Critical Incident
What is a Critical Incident?
You have experienced a traumatic event or critical incident (any incident that causes emergency service personnel to experience unusually strong emotional reactions which have the potential to interfere with their ability to function either at the scene or later). Even though the event may be over, you may now be experiencing or may experience later some strong emotional or physical reactions. It is very common, in fact quite normal, for people to experience aftershocks when they have passed through a horrible event.
Sometimes the emotional aftershocks (or stress reactions) appear immediately after the traumatic event. Sometimes they may appear a few hours or a few days later. And, in some cases, weeks or months may pass before the stress reactions appear.
COMMON SIGNS & SIGNALS OF A STRESS REACTION
Physical Stress
Fatigue
Nausea
Muscle tremors
Twitches
Chest pain*
Difficulty breathing*
Elevated BP
Rapid heart rate
Thirst
Headaches
Visual difficulties
Vomiting
Grinding teeth
Weakness
Dizziness
Profuse sweating
Chills
Shock symptoms
Fainting
Etc.
Cognitive Stress
Blaming someone
Confusion
Poor attention
Poor decisions
Heightened or lowered alertness
Poor concentration
Memory problems
Hypervigilance
Difficulty identifying familiar objects or people
Increased or decreased awareness of surroundings
Poor problem solving
Poor abstract thinking, loss of time, place or person
Disturbed thinking
Nightmares
Intrusive images
Etc.
Emotional Stress
Anxiety
Guilt
Grief
Denial
Severe panic (rare)
Emotional shock
Fear
Uncertainty
Loss of emotional control
Depression
Inappropriate emotional response
Apprehension
Feeling overwhelmed
Intense anger
Irritability
Agitation
Etc.
Behavioural Stress
Change in activity
Change in speech patterns
Withdrawal
Emotional outbursts
Suspiciousness
Change in usual communications
Loss or increase of appetite
Numbing
Alcohol consumption
Prescribed or non-prescribed drugs, ie. Sleeping or pain medications
Overuse of recreational drugs
Inability to rest
Antisocial acts
Nonspecific bodily complaints
Hyper alert to environment
Startle reflex intensified
Pacing
Erratic movements
Change in sexual functioning
Etc.
THINGS TO TRY
Within the first 24 - 48 hours periods of strenuous physical exercise, relaxation will alleviate some of the physical reactions.
Structure your time -- keep busy.
You’re normal and having normal reactions -- don’t label yourself crazy.
Talk to people -- talk is the most healing medicine.
Be aware of numbing pain with the overuse of drugs or alcohol. You don’t need to complicate this with a substance abuse problem.
Reach out -- people do care.
Maintain as regular a schedule as possible.
Spend time with others.
Help your co-workers as much as possible by sharing feelings and checking out how they’re doing.
Give yourself permission to feel rotten and share your feelings with others.
Keep a journal; write your way through those sleepless hours.
Do things that feel good to you.
Realize those around you are under stress.
Don’t make any significant life changes.
Make as many daily decisions as possible, giving you a feeling of control over your life (i.e. if someone asks you what you want to eat, answer them even if you are unsure).
Get plenty of rest.
Reoccurring thoughts, dreams, or flashbacks are normal -- don’t try to fight them. They'll decrease over time and become less painful.
Eat well-balanced and regular meals (even if you don’t feel like it).
You’re normal and having normal reactions.
DELAYED STRESS RESPONSE
Sometimes a stress response can be delayed, and you may not think it is associated with the traumatic event. Common signs and symptoms include:
Increased feelings of depression, anxiety and irritability
Sleep disturbances
Changes in eating habits
Loss of emotional control
Feeling of isolation
Lowering sexual drive
Menstrual cycle changes
Lowered interest in loved ones
Marital conflict
If the condition becomes more acute, you may experience the following:
Intrusive memories
Fear of repetition of the event
