS WORKS TO CONTROL EMOTIONS UNDER STRESS SO YOU DON'T
GET INTO ARGUMENTS.
AT WORST, IT LEADS TO RESIGNED ACCEPTANCE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO
TAKE ACTION AND CHANGE SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE CHANGED.
EVERYONE HAS THEIR AUTOMATIC COPING STYLE.
FIRST RESPONDERS TEND TO COPE BY SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND
SITUATIONS, GAINING MASTERY THROUGH INDIVIDUAL ACTION AND BY
SEEKING MEANING IN SITUATIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT KEEPING SKILLS CAN BE LEARNED AND
THEY ARE TAUGHT BY COUNSELORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS.
THEREFORE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND YOU FIND YOU TEND TO USE
JUST ONE KIND, YOU CAN LEARN OTHERS AND THEREFORE COME UP WITH A
MORE FLEXIBLE COPING STRATEGY.
THE SECOND INNATE STRESS BUFFER IS PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE.
RESILIENCE IS THE UNIVERSAL HUMAN CAPACITY TO FACE, OVERCOME AND
EVEN BE STRENGTHENED BY EXPERIENCES OF ADVERSITY.
RESILIENCE IS RELATED TO HARDINESS TO STRESS.
THIS IS INBORN.
HOW WE RESPOND TO STRESS IS PARTLY ROOTED IN OUR PERSONALITIES.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NATURALLY HARDY PERSONALITIES.
THEY TEND TO ENGAGE THE WORLD IN VERY POSITIVE WAYS.
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF EVENTS.
AND THEY TEND TO SEE CRISES AND CHALLENGES AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH.
IT IS CURRENTLY BELIEVED THAT SKILLS THAT LEAD TO INCREASED
RESILIENCE CAN BE TAUGHT.
AND WE HAVE RESOURCES IN OUR BOOK ABOUT IT.
THE THIRD STRESS BUFFER IS SOCIAL SUPPORT.
ON BOTH AN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP LEVEL, SOCIAL SUPPORT FORMS AN
IMPORTANT PROTECTION FROM STRESS FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN.
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT STUDIES THAT SHOW SOCIAL SUPPORT
ACTUALLY REDUCES HEALTH RISKS AND THAT BEING SOCIALLY ISOLATED IS
A RISK FACTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOME DISEASES.
THERE ARE MANY THEORIES AS TO WHY SOCIAL SUPPORT IS SO IMPORTANT.
SOME SAY IT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE GIVE PRACTICAL,
PROBLEM-SOLVING ASSISTANCE.
BUT YET THEY'VE DONE STUDIES WHERE THEY'VE ACTUALLY FACTORED OUT
PERSONAL RESOURCES AND INTERPERSONAL HEALTH AND THEY'VE FOUND
THAT EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ALONE HAS A VERY MODERATING EFFECT ON
STRESS AND A POSITIVE EFFECT ON HUMAN HEALTH.
SO BE SURE TO SEEK OUT YOUR FRIENDS DURING STRESSFUL TIMES.
AND DON'T FORGET TO DO THAT, BECAUSE WE TEND TO.
THE FOURTH AND FINAL STRESS BUFFER IS SELF-CARE STRATEGIES SUCH
AS EXERCISE AND GOOD DIET AND ADEQUATE SLEEP.
IT'S BEEN FOUND THE PHYSICALLY HARMFUL EFFECTS OF CHRONIC STRESS
CAN BE REDUCED BY MODERATE EXERCISE.
A BALANCED DIET HELPS KEEP STRESS FROM BECOMING DISTRESS.
OUR DIET AFFECTS OUR BLOOD CHEMISTRY, WEIGHT, ENERGY LEVELS AND RESERVES.
SO REMEMBER, EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS SIMPLE, YOU CAN FIGHT STRESS BY
DOING SUCH THINGS AS EATING RIGHT, SLEEPING, AND EXERCISING.
ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER YOU CAN ONLY DO THIS
WHEN YOU CAN.
>> THANK YOU, PAM.
SOME EXCELLENT INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE IMPARTED TO US.
NOW WE'LL BEGIN THE SECOND SEGMENT OF OUR PROGRAM, COVERING
SPECIFIC STRESSORS THAT FIRST RESPONDERS MAY EXPERIENCE DURING
AND AFTER A DISASTER RESPONSE.
WE WILL ALSO EXAMINE SPECIAL STRESSORS THAT OCCUR IN DIFFERENT
TYPES OF DISASTERS SUCH AS TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS AND TERRORISM.
THIS PART OF THE PROGRAM WILL INVOLVE A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH ALL
OUR GUESTS.
BY THE END OF THIS SEGMENT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE
CAUSES OF STRESS IN FIRST RESPONDERS DURING A DISASTER RESPONSE.
AND AGAIN, PAM, IF YOU COULD KIND OF GET US STARTED.
>> OF COURSE.
ALL STRESS, WHETHER IT IS PHYSICAL LIKE HEAT OR PSYCHOLOGICAL
LIKE EMOTION, ENTERS A COMMON BIOCHEMICAL PATHWAY IN THE BODY.
THEREFORE, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRESSES INTERACT TO TAKE A TOLL
ON A RESPONDER.
EACH KIND OF STRESS, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL, ADDS ON TO THE OTHER,
AND THIS RESULTS IN A THRESHOLD EFFECT WHEN YOU GET TO THE POINT
WHERE THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESSORS COMBINE TO DEGRADE
RESPONDER ALERTNESS AND STRENGTH.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IMPACTS HEALTH AND SAFETY.
LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH ALL RESPONDER STRESSORS WILL HELP
RESPONDERS AND THEIR SUPERVISORS SAFELY MANAGE A RESPONSE.
WE ARE GOING TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT ALL THE STRESSES, PHYSICAL,
EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL THAT FACE FIRST RESPONDERS OUT IN THE FIELD.
THE KEY HERE IS TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRESS
AND DO A STRESS "AUDIT" ON YOURSELF.
THIS TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE STRESSES THAT AFFECT YOU DURING A RESPONSE.
ONCE YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT, THEN YOU CAN DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO
REDUCE THE ONES THAT YOU CAN CONTROL.
THIS IS AT LEAST ONE TIP TO BEGIN TO GET A HANDLE ON YOUR STRESS
LOAD SO YOU DON'T GO OVER THAT CRITICAL THRESHOLD WHERE YOUR
ABILITY TO FUNCTION STARTS TO FADE.
LET'S START BY TALKING ABOUT THE PHYSICAL STRESSORS THAT HAPPEN
DURING A RESPONSE.
SCOTT-L YOU DESCRIBE SOME OF THE PHYSICAL CHALLENGES YOU'VE
ENCOUNTERED?
>> SURE, PAM.
HAVING LIVED AND WORKED RESPECTIVELY, BOTH IN THE SOUTHWEST U.S.
AND CURRENTLY IN THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES, THIS BRINGS HOME A
SPECIFIC STRESS-INDUCED SITUATION.
THAT IS, WEARING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, OR PPE, IN A HOT
OR HUMID ENVIRONMENT.
WHAT MANY PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE IS THAT AT TEMPERATURES OVER JUST
80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
IF YOU ARE IN CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING (CPC) SUCH AS TYVEK,
EITHER COATED OR UNCOATED, YOUR BODY WILL QUICKLY OVERHEAT UNDER
THAT GARMENT.
ADD TO THAT YOUR RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS AN AIR
PURIFYING RESPIRATOR OR A 35-POUND AIR PACK, AND YOUR WORK HABITS
AT THE INCIDENT ARE SEVERELY CURTAILED.
BY THIS, I MEAN SHORTER WORK PERIODS OR STARTING WORK EARLIER AND
THE LOGISTICS OF STAYING PROPERLY HYDRATED.
>> YES, SCOTT, I AGREE.
HEAT CAN BE A MASSIVE STRESS ON SOME RESPONSES.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE PPE.
WORKING IN A HOT ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY IN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT, OR PPE, CAN PUT RESPONDERS AT RISK FOR HEAT-RELATED
DISORDERS.
THEREFORE, ALL RESPONDERS SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE, WHICH IS THE MOST
SERIOUS OF THE HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES.
SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION INCLUDE HEAVY SWEATING, MUSCLE
CRAMPS, FATIGUE, WEAKNESS, PALENESS, COLD OR CLAMMY SKIN, PEOPLE
GET DIZZY AND HEADACHE, AND TOWARD THE END OF IT YOU CAN EVEN
HAVE VOMITING, NAUSEA, AND FAINTING.
IF IT'S NOT RECOGNIZED ON SITE, AND IT SHOULD BE BY A HEALTH AND
SAFETY OFFICER, AND IT'S NOT TREATED, HEAT EXHAUSTION CAN
PROGRESS TO THE MORE SERIOUS HEATSTROKE.
HEATSTROKE INCLUDES THE INABILITY TO COOL DOWN BECAUSE YOU STOP
SWEATING, RESULTING IN DANGEROUSLY HIGH BODY TEMPERATURES -- AN
ORAL TEMPERATURE MORE THAN 103 DEGREES.
OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE RED, HOT, DRY SKIN, A RAPID PULSE, YOU GET
A VERY BAD THROBBING HEADACHE, AGAIN, DIZZINESS AND NAUSEA, AND
YOU GET MENTAL CHANGES STARTING WITH CONFUSION AND PROGRESSING ON
INTO DISORIENTATION AND EVEN COMA.
THE ONSET OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND ESPECIALLY HEAT-STROKE ARE
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.
ANOTHER MEDICAL EMERGENCY IS HEAT SYNCOPE OR FAINTING THAT LASTS
LONGER THAN ONE MINUTE FROM THE HEAT, WITH SIGNS OF MENTAL CHANGES.
THIS ALSO NEEDS INTERVENTION.
THESE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ARE IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHILE YOU'RE OUT
IN THE FIELD BECAUSE MENTAL CHANGES SUCH AS DISORIENTATION AND
CONFUSION IN A RESPONDER IS NOT NECESSARILY A SIGN OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IF THEY'RE OUT IN PPE BUT IT MAY BE A SIGN
OF PHYSICAL DISTRESS.
JIM, WILL YOU TELL US HOW WEATHER AFFECTS A RESPONSE?
>> SURE, PAM, I'D BE GLAD TO.
SOMETIMES THERE'S BAD WEATHER AT SITES, SPECIFICALLY COLD.
WHEN IT'S COLD DURING A RESPONSE, YOU ARE FORCED TO WEAR WARMER,
BULKIER CLOTHES AND HAVE SHORT WORK PERIODS SO YOU CAN COME IN
AND WARM UP.
WATER FREEZES DURING DECON, EQUIPMENT WON'T START OR IT
MALFUNCTIONS, THE WHOLE PROCESS SLOWS DOWN.
>> YEAH, JIM, I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IT'S REALLY AMAZING
HOW QUICKLY COLD AIR AND WATER CAN COMBINE TO KNOCK DOWN EVEN
YOUNG AND STURDY RESPONDERS.
HYPOTHERMIA MAY OCCUR DURING COLD WEATHER DUE TO A COMBINATION OF
RISK FACTORS THAT INCLUDE AIR OR WATER TEMPERATURE OR BOTH, WIND,
DURATION OF EXPOSURE, CLOTHING, AND THE AGE AND HEALTH OF THE PERSON.
REMEMBER, HYPOTHERMIA DEVELOPS SLOWLY AND SUBTLY.
SOME OF ITS WARNING SIGNS, THOUGH, INCLUDE AT FIRST
UNCONTROLLABLE SHIVERING AND THEN MENTAL DULLNESS.
THEN IN ITS LATER STAGES YOU STOP SHIVERING, YOU LOSE THE ABILITY
TO WARM YOURSELF.
YOU GET DROWSY.
YOU SUFFER SLURRED S LETHARGY, PUFFY FACE AND COOL SKIN.
ANYONE SUSPECTED OF BEING HYPOTHERMIC NEEDS TO BE PULLED OFF THE
RESPONSE AND CHECKED OUT MEDICALLY.
JIM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ABOUT WORKING IN EXTREME WEATHER
CONDITIONS?
>> DURING HEAT OR COLD, WORKING ON-SITE REQUIRES DRINKING FLUIDS.
AT TIMES, YOU EVEN NEED TO MEASURE THE AMOUNTS TAKEN IN.
DURING THOSE SPECIAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, WE WORK ON A ROTATION
BASIS, ONE HOUR OR 30-MINUTE SHIFTS, AND THEN COME IN AND START
TAKING FLUIDS, WHETHER THIRSTY OR NOT.
SOMETIMES, IF YOU WAIT TO DRINK TILL YOU'RE THIRSTY, IT MAY BE TOO LATE.
>> THANKS, JIM.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER TIPS ABOUT HOW TO STAY HYDRATED.
IN ADDITION TO ENOUGH FLUID, YOU SHOULD AVOID TOO MUCH
CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A RESPONSE.
I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT.
BUT WHY?
WELL, BECAUSE DRINKS WITH CAFFEINE RESULT IN A DIURETIC EFFECT.
YOU DRINK TOO MANY OF THEM AND MORE FLUID IS LOST IN URINE THAN
IS TAKEN IN FROM WHAT YOU'RE DRINKING.
THESE DRINKS DEPLETE BODY FLUID VOLUME IF THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES
CONSUMED BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER A RESPONSE.
YOU ALSO WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE BALANCE OF WHAT YOU'RE DRINKING
AND MAINTAIN A PROPER ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
YOU SHOULD DRINK ONE HALF WATER AND ONE HALF SPORTS DRINK ON SITE
DURING RESPONSES.
DON'T DRINK JUST ONE OR THE OTHER.
REMEMBER, WHEN DEHYDRATION GETS SERIOUS, EXTREME FATIGUE IS A
PROMINENT SYSTEM, AND IT ACTUALLY CAN LEAD TO EARLY SIGNS OF HEAT
EXHAUSTION.
JIM, HOW MUCH SLEEP DO YOU GET WHEN YOU ARE OUT IN THE FIELD ON A RESPONSE?
>> HOW MUCH SLEEP YOU GET ON A RESPONSE DEPENDS ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS.
IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?
IF IT'S A PROMINENT ROLE LIKE INCIDENT COMMANDER OR HEALTH AND
SAFETY OFFICER, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AT FIRST GET AWAY
FOR A BREAK OR GET ANY SLEEP.
ALSO, YOU'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT HOW LONG THE RESPONSE MIGHT LAST.
IF IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG RESPONSE, YOU NEED TO THINK OF THE
LONG TERM AND NOT GET TOO FAR BEHIND ON YOUR SLEEP.
IN A SHORT-TERM RESPONSE, YOU MAY STAY UP THE NIGHT.
>> JIM, YOU'RE RIGHT.
ADEQUATE SLEEP IS A VERY IMPORTANT WAY OF COPING WITH STRESS.
IT'S ONE WE DON'T THINK ABOUT.
SLEEP IS PART OF THE BODY'S NATURAL RHYTHM.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS ARE THE 24-HOUR CYCLES OF WAKE AND SLEEP THAT
CONTROL YOUR HORMONE SECRETION AND EVEN YOUR NEUROTRANSMITTER
FLUCTUATIONS.
THEY ARE LINKED TO THE LIGHT-DARK CYCLES OF THE SUN.
WHEN SLEEP IS DISRUPTED, THE BODY'S BALANCE IS DISTURBED AND
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS OCCUR.
PRACTICALLY, WHAT LACK OF SLEEP DOES TO PEOPLE HAS BEEN SHOWN IN
RECENT STUDIES OF EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS.
THEY DISCOVERED AFTER CHRONIC SESSIONS OF LONG HOURS SUCH AS 36
OR MORE DURING TRAINING PHYSICIANS LOST THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN
NEW INFORMATION AND WERE SLOWER TO PERFORM PROCEDURES SUCH AS
INTUBATION.
HOWEVER, THEY STILL MADE GOOD DECISIONS, BUT IT WAS BASED ON WHAT
THEY ALREADY KNEW AND WHAT THEY WERE ALREADY ABLE TO DO.
IRONICALLY ENOUGH, WHAT THIS MEANS, LACK OF SLEEP FOR THE FIRST
RESPONDER, IS THAT YOU MAY BE MAKING REASONABLY GOOD DECISIONS
AFTER 24 HOURS ON CALL AND THIS IS BASED ON YOUR PAST KNOWLEDGE
AND SKILLS.
BUT IRONICALLY, YOU'RE MORE AT RISK WHEN YOU MAY BE DRIVING HOME
FROM A RESPONSE BECAUSE OF YOUR PHYSICALLY SLOWER REACTION TIME
AND POTENTIAL TO FALL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.
>> THANK YOU, PAM.
NOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HEAT, COLD, AND OTHER PHYSICAL
STRESSES, LET'S SHIFT OUR FOCUS TO TALKING ABOUT THE MENTAL
STRESSES THAT IMPACT THE FIRST RESPONDER.
HOW DOES INFORMATION CREATE STRESS IN THE FIELD?
JIM, YOU WANT TO COMMENT FIRST?
>> SURE.
THE LACK OF INFORMATION OR DATA THAT HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED CAN
LEAD TO POOR DECISIONS.
ALSO, DURING A RESPONSE, DEMAND FOR INFORMATION IS HIGH, ALL THE
WAY UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE PRESS WANTING INFORMATION PRIOR TO QUALITY
CONTROL OR WANTING ACCESS TO AN UNSAFE SITE TO GET THEIR STORY.
>> CHAD?
>> SURE.
EVERYBODY ON THE JOB IN THE EMS HAS DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE
MADE QUICKLY WHEN CURRENT INFORMATION JUST ISN'T PERFECT.
>> CHAD, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SOME OF THOSE
ORGANIZATIONAL DEMANDS WHILE YOU'RE ON THE RESPONSE?
>> THESE DAYS THE MAIN STRESS FOR US IS DURING THE FIELD CALL.
WE ARE DOING MORE COMPLEX CALLS WITH FEWER RESOURCES AND
PERSONNEL.
TO PULL UP TO AN APARTMENT FIRE WHERE THE FLAMES ARE SHOWING AND
YOU HAVE AN OFFICER -- YOU ONLY HAVE YOU AND AN OFFICER ON THE
ENGINE, THERE CAN BE 100 THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, FOR
EXAMPLE, RESCUING A SCREAMING PERSON FROM A TWO-STORY BUILDING
WHILE KEEPING THE FLAMES BACK.
WITH ALL THIS AND VERY LITTLE SLEEP BECAUSE YOU HAVE SO MANY MORE
CALLS, YOU WORRY ABOUT BEING THE LEAST BIT IMPAIRED.
AND WITH ALL THE SHEER VOLUME OF CALLS, I MEAN, IT'S LIKE THE
NEXT CALL COULD BE ON THE INTERSTATE WHERE IT'S BOXES OF -- A
MIXTURE OF CHEMICALS AND MULTIPLE VICTIMS.
>> SCOTT, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING ORGANIZATIONAL DEMANDS?
>> YES.
TYPICALLY, ON OUR RESPONSES THE TECHNICAL AND/OR SCIENTIFIC
ISSUES ARE THE EASIEST TO DEAL WITH.
ITS ORGANIZATION DEMANDS THAT TAKE TIME.
FROM A FEDERAL STANDPOINT, TRYING TO JUGGLE ALL THE VARIED
CONCERNS THAT THE DIFFERENT PROGRAM AREAS AT CDC/ATSDR CAN BE
INTERESTING.
THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAM AREAS RUN THE SPECTRUM FROM COMMUNITY
CONCERNS TO HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS TO MEDIA TO
CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRIES TO CONCERNS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONNEL
LIKE EPIDEMIOLOGISTS.
WE HAVE TO KEEP THE POLITICIANS AND MEDIA UPDATED, AS WELL AS
DEALING WITH CONCERNS FROM OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT.
HANDLING ALL THESE CONCERNS CAN BE TIME CONSUMING AND TAKE THE
RESPONDERS AWAY FROM THE MITIGATIVE EFFORT REQUIRED TO SOLVE THE
INCIDENT THAT WE'RE OUT ON.
>> CERTAINLY A LOT TO THINK ABOUT, HUH, SCOTT?
>> YES, THERE IS.
>> PAM, ANY COMMENTS FROM YOU ON ORGANIZATIONAL DEMANDS?
>> JUST REAL QUICK, MOST EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARE BEING TRAINED
IN INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM, WHICH IS A STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY
RESPONSE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE.
HOWEVER, AS WE HEAR FROM JIM, ICS CAN HAVE ITS PROBLEMS.
>> POOR COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN ALL RESPONSE
PERSONNEL CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.
WHAT I MEAN IS, IT RAISES THE STRESS.
WHEN THE DANGER GOES UP, THE STRESS GOES UP.
>> ONE THING THAT'S BEEN FOUND AS A USEFUL TOOL TO COPE WITH BOTH
INFORMATION PROBLEMS AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEMANDS IS TO GIVE A
SHORT PREBRIEFING TO ALL RESPONDERS BEFORE THEY GO ON SITE EVERY DAY.
THE PREBRIEFING SHOULD INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT ON-SITE
CONDITIONS, ANY SPECIFIC SAFETY WARNINGS, AND ASSIGNING OF JOB
DUTIES AND ISSUANCE OF WORKING EQUIPMENT.
A LITTLE INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATION OF THE ROLE OF THE
RESPONDER WILL GO A LONG WAY IN REDUCING ON-SITE JOB STRESS.
IT'S ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A SHORT DEBRIEFING AT
THE END OF THE SHIFT.
IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE FORMAL, BUT IT HELPS TO TALK TO SOMEONE
ELSE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON SITE AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY COMMON
EXPERIENCES THAT HAPPENED DURING THE INCIDENT.
>> ALL OF THIS OF COURSE VERY INTERESTING.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT'S --
WHEN IT CHANGES FROM A DISASTER RESPONSE, OR WHEN IT IS, RATHER
THAN JUST A SIMPLE ROUTINE EMERGENCY CALL?
>> WELL, KYSA, DISASTERS ARE NOT JUST BIG EMERGENCY CALLS.
THEY'RE REALLY DIFFERENT, NEW SITUATIONS, AND DISASTERS PRESENT
UNEXPECTED STRESSES, WHICH EMERGENCY RESPONDERS MAY NOT
ANTICIPATE.
DISASTER RESEARCH OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES HAS REVEALED
PROBLEMS THAT CAN TURN THE MOST CAREFUL DISASTER PLAN UPSIDE DOWN
AND MAKE THE REAL DISASTER NOTHING LIKE THE DRILL.
BEING AWARE OF THESE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS ENABLES RESPONDERS TO
PLAN AHEAD OF TIME TO MEET THEM.
EACH TYPE OF DISASTER, WHETHER NATURAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, OR
TERRORIST, INVOLVES ITS OWN UNIQUE HAZARDS AND STRESSES.
ACCORDING TO DISASTER PLANNING EXPERTS SUCH AS CDC'S DR. ERIK AUF
DER HEIDE, SOME FEATURES THAT MAKE A DISASTER RESPONSE DIFFERENT
FROM A ROUTINE EMERGENCY CALL ARE, ONE, YOU GET A LOT OF
BYSTANDER RESCUES AND THEREFORE TRANSPORTING CASUALTIES BY
PRIVATE CARS TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL INSTEAD OF PREDESIGNATED
TRIAGE AREAS.
THEREFORE, THESE PLANNED-ON TRIAGE AREAS SIT IDLE WHILE NEARBY
HOSPITALS BY THE DISASTER TEND TO BE OVERWHELMED.
YOU ALSO SEE AN INPOURING OF MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF UNNECESSARY
RELIEF SUPPLIES RIGHT AFTER THE DISASTER.
JIM, CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHER LESSONS LEARNED DURING DISASTERS?
>> YES, PAM, I CAN.
THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM SPENDS THE FIRST FEW DAYS ATTEMPTING
TO ORGANIZE CHAOS.
YOU GET COMMUNICATION SNARLS.
POLICE FORCE AND FIREFIGHTERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
BECAUSE THEY USE DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES.
IN A MULTICOUNTY OR MULTIAGENCY RESPONSE.
DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS MAY HAVE INCOMPATIBLE EQUIPMENT.
ANOTHER THING IS YOU GET MORE AGENCIES INVOLVED, THERE'S A NEED
FOR MORE COORDINATION, AND DECISIONS ARE MADE BY A UNIFIED
COMMAND STRUCTURE RATHER THAN A SINGLE INCIDENT COMMAND
STRUCTURE.
WHEN VOLUNTEERS AND AMATEUR RESPONDERS COME TO A SCENE, YOU TURN
OVER COORDINATING ALL THESE VOLUNTEERS TO THE LIAISON OFFICER IN
THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN HAZMAT INCIDENTS.
THE VOLUNTEERS MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH TRAINING TO RESPOND AND YOU
DON'T WANT TO PUT VOLUNTEERS AT RISK.
FOR INSTANCE, DURING AN OIL SPILL YOU MAY EVEN NEED TRAINING FOR
THESE VOLUNTEERS AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO WASH OFF
OILED DUCKS.
SCOTT AND CHAD, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD?
>> YEAH, JIM.
AN EXAMPLE OF EQUIPMENT FAILURE FOR ONE.
EQUIPMENT WHICH WORKS FINE IN THE OFFICE BUT WHICH FAILS IN THE FIELD.
AND BY THIS I MEAN THIS CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A COMPUTER TO
TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT.
THE FAILURE OF THE BASIC NECESSITIES SUCH AS CELL PHONES AND
LAPTOPS LEADS TO THE ADDED STRESS OF KEEPING UP WITH THOSE
COMMUNICATION NEEDS WITH BOTH THE PERSONNEL AND INCIDENT COMMAND
STRUCTURE AS WELL AS THE INFORMATION FOLKS BACK AT HEADQUARTERS
WHO MUST BE CONTINUALLY FED.
THE TIME WHICH MUST BE DEDICATED TO FINDING ALTERNATIVE METHODS
OR UTILIZING ARCHAIC OR OLD EQUIPMENT CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND WASTEFUL.
>> AND IF ALL OF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH, WORRYING ABOUT THE PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT AND THE LARGE HAZMAT INCIDENT WASN'T ENOUGH, LOCAL
RESPONDERS ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING THE RIGHT LEVEL OF
PROTECTION IN THE FIELD.
ANOTHER CONCERN IS KNOWING THAT HEALTH EFFECTS FROM HAZMAT
INCIDENTS WILL NOT SHOW UP UNTIL MUCH LATER AND IT CANNOT BE
CONNECTED TO A PARTICULAR CALL.
>> INSUFFICIENT PPE CAN HAPPEN DURING A RESPONSE THAT BECOMES
BIGGER OR DIFFERENT THAN YOU THOUGHT INITIALLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE "COLUMBIA" SHUTTLE EPISODE, WE CAME
ACROSS A HYDRAZINE BALL, AND THE CONTRACTORS AT THE TIME DID NOT
HAVE THE PPE.
THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS HAPPEN.
THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED THE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT THAT SOON FOLLOWS.
>> VERY INTERESTING RESPONSES FROM ALL OF YOU.
NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOME OF THE NEW HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH
DIFFERENT TYPES OF 21ST CENTURY DISASTERS.
AND PAM, WE TURN TO YOU FOR THAT FIRST.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
WHAT WE CALL HAZMAT INCIDENTS ARE FORMALLY CLASSIFIED IN ACADEMIA
AS TECHNOLOGICAL OR MANMADE DISASTERS.
A TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTER IS ONE THAT IS CAUSED BY HUMAN ACTS OR
TECHNOLOGICAL FAILURE.
THE TERM TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTER IS FAIR NI NEW.
IT COMES FROM THE '70s.
THIS TYPE OF DISASTER INCLUDES PLANE CRASHES, BUILDING COLLAPSES,
CHEMICAL SPILLS, AND THE INTENTIONAL RELEASE OF CHEMICAL OR
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS BY TERRORISTS.
TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS CAN LEAVE WIDESPREAD CONTAMINATION, AND
IF THEY DO THEY POSE UNIQUE STRESSES FOR THEIR VICTIMS.
AND THESE STRESSES, THEY BELIEVE MAY BE HARDER TO ADAPT TO THAN
THE STRESS FROM A NATURAL DISASTER.
THE STRESSES FROM A TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTER MAY INCLUDE FEAR OF
BEING EXPOSED TO UNSEEN CHEMICALS OR RADIATION.
OR IF AN EXPOSURE HAS OCCURRED, AS CHAD MENTIONED, WORRY AND
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT FUTURE HEALTH EFFECTS.
>> WHAT'S IT LIKE RESPONDING TO A CHEMICAL DISASTER?
>> WHEN WORKING A HAZMAT INCIDENT, YOU FOLLOW A STANDARD PROTOCOL TO --
---
IDENTIFY THE CONTAMINANT, CONTAIN IT, MITIGATE THE SUBSTANCES.
OF COURSE, IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO IDENTIFY THE SUBSTANCE
BECAUSE OF TIME TO SAMPLE AND DECON PERSONNEL.
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, "WHAT IS IT?"
SO MUCH OF THE PRESSURE IN THESE SITUATIONS COMES FROM EVERYONE
WANTING SOMETHING DONE IN A NEW AND UNKNOWN SITUATION.
>> CHAD, HOW MUCH TRAINING IN HAZMAT DO FIREFIGHTERS ACTUALLY GET?
>> WELL, WE'VE ALL HAD TRAINING FOR THIS.
WE ALL KNOW THERE IS BAD STUFF OUT THERE FOR SURE.
AND TO STAY OUT OF IT UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS.
AND THAT'S EASY.
YOU JUST STAY OUT.
WHAT GETS MISSED IS, HOW IT'S RIGHT THERE, IN THE NEXT MVA OR IN
THE NEXT FIRE MOP UP.
OR BEING ASKED TO WALK INTO 10,000 GALLONS OF SPILLING UNLEADED
GAS, TO MAKE A DIKE.
WHERE IT'S SAFE BECAUSE THE BOSS SAYS YOU'RE PAST THE UPPER
FLAMMABLE LIMIT HERE ON THE GROUND, AND SO REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH
TRAINING YOU HAVE IF THE BOSS SAYS GO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR STRESS.
>> NOW JIM, WHAT HAPPENS DURING A RESPONSE TO A BIOLOGICAL
HAZARD, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THE ANTHRAX ATTACK THAT YOU HAPPENED
TO BE INVOLVED IN?
>> IN THE ANTHRAX RESPONSE, WE FELT PRETTY SECURE ABOUT THE
RESPIRATORY/SKIN PROTECTION AND THE MEDICAL PEOPLE TOLD US ABOUT
THE SYMPTOMS WE CAN EXPECT.
WHAT WAS STRESSFUL?
WELL, THE DECON COULD BE STRESSFUL.
AND, IF YOU WERE PUT ON ANTIBIOTICS FOR IT, THE CIPRO OR THE
DOXYCYCLINE, WELL, THAT GAVE ME DIARRHEA AND THAT WAS STRESSFUL.
ANOTHER BIG STRESSOR WAS THE CONTAINMENT AND CLEANUP OF ANTHRAX
WAS DIFFERENT THAN CHEMICALS, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE
SUGGESTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT CLEANUP OPTIONS.
>> KEPT YOU IN THE RESTROOM, HUH?
CHAD, WHAT EXPERIENCE DO FIREFIGHTERS HAVE WITH BIOHAZARDS?
>> WELL, KYSA, DURING THE LAST BIG ONE, THE LAST BIG GO-AROUND WE
HAD, WE WERE PICKING UP POWDER FROM EVERYONE THAT CALLED ABOUT
IT, AND IT GOT REAL OLD TO HAVE EVERYBODY THINKING THAT THE BAD
GUYS WERE GOING TO USE THEIR ANTHRAX AGAINST THEM FOR NO REAL
PARTICULAR REASON.
I HAVE HAD TO PICK UP LARGE AMOUNTS OF POSSIBLE ANTHRAX.
IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP THE STANDARDS WITH SO MUCH VOLUME.
WE WOULD GO INSIDE, DOUBLE BAG THE POWDER AND TURN IT OVER TO THE POLICE.
FOR A WHILE, IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, LIKE ONCE OR TWICE A SHIFT.
IT'S HARD TO REACT LIKE THEY DID IN D.C.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE KNEW WE WERE THE CANARIES.
>> WE ALL REMEMBER THOSE ANTHRAX SCARES, DON'T WE?
NOW LET'S WRAP UP OUR DISCUSSION OF SPECIFIC DISASTER RELATED
STRESSORS WITH THE NEWEST TYPE OF 21ST CENTURY DISASTER --
TERRORISM.
JIM, HOW DOES TERRORISM AFFECT YOUR STRESS LEVEL?
>> I SUPPOSE THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOW WE REACT TO
NATURAL HAZARDS, TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS AND TERRORISM.
WE CAN ACCEPT A TORNADO OR HURRICANE.
THEY ARE LOCALIZED IN THEIR EFFECTS.
LET'S FACE IT, WE DON'T GET MANY HURRICANES IN THE MIDWEST.
BUT, WHEN YOU FIND OUT IT'S A TERRORIST ATTACK, THEN YOU START TO
WORRY ABOUT SECONDARY, TERTIARY ATTACKS ON OTHER PEOPLE AND OTHER PLACES.
THE STRESS STARTS TO EXPAND TO EVERYBODY.
IT'S DIFFERENT.
IT'S A WAR.
YOU ARE FIGHTING PEOPLE, NOT A NATURAL SITUATION OR A TECHNICAL ACCIDENT.
>> I AGREE.
AND IT'S BEEN FOUND TERRORIST ATTACKS RESULT IN THE GREATEST OF
ALL PSYCHOLOGICAL CASUALTIES, THAN DO EVEN NATURAL OR
TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS.
ACCORDING TO A FAMOUS PSYCHIATRIST ROBERT JAY LIFTON, DELIBERATE
CRUELTY AND VIOLENCE BY OTHERS TOWARD YOU IS ACTUALLY THE MOST
DAMAGING TYPE OF STRESS.
BRIEFLY, SOME OTHER DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TERRORISM AND NORMAL
ROUTINE RESPONSES INCLUDE DURING TERRORISM THERE'S A LONGER RESPONSE.
THE RESPONSE TO 9/11 LASTED FOR MANY MONTHS.
IT WAS FOUND ALSO THE NORMAL BUNKER EQUIPMENT USED BY
FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WAS NOT SUITED TO THE LONG
SHIFTS AND THE ODD CONDITIONS OF GROUND ZERO.
YOU ALSO GET MULTISITE EVENTS IN TERRORISM.
WE ALL REMEMBER THAT THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE SITE TO THE ATTACKS
DURING 9/11 AND THE ANTHRAX ATTACKS.
AND THAT BRINGS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS AND MULTIPLE AGENCIES
AS WELL AS MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESPONDERS.
YOU ALSO GET OF COURSE VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH TERRORIST ATTACKS
BUT NOT ONLY THE ATTACK ITSELF.
IN ADDITION TO THE MULTIPLE CASUALTIES AND THE TARGETING OF
INNOCENTS, YOU ALSO CAN GET THE POSSIBLE DELIBERATE SECONDARY
TARGETING OF RESPONDERS TO THE EVENT OR YOU CAN GET INADVERTENT
INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE SITE.
THIS RESULTED -- AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE RESPIRATORY INJURIES
THAT OCCURRED AT GROUND ZERO BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY WITH THE
PPE FOR THE RESPONDERS.
>> HOW BIG A PROBLEM IS VIOLENCE ON JUST REGULAR NON-TERRORISM
RESPONSES?
>> ON METHAMPHETAMINE DRUG RESPONSES, YOU DO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
FACTORS SUCH AS BOOBY TRAPS, SHARPS/NEEDLES, IDENTIFICATION OF
THE CHEMICAL, CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL OF CHEMICALS, AND
UNCOOPERATIVE AND UNPREDICTABLE PEOPLE ON THE SCENE.
>> AND THE STRESSES OF A BOMB SCARE OR WHEN WE HAD A POLICE
REPORT THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE TARGETED WITH A FAKE EMS CALL,
YOU NEVER KNOW.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS, PAM?
>> WELL, I DO.
ASIDE FROM THE FACT FOR INCREASED SECURITY WHEN YOU'RE DEALING
WITH A KNOWN THREAT, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A VIOLENT SITUATION
THERE'S ACTUALLY RISK FACTORS YOU CAN LOOK FOR IN THE PEOPLE
FACING YOU THAT CLUE YOU IN TO THE FACT THAT VIOLENCE MIGHT OCCUR.
THESE THINGS ARE SUCH THINGS AS DELIRIUM OR PSYCHOLOGICAL
PROBLEMS THE PERSON IS FACING LIKE DRUG USE OR PSYCHOSIS.
AND IN ADDITION RISK FACTORS IN THE PERSON FACING YOU.
THIS CAN INCLUDE PEOPLE PERCEIVING THAT YOU DISRESPECT THEM OR A
VERY NOISY ENVIRONMENT OR ACTUALLY GETTING IN SOMEBODY'S PERSONAL
SPACE OR FACE.
AND THIS DIFFERS BY CULTURE.
YOU'LL FIND MORE TIPS FOR HOW TO RECOGNIZE POTENTIALLY VIOLENT
SITUATIONS AND HANDLE IT IN OUR TRAINING MANUAL.
>> AND NOW LET'S EXAMINE EMOTIONAL STRESSORS ASSOCIATED WITH
FIELD RESPONSES AND DISASTER WORK.
LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW BEING A RESPONDER, FOR EXAMPLE, AFFECTS THE FAMILY.
JIM?
>> WELL, KYSA, YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE JUGGLES WORK AND FAMILY.
BEING A RESPONDER CAN ADD A DIFFERENT LAYER OF STRESS TO THE
FAMILY, HOWEVER.
IN A DANGEROUS RESPONSE, THE FAMILY HAS TO WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT A
RESPONDER'S SAFETY.
AND, WHEN YOU RETURN AFTER BEING AWAY, YOU MAY BE ASKED TO BE THE
DISCIPLINARIAN RATHER THAN JUST THE GOOD GUY.
THEN THERE'S A LIST OF CHORES TO DO.
THERE'S NO DOWN TIME TO RECOVER FROM THE RESPONSE, BECAUSE YOU
HAVE TO PICK UP ON THE FAMILY LIFE.
YOU WORRY THAT YOU MAY NOT BE GIVING ENOUGH TIME TO THE FAMILY
AND GIVING TOO MUCH TO THE JOB.
ONE WAY TO HANDLE IT IS TO TALK ABOUT IT BEFOREHAND AND TRY TO
PLAN FOR THINGS.
CHAD, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> I'VE LEARNED TO HAVE A REAL BUFFER ZONE IN THIS AREA.
HAVING EXTRA MONEY, HAVING EXTRA FRIENDS, EXTRA TIME OFF.
THE LOSS OF MY DAUGHTER WHILE I WAS ON DUTY JUST ONE TERRITORY
OVER FROM MY STATION.
THAT WAS AN EVENT THAT EXPOSED ALL OF MY STRESSES AND CREATED
EVEN MORE.
I'VE FOUND OVER TIME MY STRESS ALARM, AND IT RINGS REAL LOUD AND
CLEAR, AND IT'S TIME TO CUT BACK ON STRESS WHEN IT RINGS.
I ALWAYS USED TO THINK THAT STRESS IS OKAY AND EVEN FUN.
NOW I CAN FEEL THE REAL CAUSTIC NATURE OF IT.
LIKE WHAT'S BEEN SAID EARLIER, ALL OF LIFE'S STRESSES ARE
ADDITIVE, CUMULATIVE AND WE ALL HAVE OUR THRESHOLDS.
3 OUT OF 10 FIREFIGHTERS WILL SUFFER FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
YET I'VE LEARNED TO TAKE STOCK IN THE DAY AND ENJOY TODAY.
YOU DON'T STRESS WITH YOUR FAMILY ABOUT THE TRASH BEING TAKEN OUT
OR -- YOU SAVE YOUR STRESS BUFFER FOR THE REALLY BIG STUFF.
>> YEAH, CHAD, YOU KNOW, FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES REALLY
ARE VITAL FOR EVERYONE.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR MANAGERS OF FIRST RESPONDERS TO KNOW THAT
RESPONDERS WHEN THEY GO TO SITES WILL NEED TO CALL HOME
FREQUENTLY TO GIVE AND RECEIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY IS A VERY IMPORTANT SOURCE OF STRESS RELIEF.
>> PAM, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT ANOTHER GREAT SOURCE OF STRESS ON
THE SCENE IS HAVING TO DEAL WITH SICK AND INJURED PEOPLE.
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
>> YES, KYSA.
SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS ABOUT WORKING WITH VICTIMS OF A
DISASTER, THAT INTERVIEWS WITH FIREFIGHTERS HAVE REVEALED, ARE
FEELINGS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP ENOUGH, OF BEING OVERWHELMED
IN A MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT IF THE NUMBER OF THE INJURED AT THE
SCENE OR THE MAGNITUDE OF THE INJURY.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN, AND ALSO THERE'S THE
HUMAN PAIN OF IDENTIFYING WITH VICTIMS AND THEIR SUFFERING.
CHAD, COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS?
>> ONE OF MY WAYS OF COPING WHEN TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS IS TO
KNOW THAT IF I'M HERE DOING MY JOB, TAKING CARE OF THE PATIENT
THE BEST I CAN, SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING THEIR BEST FOR MY FAMILY IF
IT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.
AND SOME OF MY FAMILY -- SO MY FAMILY WILL GET THE BEST CARE THEY
CAN FROM THAT SOMEONE.
>> AND UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TASKS THAT FIRST
RESPONDERS FACE IS THAT OF RECOVERING HUMAN REMAINS AFTER A DISASTER.
THIS IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT POLICE, FIRE, EMT, AND MILITARY
PERSONNEL ARE OCCASIONALLY FACED WITH DURING ROUTINE DUTIES, BUT
IT CAN BE MUCH MORE STRESSFUL IN A MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT LIKE 9/11.
PAM, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS?
>> THIS IS A DIFFICULT TOPIC.
AND ACTUALLY, SOME OF THE MOST SPECIFIC STRESSORS ASSOCIATED WITH
BODY HANDLING INVOLVE THE SENSES.
YOU GET SENSORY OVERLOAD SUCH AS THE SMELLS AND THE SIGHT OF THE DEAD.
YOU HAVE UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCES AT SIGHTS.
AND IT'S ALSO BEEN FOUND TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE THE
BODIES OF CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN.
AND ACTUALLY, WHAT LEADS TO THE PAIN, THEY BELIEVE, IS FEELINGS
OF PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT WITH THE DEAD, LOOKING AT SOMEONE AND
HAVING THEM REMIND YOU OF SOMEONE YOU KNOW, LIKE "I HAVE A CHILD
THAT AGE" OR "HE LOOKS LIKE MY BROTHER."
IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT YOUNGER PEOPLE WITH NO EXPERIENCE OF DEATH
ARE MORE AT RISK AT STRESS DURING THIS EXPERIENCE THAN PEOPLE WHO
ARE OLDER AND EXPERIENCED AND VOLUNTEERING FOR THIS WORK PROTECT
RESPONDERS FROM STRESS REACTIONS.
>> YOU KNOW, PAM, HAVING BEEN A COMBAT MEDIC DURING VIETNAM HAS
HELPED ME IN DEALING WITH MASS CASUALTIES IN SEVERAL INSTANCES.
I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE MURRAH FEDERAL BUILDING BOMBING IN
OKLAHOMA CITY, AS WELL AS THE COLUMBIA SHUTTLE DISASTER RESPONSE.
I DID A SITE ENTRY INTO THE MURRAH BUILDING ABOUT 96 HOURS POST
EXPLOSION TO DO A HAZMAT SURVEY.
IT WAS TOUGH TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE SURVEY WHEN YOU HAD VICTIMS
STILL IN PLACE AT THEIR WORK STATIONS, AS WELL AS THE SMELLS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCIDENT.
AT THE COLUMBIA DISASTER, I WAS THE ONLY FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIAL ON-SITE AFTER THE FIRST TEN DAYS.
ALTHOUGH THIS WAS NOT A TRUE MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT, THE NATION
WAS EXPOSED TO THE LOSS OF ONE OF ITS TRUE NATIONAL TREASURES,
ITS ASTRONAUTS.
FOR THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS, I HAD TO RESPOND TO ANY SUSPECTED
RECOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS OR ANY SUSPECTED HAZMAT ITEMS, SUCH AS
HYDRAZINE OR AMMONIA TANKS.
I WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING TO GROUND ANY REPORTED HAZMAT
EXPOSURES FROM DEBRIS.
THIS MEANT DEALING WITH ALL THE "WALKING WELL" PEOPLE WHO
REPORTED TO THEIR PRIVATE PHYSICIANS OR THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.
>> ANOTHER EMOTIONALLY TRYING SITUATION FOR A FIRST RESPONDER IS
WORKING WITH THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS.
AND JIM, COMMENT ON THIS FOR US.
>> IT'S HARD TO VISIT WITH THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS.
BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
IT GETS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE VISITING WITH THE FAMILY AND
YOU'RE TRYING TO STAY IN CONTROL AND IT BECOMES VERY EMOTIONAL.
>> AS A FIRST RESPONDER THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT THING BECAUSE
THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN YOU MAY BE CALLED TO NOTIFY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR FAMILY.
DEATH NOTIFICATION CAN BE A VERY DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE ESPECIALLY
FOR THE FIRST-TIME OR UNPREPARED RESPONDER.
THERE ARE MANY PROFESSIONS SUCH AS PHYSICIANS, POLICE, AND
CHAPLAINS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED GUIDELINES AND TRAININGS
FOR HOW TO DO DEATH NOTIFICATIONS AND THESE ARE HONEST, DIRECT,
SENSITIVE, AND COMPASSIONATE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO LEARN ONE OF THESE TECHNIQUES BEFORE
YOU'RE CALLED TO GO OUT ON A DEATH NOTIFICATION.
ALSO IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PAIR AN INEXPERIENCED RESPONDER WITH A
MORE EXPERIENCED RESPONDER WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH GRIEVING AND
ANXIOUS FAMILY MEMBERS.
ALSO, OTHER FACTORS BESIDES THE BUDDY SYSTEM THAT PREVENT
STRESSES THAT OCCUR IN ALL OF THESE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, WHETHER
IT'S DEALING WITH FAMILY OR DEALING WITH INJURED PEOPLE IS
KNOWING THAT SOCIAL SUPPORT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP OF
RESPONDERS FOR EACH OTHER REALLY DOES STRENGTHEN EACH PERSON.
ALSO, HAVING FAITH IN YOUR LEADERSHIP CAN HELP A GROUP THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME.
GETTING AS MUCH PRE-EVENT TRAINING AS YOU CAN IN HANDLING
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WITH VICTIMS AND FAMILIES CALLED HUMAN
SITUATIONS TRAINING MAKES IT EASIER FOR EACH PERSON TO RESPOND
UNDER STRESS BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT YOU WILL MOURN FOR THESE PEOPLE
AND YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN RITUALS SUCH AS MEMORIALS FOR VICTIMS
THAT SET ASIDE TIME AND SPACE TO DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONS AROUSED
BY THE SUFFERING AND DEATH FROM A DISASTER.
PARTICIPATING IN MEMORIALS OR SETTING ASIDE TIME FOR YOURSELF
HELPS TO PUT IN ORDER YOUR EMOTIONS AFTER THE DISRUPTION AND
CHAOS OF ACCIDENTS AND TERRORISM.
THERE WILL BE MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON THESE SUBJECTS
THAT IS FOUND IN OUR TRAINING MANUAL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE WANT TO END THIS SEGMENT WITH WHAT HAPPENS ONCE YOU'VE
FINISHED AT THE RESPONSE SITE.
SCOTT, WHAT DO YOU FIND STRESSFUL ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE
AFTER BEING ON SITE, ON SCENE?
>> PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST STRESSFUL THINGS IS THE
SECOND-GUESSING OF DECISIONS MADE IN THE FIELD BY THE RESPONDERS.
THIS OFTEN COMES FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT PRESENT AT THE
INCIDENT OR INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT OR THOSE WITH LIMITED OR NO
KNOWLEDGE OF THE TECHNICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THE INCIDENT.
ALSO THEN THERE'S THE OBLIGATORY PAPERWORK.
YOU HAVE TO CREATE THAT PAPER TRAIL TO COVER THE WHOLE SCOPE OF
THE INCIDENT.
>> JIM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> THE SECOND-GUESSING OF DECISIONS MADE IN THE FIELD.
AND ALSO, HAVING TO JUSTIFY MY DECISIONS IN MY OWN MIND.
WHAT IF I WOULD HAVE DONE IT THIS WAY?
SOMETIMES, WE SECOND-GUESS OURSELVES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, JIM.
AND THIS BRINGS US TO THE END OF THE SECOND SEGMENT.
NOW, WE'LL TAKE A TEN-MINUTE BREAK AND WHEN WE RETURN, THE FINAL
TWO SEGMENTS OF THE PROGRAM, PLUS WE'LL ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS
AS POSSIBLE DURING OUR QUESTION AND ANSWER SEGMENT.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
>>> AND WELCOME BACK TO "SURVIVING FIELD STRESS FOR FIRST
RESPONDERS."
WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE THIRD SEGMENT OF OUR PROGRAM, "MANAGING
FIRST RESPONDER STRESS."
IN THIS SEGMENT WE WILL GIVE PRACTICAL TIPS AND POINTS ABOUT
ON-SCENE STRESS AND HOW TO RECOVER PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY
FROM A DISASTER RESPONSE.
UPON COMPLETION OF THIS SEGMENT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
SEVERAL METHODS TO COPE WITH FIELD RELATED STRESS.
HOW DO YOU ALL COPE WITH STRESS BOTH DURING AND AFTER A RESPONSE?
>> IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS, SOME OF THE BOYS FROM THE LOCAL HIGH
SCHOOL GOT A JOB OF BEING A FIREMAN AND THEY COULD RELIEVE THEIR
STRESS BY PLAYING BALL BETWEEN ALL THE CALLS.
TODAY, FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH THINGS SUCH AS BLOOD
EXPOSURES ON TRAUMA CALLS, ADMINISTERING DRUGS TO HEART ATTACK
VICTIMS OR STEPPING IN FRONT OF AN EXPLODING BUMPER ON A MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
HOW DO I COPE ON SCENE?
I KNOW I'M DOING MY BEST WITH THE RESOURCES I HAVE AND REALIZE
THIS IS THE MOST I "SHOULD" DO.
DURING DOWN TIME, ESPECIALLY WHILE TRAINING, I CONSIDER HOW TO
REDO THE CALL AND REFLECT ON THE PAST AND TRY AND CONNECT IT WITH
NEW TECHNIQUES DISCUSSED IN TRAINING.
>> DURING A RESPONSE, I MAKE AN EFFORT TO EAT AT LEAST ONE DECENT
MEAL A DAY.
I TRY TO MAKE AN EFFORT ON ONE NIGHT TO BREAK AWAY EARLY TO GO
SEE A MOVIE AND EAT POPCORN.
I ALSO TEND TO JOKE OR YUK IT UP A LOT ON SITE.
ONE WAY TO PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME IS TO STAY IN SHAPE PHYSICALLY.
ALSO TRY TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST TECHNIQUES BY
ATTENDING TRAINING.
BEFORE I GO ON SCENE, I TRY TO PREPARE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY
FOR THE UNEXPECTED AT A RESPONSE.
ON THE WAY TO THE SCENE, I START PROCESSING PAST EXPERIENCES AND
TRAINING THAT MAY RELATE TO THE INCIDENT.
I TRY TO USE RISK MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, AND THINK ABOUT POSSIBLE
OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES, HEALTH AND SAFETY FACTORS.
THE PROCESS IS CHALLENGING, CREATING AN ADRENALINE RUSH.
BUT EVEN WITH ALL THE STRESSORS I LIKE IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
PAM, TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS ON THE SCENE.
>> THANK YOU, KYSA.
LET ME TALK BRIEFLY REVIEW ABOUT THE MENTAL CHANGES FROM THE
STRESS RESPONSE THAT MAY OCCUR ON SCENE IN THE RESPONDER.
AS WE'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THESE IN ORDER
TO RECOGNIZE HOW YOU PERSONALLY REACT TO STRESS.
NOT EVERYONE WILL HAVE THE SAME SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS IN
THE FIELD.
FIRST, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR MIND DURING A FIELD RESPONSE.
YOU MUST FIND THAT YOUR FOCUS OF ATTENTION NARROWS, THAT YOU LOSE
YOUR ABILITY TO THINK LONG, COMPLICATED THOUGHTS, AND YOUR
ABILITY TO LEARN ABOUT NEW SUBJECTS IS IMPAIRED.
YOU CAN'T CONCENTRATE SOMETIMES.
YOU MAY HAVE TROUBLE HOLDING ON TO THE NEW INFORMATION COMING IN.
AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO NOTICE THEIR PATTERN OF
THINKING BECOME RIGID.
THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH A
STRESS RESPONSE IN THE BRAIN.
AS JIM MENTIONS, HOWEVER, THE DIFFICULTY OF THINKING UNDER STRESS
MAKES IT IMPORTANT THAT FIRST RESPONDERS ARE WELL TRAINED
BEFOREHAND BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO PERFORM PRELEARNED BEHAVIORS
UNDER STRESS THAN TO COME UP WITH NEW SOLUTIONS.
>> AS A FIREFIGHTER, WE WORRY ABOUT THE CHANGES IN PERFORMANCE
THAT CAN BE CAUSED BY ACCUMULATED STRESS OR BY ON THE SCENE STRESS.
WHEN TECHNIQUES ARE NOT USED TO HELP DEAL WITH JOB RELATED
STRESS, GENERAL JOB PERFORMANCE MAY DECLINE.
>> NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING ON-SCENE.
COULD WE BEGIN WITH YOU, PAM?
>> IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A PSYCHIATRIST, MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
ON THE SCENE DURING 9/11, I REMEMBER THE STORIES THAT THEY TOLD ME.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THE EVENTS AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, THEY
SAID, AS IF THEY WERE OCCURRING IN A MOVIE.
I REMEMBER SOMEONE HAD JUST COME OUT OF THE SUBWAY WITH A KUN OF
COFFEE JUST AS THE FIRST TOWER COLLAPSED AND THEY TALKED ABOUT
RUNNING FROM THE ONCOMING CLOUD AND THE METAPHOR THEY USED WAS
THEY SAID IT FELT LIKE TRYING TO OUTRACE THE GIANT BOULDER IN THE
"TEMPLE OF DOOM" MOVIE.
THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A REAL QUALITY TO THEIR EXPERIENCE.
CHAD, WHAT'S BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE?
>> MOVIES ARE REAL ENOUGH, BUT I'VE FOUND THE SMELL, THE TOUCH,
THE LEFTOVER EMOTIONS A MILLION TIMES WORSE THAN THE PICTURES.
SEEING SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU SHAKING WITH FEAR, IT'S GOT ITS
IMPACT ON YOU.
>> THAT'S TRUE, THERE ARE A LOT OF INTENSE EMOTIONS AND THEY'RE
NORMAL ON SCENE DURING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE OR DISASTER.
SOME OF THE COMMON EXPERIENCES THAT PEOPLE MAY FEEL ON A SCENE
ARE INITIALLY WHEN YOU'RE HIT WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT THERE'S AN
INITIAL FEELING OF DISBELIEF OR DENIAL, THIS CAN'T REALLY BE
HAPPENING.
OR AT THE MOST EXTREME YOU MAY FEEL TERRIFIED OR FEARFUL.
OTHERS EXPERIENCE SORROW, GRIEF BECAUSE YOU ARE WITNESSING
CASUALTIES OR DEATH.
SOMETIMES OTHER PEOPLE MAY FEEL NUMB DURING A DISASTER OR FEEL
OVERWHELMED OR JUST FEEL DEEP EMOTIONAL PAIN OR ANGUISH.
ALL OF THESE EMOTIONS ARE NORMAL AND THEY JUST COME FROM BEING HUMAN.
YOU KNOW, CHAD, YOU BROUGHT UP A REALLY IMPORTANT OBSERVATION
WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT SEEING PEOPLE SHAKING ON SCENE.
LET'S TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS PHYSICALLY WHEN YOU GET THE
CALL TO GO ON SCENE OR WHEN YOU'RE IN THE FIRE HOUSE AND THE
ALARM GOES OFF.
THE CUE IS TRIGGERING THE STRESS RESPONSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SO
MUCH, AND THAT'S A NORMAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE TO THAT ACUTE SIGNAL.
THE PHYSICAL REACTION MUST BE CONSIDERED WHEN RESPONDING TO A
DISASTER, AND LET'S GIVE SOME EXAMPLES.
COMMON PHYSICAL REACTIONS INCLUDE INCREASED RESPIRATION, MILD
SHORTNESS OF BREATH, OR EVEN PANTING.
YOU CAN SEE HYPERVENTILATION AT A SCENE.
AND REMEMBER THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THAT CAN BE SERIOUS AND
SIMILAR TO SOME SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LIKE
HEART PROBLEMS OR RESPIRATORY DISEASE.
IN PRACTICAL TERMS YOU MAY NEED EXTRA RESPIRATOR TANKS PEOPLE
TELL ME BECAUSE RESPONDERS MAY BLOW THROUGH AN AIR TANK QUICKER
IN THE FIELD THAN THEY DO IN PRACTICE BECAUSE OF THIS INCREASED
RESPIRATION.
YOU ALSO MAY SEE IMBALANCES IN G.I. FUNCTION AND PEOPLE CAN GET
QUEASY, NAUSEATED, EVEN HAVE SOME DIARRHEA.
YOU'D BETTER BE SURE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A BATHROOM AND A WASH-UP FACILITY.
INCREASED HEART RATE AND MILDLY ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE CAN FORCE
YOU TO BE MORE VIGILANT REGARDING THINGS LIKE CHEST PAIN
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE AN ELDER RESPONDER, BECAUSE THERE ARE REAL
EFFECTS OF ACUTE STRESS ON THE HEART.
AND BACK TO YOU, CHAD.
YOU MAY SEE THOSE MUSCLE TWITCHES AND SHAKE LIMBS.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN FEAR.
IT COULD JUST BE A REACTION TO ADRENALINE RUNNING THROUGH
SOMEBODY'S SYSTEM DURING STRESS.
SINCE WE ARE DISCUSSING ON-SCENE PHYSICAL EFFECTS, I WANT TO
RESPOND TO THE PEOPLE WHO'VE ASKED ME IN THE PAST ABOUT WHAT ARE
THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT WOULD MAKE YOU THINK AS A SUPERVISOR
THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION AND NEEDS TO BE
PULLED OFF SCENE?
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN DO YOU TAG SOMEBODY OFF AND SEND THEM TO THE DOCTOR?
WELL, SOME OF THE PHYSICAL SIGNS A RESPONDER'S IN TROUBLE WOULD
BE SEVERE CHEST PAIN ACCOMPANIED WITH SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SHOCK SUCH AS RAPID LIGHT BREATHING, A
QUICK PULSE, SHIVERING, FEELING CHILLS, GETTING NAUSEATED, HAVING
MOIST, CLAMMY SKIN OR SUFFERING FROM MENTAL CONFUSION OR SUDDENLY
VERY DILATED PUPILS.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SIGNS THAT SOMEONE'S IN DEEP DIFFICULTY, AND THIS
IS RARE, WOULD INCLUDE FREEZING UP AT THE SCENE OR BECOMING SO
DAZED AS TO BE UNAWARE OF ONE'S SURROUNDINGS OR SEVERE PANIC ATTACKS.
OBVIOUSLY AZ SUPERVISOR YOU'D WANT TO PULL SOMEONE OFF.
>> PAM, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE THE
REACTIONS THAT WE SEE ON THE SCENE, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
COPING MECHANISMS THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT ON THE SCENE?
>> WELL, HERE ARE SOME GENERAL TIPS, AND THEN WE CAN ASK OUR
FIRST RESPONDERS WHAT THEY DO TO COPE.
SOME OF THE GENERAL TIPS THAT ARE VERY WELL KNOWN BUT NEED TO BE
REPEATED, HAVE EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL SUPERVISE THE INEXPERIENCED.
AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, PROVIDE ON-SCENE BRIEFINGS FOR INCOMING
PERSONNEL.
I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD IT BEFORE AND YOU MAYBE FEEL LIKE YOU CAN'T
DO IT, BUT TRY TO LIMIT CAFFEINE AND SUGAR INTAKE.
I KNOW IT'S HARD, GIVEN THE JUNK FOOD AT SITES.
MAINTAIN TIME ORIENTATION.
AND BE SURE AS A SUPERVISOR YOU ENSURE ADEQUATE REST AND ROTATION
OF PERSONNEL.
AND FINALLY AS AN ORGANIZATION BE SURE YOU'VE ESTABLISHED A
SYSTEM FOR HANDLING RESPONDERS FACING EXTRAORDINARY STRESS LIKE A
DEATH ON SITE OR AN INJURY.
CHAD, HOW DO YOU COPE DURING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE?
>> WHEN YOU'RE GETTING UP AT 6:00 FOR WORK AND YOU'RE KEPT BUSY
ALL DAY AND YOU HAVE A CALL PAST MIDNIGHT, YOU CAN FEEL YOUR MIND IMPAIRED.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
AND THE HUMAN BODY CAN ONLY OPERATE AT A HIGH LEVEL OF AROUSAL
FOR SO LONG.
AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME ON A RESPONSE PEOPLE WILL JUST GET
TIRED AND IT DOES TEND TO CAUSE THEM TO MAKE ERRORS AND START
BEING A LITTLE MORE ACCIDENT-PRONE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S RECOMMENDED ON A DISASTER SITE THAT YOU HAVE A
SHIFT NO LONGER THAN 12 HOURS JUST FOR SAFETY REASONS.
YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO NEED TO ROTATE TEAM MEMBERS SO THEY HAVE
TIME AWAY AND TIME OFF AWAY FROM A RESPONSE SITE.
DON'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO A DISASTER RESPONSE
WHEN OFF-SHIFT.
WHEN IT COMES TO BATTLING CHRONIC STRESS, SOMETIMES THOSE
SHORT-TERM FIXES WE ALL RELY ON LIKE COFFEE CAN BACKFIRE.
CAFFEINE HAS EFFECTS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE ADRENALINE
THAT YOUR BODY SECRETES DURING THAT FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE.
AND DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE ON SCENE HAS A TENDENCY TO LEAVE YOU
TOO KEYED UP TO SLEEP.
EVEN WHEN YOU ARE PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED AFTER GETTING HOME.
YOU CAN'T SLEEP BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD TOO MUCH COFFEE.
>> I'M CURIOUS, HOW DOES EVERYONE INDIVIDUALLY HERE RECOVER AFTER
A RESPONSE?
>> AFTER A RESPONSE, I TRY TO VOLUNTEER AT ZOO ATLANTA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I FIND THAT WORKING AT THE HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT AT THE ZOO
DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB OF DECOMPRESSING ME AFTER THE STRESS OF A RESPONSE.
I ALSO SPEND RELAXING TIME WITH MY WIFE AND DOGS.
>> I USUALLY TAKE ONE DAY IN SEVEN OFF TO REST, AND I SPEND LOADS
OF TIME ON MY BOAT.
I DON'T TOLERATE UNPRODUCTIVE STRESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS, EITHER.
>> AFTER A RESPONSE, THERE MAY BE A HOT WASH BRIEFING FOR SOME OF
THE OSC'S WHERE WE CAN JUST LET OFF SOME STEAM.
ONCE OFF-SITE, I CATCH UP ON MY SLEEP, AND ESCAPE FROM STRESS IN
VARIOUS WAYS.
I LIKE MOTORCYCLING.
IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF POWER AND FREEDOM.
I LIKE PHYSICAL EXERCISE, TOO.
IT TAKES MY MIND OFF THINGS.
AFTER A RESPONSE, I TRY TO EAT A MORE BALANCED DIET TO MAKE UP
FOR THE JUNK FOOD, DOUGHNUTS AND CANDY, EATEN DURING A RESPONSE.
>> LET ME GIVE YOU JUST A FEW BRIEF TIPS TO COPE AFTER A RESPONSE RECOVERY.
OBVIOUSLY, AS THESE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID, YOU WANT TO RETURN
TO
THEN, WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS, AFTER YOU'VE GOTTEN SOME REST,
EXERCISE TO KNOCK DOWN THAT CHRONIC STRESS.
BE SURE, HOWEVER, TO CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING A NEW
EXERCISE REGIMEN.
NOW I'M GOING TO GIVE SOME REAL UNPOPULAR ADVICE.
REFRAIN FROM USING ALCOHOL FOR A FEW DAYS DURING RECOVERY FROM
FIELD DUTY.
WHY?
WELL, THE MAIN REASON IS THAT ALCOHOL SUPPRESSES REM SLEEP, AND
THAT'S THE PHASE OF SLEEP THAT CONTAINS DREAMS.
DREAMS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE EMOTIONAL HEALING OF ANY KIND OF
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE THAT YOU CAN ENCOUNTER DURING A FIELD
OPERATION.
ALSO, ALCOHOL MAY DISINHIBIT YOUR BEHAVIOR, AND YOU CAN BECOME
MORE IMPULSIVE, OR IF YOU'RE DEPRESSED IT ACTUALLY MAKES YOU MORE
DEPRESSED.
FAMILY MEMBER ABOUT ANYTHING THAT BOTHERED YOU DURING THE
RESPONSE IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING IT.
AND FOR A BIG RESPONSE THE ORGANIZATION YOU WORK FOR NEEDS TO
CREATE A SET FORMAL WAY FOR WORKERS TO EXIT THE DISASTER SITE SO
THERE'S AN END POINT TO THEIR DISASTER SERVICE.
I'VE BEEN TOLD IN THE RED CROSS THIS INVOLVES AN EXIT INTERVIEW.
FOR OTHER SERVICES IT MAY INVOLVE TIME LIKE JIM SAID FOR A HOT
>> THE PROBLEM I'VE SEEN IS MOST
BAROMETER TO TELL THEM WHEN THEY'RE POINT GUARDING OUT FROM STRESS.
IT JUST BUILDS QUIETLY.
OR SOMETIMES, THERE IS THAT ONE CALL THAT DEFIES THEIR CORE
BELIEFS, LIKE A BODY PART WHERE A BODY PART SHOULDN'T BE.
>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE.
AND THAT'S WHY EVEN THOUGH THIS IS JUST A BEGINNING COURSE WE'RE
HOPING IT WILL BEGIN TO ENCOURAGE RESPONDERS TO THINK OF WAYS TO
BUILD THEIR OWN BAROMETERS AND TO LEARN CHRONICALLY ABOUT
MANAGING STRESS.
>> THE CISD COURSE THAT I TOOK WAS VERY INTUITIVE.
THE CISD COURSE IS TO PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE WHAT
A MUST IN OUR BOX OF TOOLS.
>> EXCUSE ME, IS CISD THE ACRONYM FOR CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS
DEBRIEFING?
PAM?
>> YES, IT IS.
AND
MANAGEMENT CISD COURSES.
EACH FIELD RESPONDER SHOULD LEARN ABOUT THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT HERE, ABOUT
ON A RESPONSE AND WHAT STRESS RESPONSE IS LIKE AND ESPECIALLY WE
NEED TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HELP PEOPLE
RECOVER FROM RESPONSES.
EVEN VERY SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE LIKE SIGNS AN EMOTIONAL RECOVERY IS
GOING WELL.
ALSO THEY NEED TO LEARN SIGNS THAT INDICATE WHEN HELP IS NEEDED.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NEXT IN THIS PROGRAM.
AFTER PARTICIPATING IN A DISASTER RESPONSE IT IS REALLY QUITE
PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE END OF YOUR DISASTER SERVICE.
THIS IS THE PSYCHE'S WAY OF COMING TO TERMS WITH WHAT HAS BEEN
EXPERIENCED AT THE SITE.
SOME COMMON EMOTIONAL RESPONSES ARE THINGS LIKE DAYS OF FEELING
ANGRY OR SORROWFUL, AND IT'S VERY NORMAL TO HAVE DREAMS AND
NIGHTMARES ABOUT THE DISASTER INCIDENT FOR DAYS AND WEEKS
AFTERWARD.
YOU MAY AFTER DISASTER SERVICE HAVE TEMPORARY DIFFICULTY FALLING
ASLEEP, OR YOU MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY STAYING AWAKE.
YOU MAY BE TOO TIRED.
YOU MAY ALSO FIND YOURSELF BEING DISTRACTED, AND HAVING FREQUENT
THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE DISASTER EVEN WHEN YOU'RE
BACK AT WORK.
PLEASE REMEMBER, ALL THESE EMOTIONAL CHANGES CAN CAUSE STRAINS IN
FAMILY AND WORK RELATIONSHIPS DURING THE READJUSTMENT.
AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S
PROBLEMS FALLING OR STAYING ASLEEP, AND IT HELPS TO HAVE YOUR
FAMILY LEARN ABOUT THE
A DISASTER RESPONSE.
BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP EASE THE STRAIN WITH THEM.
BECAUSE IT HELPS THEM ADJUST AND KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOU.
REMEMBER, THOUGH, EACH PERSON WILL COPE DIFFERENTLY.
SOME MAY WANT TO TALK A LOT ABOUT THE RESPONSE.
OTHERS DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT AT ALL.
SO FAR WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ARE THE
POST-RESPONSE, YOU KNOW, RECOVERY.
THESE AREN'T SIGNS OF ANY KIND OF ABNORMAL REACTION.
AND ALL THE SYMPTOMS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE
HAVING EMOTIONS WITH ABOUT A DISASTER IS NOT A SYMPTOM OF AN
ILLNESS, AND THEY ARE JUST PART
OF A
AND RECOVERY TIME WILL DIFFER FOR EACH PERSON.
NOTHING IS SET IN STONE.
NOW LET'S SWITCH GEARS AND TALK.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF HEALING AND RECOVERY ARE NOT OCCURRING AFTER A
DISASTER SERVICE?
AND HOW DO YOU KNOW IF RECOVERY IS BLOCKED?
I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TO DISASTERS, HOW DO I
KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ONE OF MY BUDDIES AFTER A BAD CALL
HERE ARE SOME DISTRESS SIGNS TO LOOK FOR.
THE NUMBER ONE INDICATOR IS A SER SIGNIFICANT OVER DAYS TO WEEKS
OR EVEN MONTHS, PERSISTENT CHANGE IN A PERSON'S BEHAVIOR,
PERSONALITY, OR HEALTH.
SOME OTHER SIGNS OF A BLOCKED RECOVERY ARE THE PERSON EXPERIENCES
INTRUSIVE IMAGES AND MAY EVEN HAVE THINGS LIKE FLASHBACKS FROM
PTSD, AND THESE LAST LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER AN INCIDENT.
>> ONE BIG CLUE THAT YOU NEED HELP IS WHEN YOU HAVE HAD A LONG
SHIFT, PAST
NIGHT AT HOME, OR YOU CAN'T SEEM TO FIND YOUR OWN DOWN BUTTON.
AND YOU SEEM TO BE LIVING ON ADRENALINE.
>> YES,
THESE ARE CALLED LONG-TERM SLEEP DISTURBANCES, AND CAN INVOLVE
DIFFICULTY FALLING ASLEEP OR PROBLEMS STAYING ASLEEP OR WAKING UP
DURING THE NIGHT, OR YOU CAN WAKE UP VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING
BEFORE THE ALARM AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO SLEEP.
YOU CAN ALSO GET FEELINGS OF ISOLATION AND DEPRESSION AS A SIGN
OF BLOCKED RECOVERY.
>> SOMETIMES, YOU DO FEEL ISOLATED.
MUCH OF THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE THE TIME OR THE ENERGY TO
UNDERSTAND AN ANSWER THAT COMES FROM THE HEART.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO SWITCH GEARS AND GIVE PEOPLE THE NEWS BITE
ANSWERS ABOUT THE EXPERIMENTS --
EXPERIENCES.
YOU FEAR THAT AN ANSWER COULD CAUSE EMOTIONAL CONFLICT, LEADING
TO MORE STRESS BECAUSE THE NEWS BITE ANSWER JUST ISN'T TRUE ENOUGH.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
AND SOME OTHER DISTRESS SIGNS CAN BE IF SOMEONE WHO WASN'T
PREVIOUSLY LIKE THIS SUFFERS SEVERE ANGER, IRRITABILITY OR HAS A
RAGE ATTACK.
OR PEOPLE CAN SOMETIMES FEEL IF THERE'S A BLOCKED RECOVERY THAT
THEIR LIFE, JOB, AND RELATIONSHIPS HAVE LOST MEANING BECAUSE OF
WHAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED DURING A DISASTER.
ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE DISTRESS SIGNS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOMETHING CALLED ACUTE STRESS DISORDER.
ACUTE STRESS DISORDER IS A GROUP OF ANXIETY SYMPTOMS, AND IT CAN
OCCUR RIGHT AFTER EXPOSURE TO A LIFE-THREATENING OR HORRIFYING EVENT.
THESE SYMPTOMS IN ACUTE STRESS DISORDER WILL OCCUR RIGHT AFTER
THE TRAUMATIC EVENT, AND THEY CAN LAST ANYWHERE FROM TWO DAYS
AFTER THE DISASTER TO UP TO FOUR WEEKS.
THESE ARE TRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LATER,
THAT FAR END OF THE SPECTRUM.
AND THESE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE STRESS DISORDER.
WHEN YOU'RE TRAUMATICALLY STRESSED YOU FEEL EMOTIONALLY NUMB.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A DAZE.
YOU CAN EXPERIENCE SOMETHING WE CALL DEREALIZATION.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE WORLD STOPS FEELING REAL TO YOU, SO THAT
FAMILIAR THINGS MAY FEEL STRANGE WEIRD, OR EVEN IN EXTREME
INSTANCES TWO-DIMENSIONAL.
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE DEPERSONALIZATION AS A RESULT OF TRAUMA,
FEELING LIKE YOU'RE NO LONGER YOURSELF EMOTIONALLY AND YOU'RE A
STRANGER TO YOURSELF.
AND FINALLY, PEOPLE CAN SUFFER TRAUMATIC AMNESIA, AND THAT'S NOT
BEING ABLE TO RECALL PART OF THE TRAUMATIC EVENT.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GET HEAD TRAUMA YOU GET AMNESIA NORMALLY, BUT
THIS IS EMOTIONAL AMNESIA.
AND SOMETIMES, TOO THE TRAUMATIC EVENT IS EXPERIENCED BY CONSTANT
UNSTOPPABLE THOUGHTS, IMAGES, DREAMS, OR A SENSE OF RELIVING IT.
THE TRAUMATIZED PERSON WILL AVOID ANY REMINDER OF THE EVENT.
THERE WILL BE SIGNS OF INCREASED AROUSAL, JUMPINESS OR BEING
EASILY STARTED BY NOISE.
TRAUMATIZED PEOPLE HAVE DIFFICULTY SLEEPING, THEY TEND TO BE
TENSE, AND THEY HAVE POOR CONCENTRATION DURING THE DAY.
THESE SYMPTOMS MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS AT WORK, AT HOME OR WITH FRIENDS.
IN ACUTE STRESS DISORDER, WHICH IS ONE TYPE OF TRAUMATIC STRESS,
THESE SYMPTOMS WON'T RESOLVE WITHIN A MONTH AFTER THE DISASTER.
AND IF THEY DON'T RESOLVE IT BECOMES A MORE SEVERE DISORDER WE
ALL CALL POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, OR PTSD.
SOME OTHER DISTRESS SIGNALS AFTER A DISASTER RESPONSE ARE IF
SOMEONE INCREASES USE OF ALCOHOL IF THEY ABUSE PRESCRIPTION
MEDICINES SUCH AS PAINKILLERS OR SLEEP MEDICINES OR THEY HAVE A
SUDDEN CHANGE OF ATTITUDE AND DECIDE TO MAKE A SUDDEN
CATASTROPHIC LIFE DECISION LIKE JUST ONE DAY QUITTING THEIR JOB
OR GETTING A DIVORCE.
ALL OF THESE DISTRESS SIGNALS INDICATE A NEED TO SEE A
PROFESSIONAL PHYSICIAN OR PSYCHOLOGIST FOR AN EVALUATION TO SEE
IF A LONG-TERM PROBLEM IS DEVELOPING OR WHETHER YOU JUST NEED A
SHORT-TERM REFERRAL TO A COUNSELOR TO WORK OUT YOUR SHORT-TERM
STRESS TO RESOLVE THE DISASTER.
PLEASE KNOW NOBODY IS INVULNERABLE.
STUDIES SHOWED THAT AFTER THE
FIREFIGHTERS THERE SUFFERED POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
HOWEVER, THIS WAS COMPARED TO A 33% RATE OF PTSD IN THE CIVILIAN
PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING.
RESPONDERS TEND TO BE AND ARE MORE RESILIENT THAN CIVILIANS, BUT
EVERY HUMAN BEING HAS THEIR LIMIT AND WE ALL HAVE THAT THRESHOLD
NO MATTER HOW HIGH.
REMEMBER, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA SUFFERED DURING A RESPONSE CAN
LEAD NOT ONLY TO PTSD BUT TO THE FOLLOWING PSYCHOLOGICAL
DISORDERS.
AGAIN, THESE ARE RARE, BUT THEY CAN OCCUR.
PEOPLE CAN GET DEPRESSED AFTER A DISASTER, AND THIS LEADS TO
LONG-TERM FEELINGS OF SORROW, SADNESS, PEOPLE LOSE THEIR
APPETITE, SUFFER WEIGHT LOSS, HAVE THE SLEEP DISTURBANCES WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT, AND THEY CAN FEEL GUILTY AND VERY WORTHLESS WITH
DEPRESSION.
HE ANXIETY DISORDERS ARE DIFFERENT.
YOU TEND TO SUFFER FROM PERSISTENT FEAR AND WORRY WITH AN ANXIETY DISORDER.
YOU GET TENSE MUSCLES.
YOU CAN TREMBLE, BE VERY RESTLESS.
YOU GET WORN OUT FROM WORRYING.
YOU GET PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS LOOK A RAPID HEARTBEAT, DIZZINESS, AND
YOU CAN BE KEYED UP AND HAVE DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING.
AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE SLEEP DIFFICULTY.
SO SLEEP DIFFICULTIES CAN BE A SYMPTOM OF MANY THINGS.
AND THEN FINALLY, LET'S GO BACK OVER AGAIN THE SYMPTOMS OF
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
AGAIN, IT'S A FAIRLY RARE DISORDER, AND IT TENDS TO OCCUR IN
PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO VERY SEVERE TRAUMA THAT THREATENS
THEIR LIFE OR IF THEY SEE SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE THREATENED.
AND IT'S REALLY OUTSIDE THE
FOR SOMEONE TO GET TRAUMATIC STRESS.
AND USUALLY, THESE OCCUR IN THINGS LIKE DISASTERS OR COMBAT OR
BEING IN A PLANE CRASH OR IN A FIRE.
AND AGAIN, THE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD REVOLVE AROUND THE TRAUMATIC
STRESS WE TALKED ABOUT.
PEOPLE JUST CAN'T PUT IT OUT OF THEIR MIND.
THEY HAVE REPETITIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE EVENT.
THEY HAVE VIVID NIGHTMARES.
THEY HAVE THINGS CALLED FLASHBACKS, WHICH IS BEING AWAKE AND
HAVING A SUDDEN OVERWHELMING MEMORY OF THE EVENT.
BECAUSE OF THIS PEOPLE TRY TO AVOID THINKING ABOUT THE EVENT.
THEY AVOID REMINDERS OF THE EVENT.
THEY CAN GET, AGAIN, NUMB.
THEY HAVE SLEEPING PROBLEMS AND THEY HAVE THAT HEIGHTENED STARTLE REFLEX.
ALL THE DISORDERS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FROM DEPRESSION TO PTSD ARE
VERY TREATABLE AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD
BE EVALUATED OR TREATED BY A PSYCHOLOGIST OR CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGIST.
BUT THIS IS RARE FOLLOWING DISASTERS BUT DOES OCCUR.
LET'S STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE FACTORS THAT HELP SUPPORT A
NORMAL RECOVERY PROCESS.
IN BOTH AN INDIVIDUAL AND A GROUP LEVEL SOCIAL SUPPORT IS AN
IMPORTANT PROTECTION FROM STRESS AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS
BEFORE, FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN.
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS, PARTICULARLY MARRIAGE, HAS BEEN FOUND TO
HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECTS ON MEN'S HEALTH BUT SORT OF A LITTLE BIT
OF A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON WOMEN'S HEALTH.
SIMPLY TALKING TO CLOSE FRIENDS OR CO-WORKERS AND RECEIVING THEIR
FEEDBACK IS A VERY POWERFUL FORM OF EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
AND IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO WORK THROUGH, YOU KNOW, FEELINGS
ASSOCIATED WITH A RESPONSE.
ESPECIALLY AMONG FELLOW RESPONDERS.
AND HELPS YOU MAKE SENSE OF THE EXPERIENCE.
SOCIAL SUPPORTS AIDS IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING A TRAUMATIC
EXPERIENCE INTO A MORAL CONTEXT AND THEREFORE IT HELPS FADE IT SO
IT NO LONGER EXERTS AN OVERLY POWERFUL INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE.
IT'S INTERESTING.
MEN ARE MORE RESPONSIVE TO SOCIAL SUPPORT THAN WOMEN.
HOWEVER, WOMEN TEND TO SEEK SOCIAL SUPPORT OUT MORE THAN MEN DO.
AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IS NOT JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW BUT HOW
DEEPLY AND CLOSELY YOU KNOW THEM AND HOW POSITIVE THOSE
FRIENDSHIPS ARE.
A VERY IMPORTANT COPING MECHANISM AFTER A DISASTER IS THAT PEOPLE
WHO'VE LIVED THROUGH A DISASTER OR TERRORIST ATTACK WILL HAVE AN
OVERWHELMING URGE TO TELL THE STORY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
BY DOING THIS THEY'RE SORTING OUT THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WHICH AT
FIRST AFTER A DISASTER MAY BE A CONFUSED JUMBLE IN YOUR MIND.
BY SEEKING SUPPORT AND INPUT INTO YOUR STORY, THEY ALSO ARE
PUTTING MEANING INTO THE EXPERIENCE.
NOW, AGAIN, TO GET BACK TO THE QUESTION HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR
BUDDY'S IN TROUBLE?
WELL, A PERSON WHO FINDS THE STORY OF THE EXPERIENCE TOO PAINFUL
TO TELL DAYS TO WEEKS LATER, WHO CREATES A DELIBERATE WALL OF
SILENCE AROUND AN EVENT, IS SENDING A SIGNAL THAT THEY'RE
OVERWHELMED BY IT.
ANOTHER SIGNAL OF A BLOCKED RECOVERY IS A PERSON'S DREAMS OF THE
EVENT DO NOT CHANGE OVER TIME BUT REMAIN EXACT REPETITIONS OF THE
EVENT AND THEY CONTINUE TO EVOKE PAINFUL EMOTIONS DAYS TO MONTHS
TO WEEKS DOWN THE ROAD.
ANOTHER HEALING THING IS TO PARTICIPATE IN MEMORIALS.
RITUALS LIKE CHURCH SERVICES AND MEMORIALS ALLOW THE POWERFUL
EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING IN A DISASTER OR IN THE RESPONSE
TO BE DIRECTED IN A WAY THAT UNIFIES ALL THE SURVIVORS IN THE
COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
RITUALS OR MEMORIALS RESTORE THE FABRIC OF EVERYDAY LIFE AND HELP
US GET A SENSE OF PLACE AGAIN IN THE MORAL UNIVERSE.
AND ALSO, A PREARRANGED RESPONDER AND FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK
NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE FOR RESPONDERS BEFORE A BIG DISASTER RESPONSE.
THIS SUPPORT SYSTEM SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH THE PARTICULAR
DEPARTMENT IN MIND, AND YOU KNOW IN THE PAST FIREFIGHTERS, YOU
KNOW, HAD A VERY INFORMAL PEER SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT WAS LIKE FAMILY.
AND IT SERVED VERY WELL.
BUT AS THEY FOUND OUT IN
VERY LARGE-SCALE EVENT OVERBURDENED THE TRADITIONAL INFORMAL
SOCIAL NETWORK.
AND WHAT THEY DID IN
WROTE THE McKINSEY REPORT, AND THEY REPORTED THAT YOU NEEDED
AHEAD OF TIME TO SET UP THE SUPPORT NETWORK BY HAVING A PLANNING
AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR THE SUPPORT NETWORK AND MAKE IT UP OF
DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE UNIT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, PAM, FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
JIM, CAN YOU TELL US BRIEFLY ABOUT THE EPA PEER SUPPORT AND CISM
TEAM THAT WAS SET UP FOR THE OSCs?
>> SURE.
EPA SET UP A NATIONWIDE CISM TEAM, ONE TEAM ENCOMPASSING ALL TEN
REGIONS FOR EPA.
AND THEY BROUGHT TOGETHER TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM THE MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND THEN THE PEER OSC FOLKS LIKE MYSELF.
THE OSCs LIKE MYSELF DO NOT HAVE THE MEDICAL TRAINING OR THE
BACKGROUND, BUT WE DO KNOW THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OSC
JOB AND THE STRESS.
SO ONE TEAM WAS COMBINED FROM ALL OVER THE REGIONS TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THE STRESS SITUATIONS WITH THE OSCs.
AGAIN, THIS IS A FIRST AID TYPE OF ROLE FOR US AS OSCs, AND WE
DEFINITELY ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THE OTHER OSCs IN OUR PROGRAM TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND IN TERMS OF AN AWARENESS STRESS
AND HOW THE EFFECT MIGHT BE TO THEM AND THOSE FOLKS THAT WORK FOR THEM.
>> I GUESS WE SHOULD SAY OSC STANDS FOR ON-SITE COORDINATOR.
>> ON-SCENE COORDINATOR.
>> ON-SCENE COORDINATOR.
ALL RIGHT.
PAM?
>> OKAY.
FINALLY, LET'S JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TURNING ON THE
RELAXATION RESPONSE THAT I PROMISED EARLIER IN THE BROADCAST.
ONE WAY TO TURN OFF THAT RELAXATION RESPONSE, OR TURN IT ON, IS
TO TRAIN IN INDIVIDUAL STRESS MANAGEMENT.
THIS LETS YOU LEARN HOW TO CONTROL YOUR BODY'S STRESS RESPONSE.
YOU CAN DO THIS BY LEARNING VARIOUS METHODS OF RELAXATION TRAINING.
RELAXATION CAN BE ACHIEVED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF WAYS.
YOU CAN LEARN MEDITATION.
YOU CAN LEARN EXERCISE FORMS LIKE TAI CHI OR YOGA.
THERE ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL METHODS LIKE PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION OR
YOU CAN TAKE THINGS LIKE BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING.
ALL OF THESE RELAXATION METHODS TURN OFF THAT STRESS RESPONSE AND
TURN THE BODY'S NATURAL COUNTERBALANCING RELAXATION
EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A
SO THEY ARE IN A FUNNY WAY GOOD QUICK WAYS OF RELAXING.
OTHER STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES INCLUDE JOURNAL WRITING,
EXERCISING LIKE WE'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, AND PROPER NUTRITION.
>> THANK YOU, PAM.
NOW, AS WE MOVE INTO SEGMENT FOUR, WE'LL LEARN ABOUT THE VARIOUS
WAYS TO HELP THE PUBLIC DURING A DISASTER.
UPON COMPLETION OF SEGMENT FOUR, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
STRATEGIES FOR ASSISTING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH THEIR
DISASTER RELATED STRESS.
PSYCHOLOGICALLY DURING EMERGENCIES?
>> FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE ASKING MORE AND MORE OF US.
WE AS AN INDUSTRY DON'T HAVE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF PSYCHOLOGY
FOR OURSELVES AND OUR PATIENTS.
FROM LEARNING ABOUT CISM DEFUSINGS TO LEARNING HOW TO DECOMPRESS
OURSELVES, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW AND WHEN TO INTERVENE
PSYCHOLOGICALLY.
IT'S PART OF OUR NEW JOB DESCRIPTION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO PAM FOR A DISCUSSION OF HOW FIRST
RESPONDERS CAN PROVIDE BRIEF PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP TO THE PUBLIC
DURING DISASTERS.
PAM?
>> THANKS, KYSA.
FIRST, IN ORDER TO HELP, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW HOW PEOPLE ACT DURING
A DISASTER.
HUMAN BEHAVIOR DURING EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS DEPENDS ON MANY THINGS.
FIRST, WHAT KIND OF DISASTER IT IS -- IS IT NATURAL?
IS IT A TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTER?
IS IT A TERRORIST ATTACK?
HOW INTENSE OR BAD A DISASTER IS IT?
HOW PEOPLE WILL BEHAVE ALSO DEPENDS ON WHEN YOU SEE THEM, DURING
OR AFTER THE DISASTER.
ALSO, OBVIOUSLY, CHILDREN REACT DIFFERENTLY THAN ADULTS.
THERE MAY ALSO BE GENDER AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN HOW PEOPLE
RESPOND TO DISASTER.
HERE ARE SOME GENERALIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE TRUE,
ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR DURING DISASTERS.
FIRST, LET'S DEBUNK THE PANIC MYTH.
YOU OFTEN READ THAT PEOPLE PANIC DURING DISASTERS, PANIC BEING
UNCONTROLLED IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR.
IN FACT, DURING MOST DISASTERS PANIC IS RARE AND PEOPLE COPE WELL.
PANIC IN PEOPLE TENDS TO OCCUR ONLY IN CROWDED SETTINGS, WITH
FIRES AND WHERE ESCAPE IS DIFFICULT IN A SITUATION.
SECOND, MOST PEOPLE DURING A DISASTER ALTHOUGH THEY COPE WELL
WILL SHOW EMOTION AND STRESS AND SOME MAY EVEN GET VERY UPSET.
THIS IS NOT BLIND IRRATIONAL PANIC, THOUGH BUT SIMPLY HEIGHTENED,
YOU KNOW, EMOTIONS.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS
THIRD, HOW PEOPLE REACT TO AN EMERGENCY DEPENDS A LOT ON THEIR CULTURE.
BUT IN GENERAL, MOST PEOPLE WILL SHOW A MIX OF PHYSICAL AND
EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS OF STRESS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
AND IN SOME PEOPLE SOME OF THE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF STRESS,
DEPENDING ON WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THEM, MAY BE AS SEVERE AS SHOCK
IF THEY ARE JUST -- HAVE LEARNED OF A DEATH OR A SUDDEN INJURY.
ALSO, REMEMBER THAT DURING A DISASTER, THE SUDDEN SHOCK CAN
TRIGGER HEART ATTACKS IN SUSCEPTIBLE INDIVIDUALS, AND THE STRESS
IN THE AFTERMATH CAN WORSEN MEDICAL SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS ARTHRITIS
OR IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME.
>> THANK YOU, PAM.
SO, IN OTHER WORDS, MOST PEOPLE WILL BE SHOWING SIGNS OF STRESS
DURING A DISASTER, BUT IT'S RARE TO SEE ACTUAL PANIC.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S RIGHT.
MOST PEOPLE WILL BE SHOWING SIGNS OF STRESS DURING AND SHORTLY
AFTER THE DISASTER, AND BECAUSE OF THAT THEY NEED PRACTICAL
ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM RELIEVE THEIR STRESS.
AND THEY ALSO NEED THAT EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT TO HELP THEM RECOVER.
SO REALLY THERE IS A TECHNIQUE THAT PEOPLE NEED DURING A
DISASTER, AND WHAT THEY NEED IS CALLED PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID.
>> WELL, THEN, HOW DO YOU PERFORM PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID FOR
ADULTS IF YOU ARE AN ON-SCENE RESPONDER?
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, BE SURE THAT YOU AND THE SURVIVOR ARE
SAFE, AND THAT THE PERSON IS MEDICALLY STABLE BEFORE
ADMINISTERING TO THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS.
OBVIOUSLY, ADEQUATE MEDICAL TRIAGE IS ESSENTIAL, MAKING SURE A
PERSON'S SYMPTOMS ARE NOT MEDICAL BUT STRESS-RELATED.
THESE PRINCIPLES OF ON-SCENE PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID WERE
DEVELOPED BY A REGISTERED NURSE NAMED DIANE MYERS.
JUST THREE WORDS TO REMEMBER --
PROTECT, DIRECT, AND CONNECT.
PROTECT -- THE FIRST STEP IS TO PROTECT THE SURVIVOR FROM FURTHER
EXPOSURE TO THE DISASTER SCENE.
FOR INSTANCE, PLACE A PHYSICAL BARRIER OR YOUR BODY SO THAT THE
SURVIVOR'S VIEW OF THE SCENE IS BLOCKED.
AND ALSO, RESPECT THE SURVIVOR'S DIGNITY BY PROVIDING COVERING
FOR THEM IF THEY NEED IT.
AND PROTECT THE SURVIVOR FROM INTRUSION BY THE MEDIA AND
ONLOOKERS.
BE WARM AND GENUINE.
THIS ATTITUDE SHOWS RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, AND YOUR
PROTECTING PRESENCE WILL BEGIN TO HELP CALM AND REASSURE THE SURVIVOR.
>>
DURING A DISASTER.
>> SURE.
I USE WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM MY TRAINING WITH MY PATIENTS ON-CALL.
I KNOW WHAT FEAR FEELS LIKE, AND NOW, WHEN I SEE THAT ON A
TO GUIDE THEM.
I'LL TELL THEM THAT THEIR FEAR IS
IT SHOULD GET BETTER WITH TIME.
AND, IF THEIR FEELINGS OVER TIME DON'T GET BETTER, THERE ARE
PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CARE AND THAT WANT TO HELP.
AND WHEN THEY'RE READY, THEY JUST NEED TO ASK.
>> OKAY.
AND PAM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRST STEP OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID.
WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND AND THE THIRD?
>> THE SECOND STEP IS DIRECT.
AND THIS IS COMMON SENSE.
YOU SHOULD DIRECT WALKING SURVIVORS AWAY FROM THE SITE OF
DESTRUCTION AND DANGER TO SAFETY.
ESPECIALLY, BE SURE TO DIRECT THEM AWAY FROM AREAS WITH SEVERELY
INJURED SURVIVORS OR THE DEAD.
ANOTHER PART OF DIRECTING SURVIVORS IS PROVIDING THEM CUES.
TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU DO, AND BRIEFLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
PROVIDING GOOD INFORMATION AT SITES HELPS CALM AND ORIENT
CONFUSED AND DAZED SURVIVORS.
BE SURE TO BE AS GENTLE AND SOOTHING AS POSSIBLE WITH PEOPLE IN
AN EMERGENCY.
VICTIMS CAN BE ON SENSORY OVERLOAD, SO PROVIDE SIMPLE CUES.
ALSO WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH A PERSON MEDICALLY TELL THEM WHAT
YOU'RE DOING SUCH AS PREPARING THEM FOR TRANSPORT, GIVING THEM
SOME MEDICATION OR TRANSFERRING THEM TO ANOTHER SITE OR
CAREGIVER.
PROVIDE GENUINE, GOOD INFORMATION.
HOWEVER, IF POSSIBLE IT'S BETTER TO AVOID PROVIDING VERY BAD NEWS
LIKE DEATH NOTIFICATION ON A SCENE.
THE THIRD STEP IS CONNECT.
THIS MEANS HAVING SOMEONE WITH THE SURVIVORS THROUGHOUT THE
RESCUE EFFORT.
HAVING SOMEONE AROUND PROVIDES COMFORT.
WHENEVER POSSIBLE, RECONNECT SURVIVORS WITH THEIR FAMILY AND
FRIENDS IF THAT'S POSSIBLE AND EVACUATE THEM TOGETHER.
BUT ALSO IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET PEOPLE TO A SAFE, SECURE OFF-SITE
PLACE AND LEAVE IT UP TO THE FOLKS THERE TO CONNECT THEM TO
APPROPRIATE RESOURCES AND REFERRALS.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO PERFORM PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID WITH CHILDREN?
AND, IF SO, HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM WORKING WITH ADULTS?
>> IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID WITH KIDS, AND IT
IS DIFFERENT FROM DOING IT WITH ADULTS.
YOU HAVE TO WORK DIFFERENTLY WITH CHILDREN.
LET'S BRIEFLY REVIEW HOW TO PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT ON
SCENE FOR A CHILD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, BE SURE THAT YOU AND THE CHILD ARE SAFE, AND
THE CHILD IS MEDICALLY STABLE BEFORE ADMINISTERING TO THEIR
PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS.
AGAIN, THINK OF TRIAGE.
BE SURE THAT ALL THEIR MEDICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH.
THE STEPS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID WITH CHILDREN ARE THE SAME
AS IN ADULTS -- PROTECT, DIRECT, CONNECT --
THOUGH HOW YOU WORK WITH CHILDREN IS DIFFERENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE FIRST STEP, PROTECT, FOR THE RESPONDER ON
THE FRONT LINE PROTECTING CHILDREN MEANS PHYSICALLY REMOVING THEM
FROM THAT HAZARDOUS SCENE AS SOON AS SAFELY POSSIBLE.
VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, AGES 1 TO 6, MAY SUFFER FROM THAT FREEZE
REACTION BECAUSE OF THEIR MENTAL AGITATION AND THE FACT THAT THEY
MAY BE OVERWHELMED.
KIDS CAN ALSO TEND TO HIDE IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, THE VERY
LITTLE ONES.
THEY MAY BE INCAPABLE OF THINKING VERY CLEARLY OR HELPING
THEMSELVES.
THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TALK, AND THEY MAY BE VERY CONFUSED ABOUT
WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
ALSO, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PROTECT THE CHILD FROM REMINDERS OF
THE DISASTER SCENE, THOSE SMELLS, SIGHTS, AND NOISE THAT BOTHER
ADULTS VERY MUCH BOTHER CHILDREN.
AND ALSO, PROTECT THEM FROM CONTACT WITH ONLOOKERS AND THE MEDIA.
REUNITE THE CHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE SECOND STEP IS DIRECT.
YOU DO THIS BY TELLING THE CHILD WHO YOU ARE, AND WHAT YOU DO.
"I'M A POLICEMAN, FIREFIGHTER, DOCTOR."
AND HOW YOU WILL BE HELPING THEM.
PROVIDE KIND BUT FIRM DIRECTIONS TO THE CHILD.
REMEMBER, THEY'LL BE CONFUSED AND THEY'LL NEED MORE SUPERVISION
THAN AN ADULT.
AND BE SURE THAT YOU GIVE VERY GENTLE, SIMPLE, AND CONCRETE
DIRECTIONS SUCH AS "PLEASE GO AND SIT OVER THERE."
KEEP IT SHORT.
ALSO PROVIDE SIMPLE UPDATES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE CHILDREN
SO THEY CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION.
THIS MAY HELP CALM THEM.
THEN, FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANT, CONNECT.
WHENEVER POSSIBLE, EVACUATE THE CHILD WITH THEIR PARENTS OR LEGAL
GUARDIANS.
IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, MOVE THE CHILD TO THE AGENCY THAT HAS
THE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARE OF MINOR CHILDREN AT A DISASTER.
>> AND SOMETIMES THE FIRST RESPONDER IS ALSO A DISASTER VICTIM.
SO IN ADDITION TO RESPONDING TO AN EMERGENCY, YOU HAVE TO TAKE
CARE OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO MAY BE DISASTER VICTIMS.
PAM, COULD YOU PLEASE END THIS SEGMENT WITH A BRIEF EXPLANATION
ON HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS IF THEY HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN A DISASTER?
>> OF COURSE.
THANK YOU.
I'D BE GLAD TO.
HERE ARE SOME VERY GENERAL TIPS IN HOW TO HELP FRIENDS AND FAMILY
RECOVER FROM A DISASTER.
FIRST OF ALL, IT REALLY HELPS JUST TO BE THERE FOR THEM.
LISTEN.
BE AWARE ALSO, I THINK AS FIRST RESPONDERS WE THINK WE HAVE TO
HAVE ANSWERS.
BE AWARE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE PERFECT ANSWER.
LISTENING IS A POWERFUL WAY TO HELP.
ANOTHER WAY TO HELP IS TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL AID DURING TIMES OF STRAIN.
FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU'RE FAMILY HAS HAD SOME KIND OF IMMEDIATE
EMERGENCY OR MEDICAL NEED MAKE SURE THEY'VE BEEN TENDED TO AND
GET THEM ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE ABOUT OTHER FAMILY OR FRIENDS.
THEN GET THEM TO A SAFE AND SECURE PLACE OFF-SITE, PERHAPS WITH
RELATIVES OR YOUR OWN HOME.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THOSE DAILY ROUTINES ONCE YOU GET THEM
OFF SITE, MAKE SURE THEY'VE EATEN AND HAVE GOTTEN ENOUGH TO DRINK
AND ARE COMFORTABLE.
AND ALSO IF YOU ARE HAVING TO MOVE, BE SURE YOU BRING MEDICINES
AND OTHER NECESSARY ITEMS FROM HOME AS WELL AS A SMALL NUMBER OF
FAMILIAR COMFORT ITEMS LIKE A FAVORITE COFFEE CUP FOR ADULTS OR A
TEDDY BEAR FOR CHILDREN.
THAT FIRST NIGHT OFF-SITE MAKE SURE THEY GET SOME SLEEP IN A
PRIVATE SPACE.
AND THEN IT'S SIMPLE.
JUST PROVIDE REGULAR EVERYDAY COMPANIONSHIP.
HELP THEM RESTORE THE DAILY RITUALS AND ROUTINES.
THOSE ARE VERY HEALING.
SUCH AS A CUP OF COFFEE IN THE MORNING OR THE PAPER.
ONCE THE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY HAS PASSED AND THE SYMPTOMS OF SHOCK
AND CONFUSION HAVE SUBSIDED OVER A FEW DAYS, MOST ADULTS WILL
ENTER THE PHASE OF ASSESSING THEIR LOSSES AND BEGINNING TO
REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
IN A PSYCHOLOGICAL PHASE OF WORKING THROUGH THE MEANING OF THE
EXPERIENCE.
NOW THE PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE FROM YOU PROBABLY CONSISTS OF
HELPING THEM RECOVER THEIR OLD LIVES LIKE FINDING A CAR OR A NEW
PLACE TO LIVE.
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO PRACTICALLY WILL HELP THEM PICK UP
THE
JOB AND FAMILY ROUTINE.
ALSO, THROUGHOUT RECOVERY BE SURE TO KEEP LISTENING TO YOUR FAMILY.
AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO LOOK FOR AND GENTLY CONFRONT
SELF-DEFEATING BEHAVIORS SUCH AS INCREASED USE OF DRUGS OR
ALCOHOL OR IF YOU SEE ANY KIND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOCKED RECOVERY SYMPTOMS.
MAKE SURE THEY GO FOR PROFESSIONAL IF NEEDED.
BUT MOST PEOPLE WILL RECOVER WITH JUST SIMPLE ASSISTANCE.
>> WELL, SO FAR, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HELPING THE ADULTS IN YOUR
LIFE AFTER A DISASTER.
HOW DO YOU HELP CHILDREN DURING AND AFTER A DISASTER?
>> KYSA, I'D LIKE TO GIVE SOME POINTERS IN PARENTING CHILDREN
AFTER A DISASTER.
FIRST OF ALL, HOW A CHILD RESPONDS TO DISASTER DEPENDS ON MANY
THINGS AND THEY RESPOND DIFFERENTLY THAN ADULTS.
ONE FACTOR, AS IN ADULTS, IS THE DROGUE OF EXPOSURE A CHILD HAS
TO A DISASTER WILL DETERMINE THE IMPACT.
HOW CLOSE WERE THEY TO THE EVENT?
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE PERSONALLY INJURED, OR KNEW SOMEONE WHO
WAS INJURED OR KILLED.
ALSO, IN THIS MEDIA AGE, EXPOSURE TO THE EVENT BY TELEVISION HAS
BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A HARMFUL EFFECT ON VERY SMALL CHILDREN.
ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT VARIABLE IS THEIR AGE AND HOW THEY RESPOND.
CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT AGES UNDERSTAND THE WORLD VERY DIFFERENTLY.
OBVIOUSLY A 2-YEAR-OLD AND A 14-YEAR-OLD WILL NOT PROCESS A
DISASTER IN THE SAME WAY AT ALL.
DURING DISASTERS VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AGES 1 TO 6 TEND TO BE BOTH
OVERWHELMED BOTH EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY.
AND AFTER A DISASTER IT TAKES LONGER FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN TO
WORK OUT AND EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED, AND THEY WILL
NEED ADULT HELP IN DOING SO.
ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING THAT PARENTS OF VERY SMALL CHILDREN CAN
DO IS LIMIT THE TV VIEWING OF THE EVENT.
IT IS FELT THAT SMALL CHILDREN SHOULDN'T WATCH THE EVENT ON TV.
BUT IF THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE ADULTS SHOULD BE PRESENT WHEN THEY ARE
VIEWING IT.
ALSO, BE AWARE THAT YOUNG CHILDREN WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THAT TV
REPLAYS OF THE EVENTS ARE RERUNS, AND THEY WILL THINK THAT A NEW
DISASTER IS HAPPENING EVERY TIME THEY SEE IT ON THE TV EVEN IF
IT'S THE SAME EVENT.
YOU NEED TO TELL THEM OTHERWISE, THOUGH.
AFTER A DISASTER, BOTH YOUNG AND SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WILL TEND TO
RE-EXPERIENCE THE EVENT IN DREAMS AND HAVE SCARY DREAMS JUST LIKE
ADULTS DO.
THE CHILDREN MAY BECOME MORE CLINGY AND FEARFUL AS BEDTIME
APPROACHES, AND MAY WANT TO SLEEP WITH YOU.
THEY'LL KIND OF REGRESS IN THEIR BEHAVIOR.
CHILDREN MAY ALSO STARTLE EASILY AND BE JUMPY, AND ANYTHING THAT
REMINDS THEM OF THE TRAGEDY WILL UPSET THEM AGAIN.
AFTER A
ANGRY OUTBURSTS AT VERY SLIGHT PROVOCATIONS.
BOTH YOUNG AND SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN MAY EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS NOT
BY WORDS, BUT BY GETTING SICK, BY HAVING BODILY SYMPTOMS SUCH AS HEADACHE.
REMEMBER, AFTER AN EVENT CHILDREN WILL WANT TO FREQUENTLY CHECK
IN WITH YOU, THEIR PARENTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY TO
MAKE SURE YOU'RE OKAY AND ANOTHER DISASTER HAS NOT HAPPENED TO YOU.
>> PAM, WHAT ABOUT OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS, FOR INSTANCE?
>> TEENAGERS TEND TO HAVE A MORE MATURE, ADULT VIEW OF THE EVENT,
AND THEY CAN HANDLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AN EVENT THAN YOUNGER
CHILDREN CAN.
THEY HAVE EMOTIONAL RESPONSES SIMILAR TO ADULTS SUCH AS GUILT
OVER SURVIVAL.
THEY CAN GET SAD OVER WHAT'S HAPPENED, AND THEY CAN GET NUMB.
HOWEVER, TEENAGERS BEING TEENAGERS TEND TO HANDLE THEIR EMOTIONS
BY ACTING ON THEM AND THEY CAN EITHER DO THINGS LIKE WITHDRAWING
OR HAVE ACTING OUT BEHAVIORS SUCH AS GET ANGRY AND GETTING IN
ARGUMENTS WITH YOU.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO GENTLY POINT OUT TO THE TEENAGER THE LINK
BETWEEN THE EMOTIONS THEY'RE FEELING AND THE BEHAVIORS THEY'RE
EXPRESSING.
>> I GUESS THE NEXT LOGICAL QUESTION IS WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP
CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPRESSING A LOT OF STRESS DUE TO DISASTER?
>> THERE ARE SOME SIMPLE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PEOPLE
AND HELP CHILDREN WITH THEIR FEELINGS AND BEHAVIORS.
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS MAINTAIN A CHILD'S ROUTINE AND ORDER.
CHILDREN ARE CREATURES OF ROUTINE.
THEY NEED TO BE KEPT TO THEIR REGULAR SLEEPING AND EATING
ROUTINES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE IN A STRANGE PLACE AFTER THE DISASTER.
A PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENT MAKES CHILDREN FEEL SAFE, AND IT CALMS
THEM DOWN.
IF OLDER CHILDREN ARE HAVING TROUBLE GOING TO SLEEP ALONE, YOU
CAN ADD A NIGHTLIGHT OR ALLOW THEM TO READ, YOU KNOW, BEFORE BED
SHORTLY OR PUT MUSIC ON, AND THIS WILL HELP EASE THE TRANSITION TO SLEEP.
BE SURE TO TALK WITH THE CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUR FAMILY.
CHILDREN MAY HAVE A CONFUSED EMOTION ABOUT THE DISASTER, AND
TALKING WITH THEM WHEN THEY ARE READY AND GIVING AGE-APPROPRIATE
ANSWERS CAN HELP GIVE THEM A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED.
BE CAREFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH SMALL CHILDREN LIKE TODDLERS UP TO
AGE 6 OR 7.
DON'T GIVE THEM TOO MUCH INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO TAKE IT ALL IN AND THIS JUST ADDS TO THEIR CONFUSION.
AND ALSO, BE SURE TO TALK WITH CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE FEELING.
REMEMBER, VERY YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER AGE 6 MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO
NAME THEIR FEELINGS AND HAVE TROUBLE RECOGNIZING THEM.
GIVE THEM A NAME FOR THEIR FEELINGS, SAY YOU LOOK SAD OR YOU LOOK
ANGRY OR ARE YOU SCARED OR ARE YOU TROUBLED?
KEEP THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FEELINGS SHORT AND SIMPLE, AGAIN,
TO AVOID OVERWHELMING YOUNG CHILDREN.
ALSO YOUNG CHILDREN TEND TO WORK THROUGH THEIR FEELINGS BY
PLAYING DISASTER.
BE SURE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE WAY THEY PLAY.
IF IT KEEPS REVOLVING AROUND SCARY OR HURTFUL THINGS AND THEIR
DISASTER PLAY DOESN'T SEEM TO END BUT KEEPS GOING ON AND ON YOU
MIGHT WANT TO STEER THE CHILD AWAY FROM THIS ACTIVITY.
OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS MAY NEED YOUR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND
REASSURANCE THAT WHAT THEY'RE FEELING IS
WITH TIME, AND BE SURE TO REFER TO RESOURCES IN THE MANUAL FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION ON HELPING CHILDREN AND FAMILY WITH
DISASTERS.
REMEMBER, THIS COURSE IS JUST A GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND ALL OUR
TIPS HAVE BEEN VERY GENERAL.
THERE ARE MORE RESOURCES ON THIS AND OTHER TOPICS FROM THIS
PROGRAM IN OUR MANUAL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND THANK YOU, PAM.
NOW FOR THE REST OF THE WEBCAST WE'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT YOU SUBMITTED.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED DURING TODAY'S WEBCAST,
WE WILL POST ALL OF OUR ANSWERS ON THE WEBSITE ADDRESS, WHICH WE
WILL GIVE YOU LATER.
LET'S GET STARTED.
OUR FIRST HERE IS OUR FIRST QUESTION.
QUESTION YOU SAY IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PARTICIPATE IN MEMORIALS.
IS THIS DEPENDENT ON THE PERSON?
I WONDER IF IT MAY BE MORE HARMFUL THAN HELPFUL TO SOME FIRST
RESPONDERS AS IT SEEMS TO PROLONG OR INTENSIFY THE EMOTIONAL PART
OF THE STRESS RESPONSE?
AND SCOTT, I THINK YOUR NAME IS ON THIS QUESTION.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND OUT DURING THE "
DISASTER RESPONSE IS ABOUT 12 DAYS INTO THE RESPONSE IT WAS
DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A MEMORIAL FOR THE VICTIMS.
THE ASTRONAUTS THERE IN
THE DISASTER FIELD OFFICE THAT WAS SET UP FOR THE ENTIRE RESPONSE.
AND THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA, ALONG WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES, CAME TO THE MEMORIAL, AND ALL THE RESPONDERS
-- IT WAS LIMITED TO JUST THE RESPONDERS.
WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEMORIAL, AND I THINK WHAT IT
ACCOMPLISHED WAS IT ACTUALLY UNIFIED ALL OUR EMOTIONS AND KIND OF
BONDED ALL THE RESPONDERS TOGETHER, AND IN MANY RESPECTS IT KIND
OF TURNED OUR EMOTIONS OR THOUGHTS AWAY FROM THE GRISLY TASK AT
HAND AND ENABLE US,, AGAIN, TO KIND OF COME TOGETHER AND KIND OF
BE ABLE TO FORGE ON INTO THE INCIDENT.
>>
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS?
ARE THERE ANY STATISTICS OR STUDIES ON THIS THAT YOU KNOW OF?
>> THE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS THAT I SAW WAS 2.3, THAT 3 PEOPLE
OUT OF 10 IN THE FIRE SERVICE WOULD DEVELOP IT.
PAM WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A GOOD IDEA ON --
>> THERE AREN'T A
AND ACTUALLY, IT DEPENDS ON THE DISASTER.
NATURAL DISASTERS TEND TO HAVE VERY FEW PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS.
MOST PEOPLE COPE FAIRLY WELL WITH IT.
THEY FOUND WITH TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS THAT AS A STRESS OF A
DISASTER GOES UP YOU SEE MORE IMPACT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WITH A TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTER YOU MAY SEE MAYBE, YOU
KNOW, 5% OR 10% OF THE PEOPLE MAY HAVE SOME KIND OF SERIOUS
REACTION TO IT, BUT TERRORISM IS ACTUALLY THE WORST AND CAUSES
THE MOST PSYCHOLOGICAL CASUALTIES.
THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF RESEARCH DONE ON THIS.
AND THEY FOUND THAT AFTER 9/11 THAT ABOUT 25% OF PEOPLE WHO WERE
IN THAT PART OF
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS, BUT THAT WAS SHORTLY AFTER, AND
IT TENDED TO RESOLVE WITH TIME.
SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE PERSON'S EXPERIENCE IN THE DISASTER,
WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM, HOW SEVERELY IMPACTED THEY ARE, WHETHER
THERE'S A REALLY SERIOUS IMPACT.
I THINK THE TAKE-HOME MESSAGE IS THAT MOST PEOPLE COPE WELL AND
ARE VERY RESILIENT BUT IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT IF THERE
ARE COMPLICATIONS THAT THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN GO AND DO AND
PEOPLE THAT WILL HELP YOU WITH THEM.
>> MM-HMM.
NOW, THIS E-MAIL IS FROM
STATEMENT, "I'M MORE LIKELY NOT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT I'M IN
TROUBLE AS I WANT TO KEEP MY JOB AND I FEAR THAT IF I SEEK
PSYCHIATRIC CARE I WILL BE LABELED OR PUT ON MEDICATION THAT WILL
INTERFERE WITH MY ABILITY TO DO MY JOB."
AND THEN THE QUESTION IS, "WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?"
ANYBODY.
>> MY ANSWER THAT I HAVE IS THAT'S WHEN I SAID EARLIER YOU SHOULD
HAVE MORE MONEY AND MORE MARGIN OF MONEY, YOU CAN PAY FOR THAT
UNDER AN ASSUMED NAME.
NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET.
>> BUT AREN'T THOSE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO
PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY IN PART?
>> YES, THEY ARE.
WE HAVE ONE AT THE EPA.
AND YOU'RE GIVEN FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT SESSIONS THAT YOU CAN GO TO.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THIS A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF -- MAYBE
NOT THE RIGHT THING TO SAY, BUT THE OLD SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP WHERE YOU DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT YOUR
EMOTIONS, YOUR FEELINGS, YOU JUST DID YOUR JOB AND WENT THROUGH IT.
YOU KNOW, EVEN FROM
THERE WAS NOT A
AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY IT'S A MACHO IMAGE OR NOT, BUT THERE'S
THAT TENDENCY TO THINK THAT YOU CAN HANDLE IT YOURSELF.
AND IT'S ONLY AFTER, YOU KNOW, YEARS OF REALIZING THAT THE
PROCESSES THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT UNDER CISM AND THE STRESS-RELATED
INCIDENTS, THAT THERE ARE METHODS TO REDUCE, YOU KNOW, THE DAMAGE
TO THE BODY AND TO THE MIND THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
>> PAM, WOULD YOU SAY RISK IT BECAUSE OF SOMEONE'S FEAR THAT THEY
MAY LOSE THEIR JOB, OR DO YOU SAY GO AND GET THE HELP THAT YOU NEED?
>> WELL, I GUESS THERE IS STIGMA AGAINST PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS, WHETHER IT'S JUST GENETICALLY OR WHETHER
IT'S BECAUSE OF TRAUMA, AND THAT'S A DEEP SHAME.
AND IT DOES KEEP PEOPLE FROM SEEKING HELP.
I THINK THAT
CONTROL ACCESS TO YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY IF YOU DO GO SEEK HELP.
I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE -- I WOULD BE THAT YVES TO SAY YES, GO
SEEK HELP AND DESPITE THE STIGMA AND KNOW THAT THERE WON'T BE
CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE, BUT THAT SHOULDN'T STOP
YOU FROM SEEKING HELP.
IT JUST MEANS YOU NEED WISE IN THE PEOPLE YOU TRUST WITH TELLING
ABOUT HAVING A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDER.
BUT IT SHOULDN'T STOP YOU FROM GOING.
AND YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU SEE A PRIVATE PSYCHOLOGIST
OR PSYCHIATRIST THAT IT IS VERY CONFIDENTIAL.
>> SCOTT, YOU ACTUALLY REFERENCED THIS IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
IT'S FROM
ARE
IN THE FIELD?
WHAT IF THIS BECOMES A PREOCCUPATION WHICH INTERFERES WITH
FUNCTIONING ON THE JOB?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE WAYS WE FOUND THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, DEAL
WITH THE ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACKING IS WHEN YOU GET BACK OFF OF A
RESPONSE, YOU TRY TO ENGAGE YOUR SUPERVISORS AND SENIOR-LEVEL
MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS IN WHAT'S CALLED A HOT
DECISIONS YOU MADE IN THE FIELD AND WHAT THE REASONING WAS BEHIND IT.
BUT YOU SHOULD NEVER LET ANY OF THE SECOND-GUESSING DRIVE YOUR
FUTURE DECISIONS ON WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE OUT IN THE FIELD.
>> A QUESTION FROM
DO YOU THINK A FIRST RESPONDER ALWAYS NEEDS TO TAKE SOME DOWN
TIME AFTER A TRAUMATIC EVENT, OR IS IT BETTER FOR SOME TO KEEP ON
WORKING
>> I THINK THERE'S -- YOU SHOULD ALWAYS EVALUATE AND IT SHOULD BE
PART OF OUR TOOLS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IN OUR TOOL BAG TO HAVE A
GROUP THAT YOU CAN GO TO AND TALK TO WHETHER IT'S A BIG DEAL OR
SMALL DEAL TO TOUCH BASE AND HAVE THAT LIGHTHOUSE OFF IN THE
DISTANCE, KIND OF A REFERENCE POINT OF WHERE YOU ARE AND WHERE
YOU'RE GOING.
>> AND IT MAY DEPEND ON HOW IT'S AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY.
YOU KNOW, IF IT'S REALLY IMPACTED YOU, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO GO
BACK TO SOME OF THOSE FOLKS IN THE
UP THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.
SO YOU MAY NEED SOME TIME OFF.
BUT THE CONVERSE OF IT IS YOU MAY WANT TO GO BACK TO THOSE PEOPLE
THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT CAN TALK AND RELIEVE SOME OF THIS
EMOTIONAL BURDEN THAT YOU MAY BE CARRYING.
>> IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL THING AS PAM KIND OF SAID DURING HER
PRESENTATION.
DIFFERENT PEOPLE REACT DIFFERENTLY.
>> AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BIG THING OR A SMALL THING, IT CAN
BE AN ALWAYS TYPE OF THING, THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR IT TO
GET TO BE A BIG PROBLEM.
EARLY ON YOU TOUCH BASE AND SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT ON THE SCALE OF 1 TO 10.
>> THIS QUESTION IS POSED TO PAM.
IT'S FROM
"YOU MENTIONED THAT AN INEXPERIENCED RESPONDER SHOULD BE PAIRED
WITH OR SEEK SUPPORT FROM A MORE EXPERIENCED RESPONDER WHEN
DEALING WITH GRIEVING AND ANXIOUS FAMILY MEMBERS OF VICTIMS.
WHAT IF NO ONE IS AVAILABLE?
ARE THERE TECHNIQUES FOR THE SINGLE RESPONDER?"
>> WELL, THERE ARE.
AND ACTUALLY, MOST OF US, ESPECIALLY IN THE OLD DAYS, WERE
UNTRAINED SINGLE RESPONDERS GOING OUT AND DEALING WITH GRIEVING
AND ANXIOUS FAMILIES.
AND I THINK WITH THAT IS IF YOU CAN GET TRAINING AHEAD OF TIME
AND LOOK UP SOME OF THE DEATH NOTIFICATION TECHNIQUES THAT WE
HAVE IN OUR BOOK, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
IF NOT, DO THE HUMAN THING, WHICH TO ME IS TO BE POLITE AND
SENSITIVE WITH THE FAMILIES, AND KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON,
EVEN THOUGH TRAINING WILL HELP YOU, THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN TALK
TO A GRIEVING AND ANXIOUS FAMILY AND DO WELL.
IT'S JUST EASIER ON YOU IF YOU'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING.
>> FROM
SITUATION WHERE A PARENT WILL NOT LEAVE A DANGEROUS AREA
SECONDARY TO A DECEASED CHILD WHO IS TRAPPED AND CANNOT BE MOVED?"
NOT EVERYONE AT ONCE.
>> THE INCIDENT COMMANDER IS IN CHARGE OF THE SCENE.
AND FOR SOME REASON AS I UNDERSTAND IT WE HAVE A DECEASED PERSON
DOWN ON SCENE AND THE FAMILY MEMBER IS CLOSE BY AND WANTS TO BE
AROUND IT, I THINK WE'LL BE SYMPATHETIC TO THAT, BUT THE INCIDENT
COMMANDER AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY FOLKS, THEIR PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE, INCLUDING THAT
PARTICULAR FAMILY MEMBER.
SO YOU DON'T REACT JUST OUT OF INSTINCT ON THESE THINGS, BUT YOU
TRY TO PROTECT THE WHOLE SITUATION AND GET THAT FAMILY MEMBER TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY AND THAT WE WANT TO TAKE
CARE OF THIS PARTICULAR PERSON BUT WE DO THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IS
TO PROTECT EVERYONE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
>> SENSITIVITY.
SOMETIMES IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE IN DEALING
WITH THESE SENSITIVE SITUATIONS.
>> THAT'S A TOUGH SITUATION.
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD IT.
I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS A TIME PRESSURE TO
SEPARATE A FAMILY MEMBER FROM A DECEASED PERSON.
USUALLY, YOU HAVE TIME TO TALK TO THEM.
AND IF YOU DON'T, THAT WOULD BE TOUGH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME TO ANSWER ANY MORE
QUESTIONS DURING THE WEBCAST.
IF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED A QUESTION, LOOK FOR AN ANSWER AT
WWW.PHPPO.CDC.GOV/ PHTN/WEBCAST SLASH STRESS-05.
FINALLY, AN ARCHIVE OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING
AFTER APRIL 30th AT THIS SAME WEBSITE.
IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR TODAY'S
PROGRAM, YOU MUST REGISTER AND COMPLETE AN EVALUATION.
CME, CNE, CEU AND CECH FOR HEALTH EDUCATORS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH
THE CDC ATSDR CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING ONLINE SYSTEM.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO REGISTER AND COMPLETE THE PROGRAM EVALUATION,
EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT TAKING THE PROGRAM FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT.
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT WISH TO RECEIVE CE CREDIT, A CERTIFICATE OF
ATTENDANCE WILL BE AWARDED TO PARTICIPANTS WHO REGISTER AND
COMPLETE THE PROGRAM EVALUATION.
THE EVALUATION FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL BE ACTIVE ON THE ONLINE
SYSTEM FOR 30 DAYS AFTER THE LIVE PROGRAM.
REGISTRATION AND EVALUATION MUST BE COMPLETED NO LATER THAN MAY
31st, 2005, TO RECEIVE CE CREDIT.
THE COURSE NUMBER IS WC-0074.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT REGISTRATION, YOU CAN RECEIVE
ASSISTANCE BY CALLING 800-41-TRAIN.
THAT'S 800-418-7246, OR 404-639- 1292.
CE UNIT PERSONNEL ARE AVAILABLE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
FROM
A.M. UNTIL
YOU CAN ALSO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE BY E-MAIL.
OUR ADDRESS IS CE@CDC.GOV.
THE CONTINUING EDUCATION STAFF WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU WITH
THE LOGIN AND REGISTRATION PROCESS.
FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR GUESTS, DR. PAMELA TUCKER, SCOTT
WRIGHT, JAMES MACDONALD AND
THANK YOU, OUR VIEWERS, WHO SENT IN THE QUESTIONS FOR OUR GUESTS
DURING THE PROGRAM.
AND SO, THIS BRINGS US TO THE CLOSE OF "SURVIVING FIELD STRESS
FOR FIRST RESPONDERS."
IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE BEING YOUR MODERATOR TODAY.
I'M KYSA DANIELS, WISHING YOU A GOOD DAY FROM
-- Captions by VITAC --
---