CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT

The CISM team is all volunteer.  For years, incidents were limited to 2-3 call outs per year.  Traumatic events or critical incidents are “any event that causes unusually strong reactions that have the potential to interfere with the ability to function normally.”  Since 2020, the need for the team has increased with a high of 12 callouts this past year.  Participation with the team is not mandatory and needs to be requested - usually within 24-72 hours after an incident.  The confidential meeting with the team typically takes about an hour and involves trained team members and any personnel involved in an incident.  The group walks through the incident, often resulting in a clearer vision of the entire event.  Emotions are acknowledged and discussed with follow up after the meeting by assigned team members.  

The process appears to be working.  Lynn shared that the number of firefighter and law enforcement suicides has been reduced substantially across the nation due to participation in the process.  The Tahoe Sierra Regional CISM’s motto is “Caring For Those Who Care For Others.”  For more information, check out ICISF.org.