Those Real Bad Calls

[Firegirl444]

My company was one of the many, many companies who transported victims from The Station nightclub fire on Feb 20. I'm sure many of you heard about it on the news. Me and my partner were one of the first ten trucks on scene, and we were actually triaging at the front stairs as the firefighters were pulling people from the doorway for a little while, and I know this run affected the two of us like no run ever has or will.

We were just talking today about how that night still comes back to haunt us sometmes, as it does to the many fire and EMS personnel who were there that night. We thought it would be helpful to start a post where people could kinda vent or talk about whatever they felt like regarding their worst (or in our case, life-altering) responses.

We noticed that's lots of people who weren't there had alot of questions but didn't really want to ask. So if anyone feels the need to ask us, we are happy to talk about it

[smurfe]

I am sure you all went through CISD sessions didn't you? If you all didn't, I would really recommend you do.

Speaking from experience as one who has experienced mass death in one setting and didn't participate in CISD, all I can say is it has affected me at times on other calls.

CISD works if you accept it and utilize it!

Feel free to vent, discuss, or what ever here

Smurfe :D

[ABMedic]

Does CISD work?

I think the lastest studies subsequent to 9/11 has really led to serious questions regarding the benefits of CISD. In fact there is a emerging concern that CISD might for some individuals increase their risk of PTSD.

You should look at the recent literature that has been published regarding CISD and Mitchell's defense (or lack thereof).

I will post a few PDF files outlining the new concerns over the next couple of days.


ABMedic

[smurfe]

Does CISD work?
CISD works if you accept it and utilize it!


I feel that if you go into it with the attitude that you want to get if all off your chest it will help you tremendously. You don't really need to got o a "CISD" session, but just talk to someone, that is all it really takes. Some incidents, you will never get over, but talking helps cope with it and accept it.

Smurfe :D

[Romeo7111]

My own experience with CISD has been very good. I recommend it strongly, if you haven't already.

The important thing to remember is that whatever happened, once you were there, whatever you did, you made the situation better. If for no other reason, the "civilians" now see "professionals" taking charge, and this is the first step for for them towards control. I know that this part seems insignificant when you know the magnitude of the injuries, but it is the first step that must happen.

The victims are lost, and you became one of the first to help lead them. I'm sure there are people that were there that will remember you forever, because you were a help to them. You may never know who those people are, because you were doing your job and triaging, but they'll know you for that same reason.

If it helps to vent, or question, or rant, or anything else, please feel free.

Jim

[mcaldwell]

I think CISD's are very useful for the newer emergency workers, and the longer some people do this, the less they probably need them in textbook form (until the "super incident" hits). Many experienced staff have no problem chatting up a call with their co-workers, but I find the young guys and gals are often afraid of appearing weak. I have also seen old salts scrape up MVA's for years, but the one call with a kid, etc. hits them like a ton of bricks. You could say it is the inevitable result of cumulative stress, but I think sometimes we just connect with the victim/family more than usual.

I personally feel that the first bunch of bad ones are the most critical to developing good stress relief techniques. Afterwords, you develop your own grief response mechanisms and tend to deal with the stress in your own ways.

You need access to CISD, but you don't always need it shoved down your throat.

[smurfe]

You need access to CISD, but you don't always need it shoved down your throat.

Exactly, couldn't agree more. Like I had said, you have to want it for it to work. If it is shoved down your throat, a lot of people are having their time wasted

Smurfe :D

[emtp2031]

CISD is a good thing if it's offered.....I wish it had been offered to us after a specific incident..it wasn't.I ended up having to find help on my own and it took a long time to heal....over a year.I never stopped functioning as a provider but I did slow down my responses during that year.The what if's can really get to you.Thank God for counselling it helped immensely and I ended up learning alot from that call.Now as an officer I keep a heads up on bad calls and watch personnel...and ask if they need someone to talk to...but then I do have to get the ok from higher ups to have CISD called in.Been there done that and dont want to have to do it again.

[Firegirl444]

We all went to CISD and I have to admit, it did help somewhat. I had been to CISD before and it didn't do too much for me. But what was most helpful was my partner. He was brand new to EMS at the time (he'd only been an EMT for about a month) and we relied alot on one another. We've developed an almost brother/sister relationship since then, and before that night, we barely knew one another. I guess my point is whatever you use as an outlet, whether it be CISD in official format or just venting some other way, you can't do it all alone. So many people forget that.