ADM-103 CISM 1of2

ADM-103 CriticalIncidentStressManagementPurpose

ToprovideaguidelineforinitiatingassistancefromtheSanMateoCountyCISMTeam.RelatedDocuments

SMCOFireChief’sGuidelineG-154CriticalIncidentDebriefingSummary

ActivationoftheCISMTeamwillprovidetrainedteammembersforinterventionaftertraumaticincidentsinordertominimizestress-relatedinjurytoFireDepartmentpersonnel.

Policy

1.0SanMateoCountyhasaCISMteamthatismadeupofmembersinvariousfirstresponderdisciplineswithinthecounty(fire,police,ems,dispatchers,mentalhealth,etc.)trainedinstress-relatedcounseling.TheteamcanbeactivatedanytimebycontactingCountyCommunicationsat(650)363-4907.(*Addlinktocountypolicy)1.1Defusings(within24hoursafterincident)ordebriefings(morethan24hoursafterincident)maybeconducteddependinguponthecircumstances.Assistancemaybegiveninanindividualone-on-onebasisorinagroupsetting. 1.2CriticalincidentstressdefusingsanddebriefingsarenotcritiquesofFireDepartmentoperations.Thedefusing/debriefingprocessprovidesaformatinwhichpersonnelmaydiscusstheirfeelingsandreactionsandgainabetterunderstandingofnormalhumanbehaviorunderstress.Byparticipatinginthedebriefingprocess,individualscanreducestressresultingfromexposuretocriticalincidents.ALLDEFUSINGSANDDEBRIEFINGSARESTRICTLYCONFIDENTIAL. 1.3CISMassistanceshouldbeconsideredwhenwerespondtoanyincidentthatcreatesastrongemotionalreactionforpersonnel.ThefollowingareexamplesofincidentsthatmaybenefitfromCISMassistance.

• SeriousinjuryordeathofaFireDepartmentmemberorotheremergencypersonnel.

• Masscasualtyincidents.• SuicideofaFireDepartmentmember.

Adopted: 01/28/06Amended: 01/30/19Review: 2020

ADM-103 CISM 2of2

• SeriousinjuryordeathofacivilianduringFireDepartmentoperations(i.e.,autoaccident,fire,etc.)

• Deathofachild,orviolencetowardachild.• Lossoflifeofapatientfollowingextraordinaryandprolongedexpenditureof

physicalandemotionalenergyduringrescueefforts.• Anincidentinwhichcircumstancesweresounusualordistressingthatit

producedahighlevelofemotionalreaction. 1.4WhenitisdeterminedthatrespondingpersonnelmaybenefitfromCISMassistance,theprocessofschedulingadefusingordebriefingshouldbeinitiatedassoonaspossible.1.5AnymemberoftheFireDepartmentmayinitiatethedefusing/debriefingprocessbycontactingtheirimmediatesupervisor.1.6TheBattalionChiefmayrequestaCISMresponsethroughCountyCommunicationsandthenwillbecontactedbyaCISMTeamcall-outcoordinator.Afterreceivingdetailsabouttheincident,theCISMTeamcall-outcoordinatorwillscheduleadefusingordebriefingandprovidetheappropriatenumberofCISMpersonnelbasedonthelevelofassistancerequired.1.7Allagenciesinvolvedwiththeincidentshouldbeinvolvedinthedebriefing,includingdispatchers,ambulance,coroner’soffice,andlawenforcementpersonnel.Onlyrespondingpersonnelinvolvedintheincidentareinvitedtoattendthedefusing.1.8DepartmentmembersinterestedinbecomingapartoftheCISMTeammaycontacttheCISMTeamCoordinatorformoreinformation.