What is Critical Incident Stress?

Stress is an expected part of the emergency service profession and is routinely managed on a day-to-day basis.  However, Critical Incident stress can produce reactions which may interfere with or overwhelm a person’s ability to function or cope either at the scene or later.

Critical incident stress is the body’s normal reaction to a very abnormal event.

How do I recognize Critical Incident stress?

Critical Incidents may produce a wide range of stress symptoms which may appear immediately at the scene, a few hours later or days after the incident.  Stress symptoms usually occur in five different categories:

• Cognitive (thinking):  Poor concentration, poor attention, slowed problem solving, memory problems,  difficulty making decisions

• Physical (body):  Muscle tremors, headaches, elevate blood pressure, gastrointestinal distress

• Emotional (feelings):  Depression, guilt, loss of emotional control, irritability, grief, anxiety, fear, feeling overwhelmed

• Behavioral (actions):  Withdrawal from contact, sleep disturbances, changes in eating and work habits, excessive silence

• Spiritual (faith and hope):  Doubting your faith, feeling spiritually numb, questioning and/or blaming God, wondering how God could allow these things to happen

The longer the symptoms persist, the more potential there is for lasting harm.