CISD Teams? Your departments view...

[DixieFire53]

What is your Departmens veiw on CISD Teams?

[Ohiovolffemtp]

DixieFire53,
My department is very supportive of CISM teams. Three of our members, including me, are on the regional team. I'll admit potentially being biased, but in 3 years of doing defusings, debriefings, and one-on-one support, I've seen the process do a lot of good. I've had experience working with volunteer, part-time, and career personnel and with situations including LODD, MCI's, etc.

The premise of CISM is very simple, some calls take a lot out of us emotionally because they're much harder than normal, e.g. LODD, death of a child, MCI, etc. Our natural tendency is to think we're the only ones troubled by the call. A debriefing helps folks realize that their co-workers, folks they know & respect, are feeling the same things, that these feelings are normal, and that in time they'll heal. It helps start a process in which the folks on the call continue to talk with each other and get through things together, and continue to be effective responders.

Thanks for asking - be safe.

[LadyCapn]

Critical Incident Stress.....a normal reaction to an abnormal event.

CISD is an effective tool in dealing with "events that overwhelm our ability to cope"

CISD is excellent and should be available to any member of an emergency service. It can't be forced on anyone, but should be widely advertised as available. Your biggest barrier will be attitudes about whether or not it is "wussy" to admit that you need help. If your department doesn't offer CISD yet, I strongly suggest you look into it!!!

[bjhfd]

My department is also very supportive of these teams. After any type of major incident, we always have an outside CISD team come in. We feel that having outside people works better, than having those from our own department who are trained. We tone it out twice and anyone who wants to come is more than welcome.
In the past these meetings have been very productive, and have also helped a lot of people deal with the stress. I can personally say CISD was a major reason preventing me from leaving after a pretty bad call when I was new to the department.

[ChiefReason]

DixieFire53:
What is your view on CISD teams? You failed to mention that in your post.
Sounds like some of you make attendance at de-briefings optional. We make it mandatory for one simple reason: those who don't think they need it, need it the most. I realize that some calls effect different people differently, but you need to remember that you run the entire gamut of emotion at a de-briefing. It is important that everyone who responded attends. If they don't, you risk losing them. Unless you are highly trained in human behavior, leave it to the ones who are best equipped to deal with it. It is an invaluable tool and one that will pay off in higher morale and lower turnover. It may not be the cure-all, but it's damned good medicine sometimes.
Of course, that's my opinion; I could be wrong.
Stay safe.

[mcleoud151]

Sometimes I think my department has never heard of them!!!! We have had some very nasty incidents lately, and I can only recall one CISD, and that was three days later. I personally think they're great. Sometimes they help, sometimes they don't.

Stay Safe and Have Fun!
CLiff

[DixieFire53]

Sorry for not giving my view. I am all for them. I just went through my CISD trainning. My department makes them mandatory after the "bad"
calls they we all hate getting.

[NYSmokey]

Our department is receptive of CISM. We have a county team that will go anywhere they are needed. Usually a line officer will request them after a particularly stressful incident. They never meet at the fire station. It is always done at a neutral location like a town hall. There is always refreshments and everyone sits in a circle from what I am told. Everyone is given a chance to speak. It's made up of cops, firefighters, EMT's, nurses, and dispatchers. I haven't heard anything negative about it yet and it's been in place for at least 5 years.