Post Tragedy Coping Skills: 10 Important Tips for Developing Resiliency and Coping with Stress

The tragedy that occurred in Las Vegas, as well as the hurricanes that beset Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Puerto Rico have placed tremendous stress on responders in multiple ways. Responders, by nature proud individuals who often avoid showing their stress and concerns to others, while able to cope with small, periodic tragedies and fatalities, can become overtaxed by the types of incidents we've seen occur in the months of August, September and October. Not only were responders confronted with the multiple challenges of the hurricanes, but more than 400 emergency responders have lost their homes and all of their belongings. They're now tasked with continuing to work while they rebuild their lives and support their family members along the difficult journey back to some sense of normalcy. Although Las Vegas responders were well trained and prepared for terrorist attacks, mass casualty incidents and active shooter incidents, on Sunday, October 1, they were confronted with unprecedented wounds, death and danger. Constant news coverage and discussions don't allow responders to take their minds too far from their emotions in the aftermath of these incidents. Philip Callahan, PhD, a member of the Alliance on EMS Resiliency has detailed 10 important tips for developing resiliency and coping with stress in the days, weeks and months ahead.
Source: JEMS Operations - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Operations Mass Casualty Incidents Source Type: news