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Recognizing Critical Incident Stress
CISM team 24-hour emergency hotline at 1-888-389-3473 "Training to Save Lives" top
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Manitoba Emergency Services College Codes & Standards Investigations Municipal Support Emergency Response Administration
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Critical
Incidents may produce a wide range of normal stress reactions, which
can appear immediately at the scene, a few hours later or even a few days or
weeks after the event. Stress reactions usually occur in five different
areas: cognitive (thinking), emotional (feelings), physical (body), behavioral
(actions) and spiritual. The more reactions experienced usually
the greater the impact on the individual. The longer the reactions last the
more potential for permanent harm to the individual and their relationships at
home or work. Many healthy people have worked in emergency services only to
quit or retire (sometimes prematurely) with broken spirits, damaged bodies,
disturbed home lives, changed personalities and lost dreams because of
critical incident stress.
