Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
Firefighters are trained to utilize tactical strategies in crisis situations, so they can quickly protect lives and property. However, high-crisis incidents can overwhelm normal coping mechanisms and trigger traumatic-stress disorders for first responders.
Common effects of traumatic stress include:
All Northstar Fire Department employees exposed to critical incidents or crisis events are offered assistance through our CISM program by the deployment of a CISM team member or team. The deployment of a CISM team member or team is ideally provided between 24-72 hours after the incident. The CISM program provides for staff welfare during and after major emergencies and assists employees in processing and coping with the effects of crisis events and critical incidents. (Meaning: For a CISM to be deployed, there does not need to be Northstar Ski Patrollers and other stakeholders within our community who want to attendance. It can strictly be for firefighters only.)
Services available to staff may include, but are not limited to individual crisis intervention, follow up and resource referrals for impacted staff and families and group crisis interventions of diffusing, debriefing and transitional triage and informational sessions.
If you would like to speak or deploy a CISM, please contact the following team members:
Andy Ham
Jeff Botto
See Northstar Fire Department’s Policy #1055.
