Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

Just in case--in case of an incident that deeply affects EMS, fire or police personnel, a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD), may be arranged to provide all rescuers involved the opportunity to receive support and help from specially-trained peers. Talking about the incident, with or without others present, can help relieve physical, emotional and mental stress that may result from one severe call or from several days, weeks or months of hard work.

Incidents that include death or severe trauma of one or several victims, death or severe injury to children, injury or death of a relative, a friend, or another emergency services provider, or an incident that stretches over a long period of time and/or  results in a high degree of public attention are just some of the incidents that can create unhealthy levels of stress. A provider's relationships with family or other department members or at work can suffer, trouble sleeping or substance abuse can result, and just the health and mental health results of stress is known to shorten lives and bring on cardiac or other problems.

A department officer can arrange for a CISD, and in the tri-county area can call on The Northern New York CISM Team for professional assistance. Available 24/7, the specially-trained team members can set up a debriefing immediately following the incident or in the days following, and can provide "peer counseling, training, critical incident intervention and support to emergency service personnel and others in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties."

Although line officers or chiefs generally call the NNYCISM Team, anyone directly involved in the incident or who has concerns about someone involved can call for information or help.

                    JEFFERSON COUNTY                786-2601  

                    LEWIS COUNTY                         376-3511  

                    ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY         379-2240