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 Office
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Welcome to the
Manitoba Critical Incident Stress Network Web Page
“People are disturbed not by things but by the view they
take of them.”
~Epictetus (55 AD - 135 AD)
The Office of the Fire Commissioner and Critical Incident Stress Management
The Office of the Fire Commissioner
believes that emergency services organizations have a moral, ethical and
professional obligation to train their personnel, help them survive their
professional and volunteer careers and to maintain their health. Critical
Incident Stress, or the stress created by having to deal with injury and death
resulting from responding to motor vehicle collisions, fires, etc. can have
negative effects upon the health and lives of first responders in Manitoba.
Consequently, in 1991 the Office of the Fire Commissioner created the Manitoba
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Network as a joint initiative with
Manitoba Health. Critical Incident Stress Management Teams are now in
existence in all of the former Health Regions creating seven teams throughout
rural/northern Manitoba.
These CISM
teams are made up of volunteers from emergency services and hospitals as well
as local community mental health workers and other clinically trained people.
The Office of the Fire Commissioner supports the operation of these teams as
well as provides staff time and resources to maintain the Network. Manitoba
Health and the Regional Health Authorities also support the Network.
In 2002,
the Manitoba Legislature amended the Fires Prevention and Emergency Response
Act. One of the amendments was to Section 35(3), (the Fire Commissioner’s
responsibilities) to include “(k) provide training in critical incident stress
management, and coordinate emergency response personnel in the provision of
critical incident stress management.” This change in Legislation is unique in
North America and is an indication of the commitment of the Office of the Fire
Commissioner to Critical Incident Stress Management in Manitoba.
Manitoba CISM Network Mission
The Manitoba Critical
Incident Stress Management* Network provides timely, effective assistance to
emergency services personnel involved in critical incidents, thereby minimizing
symptoms of critical incident stress and mitigating,
or perhaps preventing the development of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
This service is provided on a “no charge” basis to
those receiving assistance through the Network via trained volunteers and
mental health professionals.
*Based on the “Critical Incident Stress
Foundation” model
Target Groups
The target groups include fire, ambulance, emergency
room nursing and physicians, dispatch and law enforcement personnel in
Manitoba.
Goals
The goals of the Manitoba CISM Network
are:
- to educate individuals about stress reactions and ways of coping
adaptively with them;
- to instill messages about the normality of reactions to critical
incidents;
- to promote emotional processing and sharing of the event;
- to provide information about, and opportunity for, further
trauma-related intervention if it is requested by the participant;
- to develop and provide peer and family understanding and support to the
individuals;
- to develop stress reduction techniques, and
to help re-establish a sense of control, mastery and empowerment.
CISM team 24-hour emergency
hotline at 1-888-389-3473
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