NCJ Number
147728
Date Published
1993
Length
45 pages
Annotation
This educational packet is designed to help people in a variety of occupations and organizations to identify critical-incident stress (CIS) and the stages and procedures of CIS support.
Abstract
The video in the packet portrays a fictional critical incident and illustrates the stages of CIS support that precede and follow it. A workshop facilitator's guide helps the facilitator to conduct a half-day workshop that explains the concepts and rules of CIS support. The workshop includes a viewing of the video and five exercises that vary in time from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. The exercises address the characteristics of a critical incident, the core skills in responding to CIS (listening and reflecting), an overview of CIS debriefing, debriefing and defusing, and the development of an action plan. The third packet component is a self- directed study guide that explains the concepts and rules of CIS support in detail. It includes a short self-test at each stage. Topics discussed include the kinds of events that lead to CIS, the effects of CIS, and a three-step process that helps people deal with the consequences of CIS. Materials for handouts and for use in overhead projectors are provided.