24 Hour Emergency CISD Dispatch number 609-394-3600

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

Troy Powell, Chairman

Every day, firefighters face many dangers in the course of performing their jobs. Risks such as burns, building collapse and hazardous chemical exposure are recognized as the most deadly physical hazards associated with the job. Firefighters are also exposed to another hazard that is not readily apparent to persons outside the firefighting community. This hazard is a silent killer that affects each individual differently. It is stress caused by exposure to tragedies such as burn deaths, serious injuries and horrific situations.

Firefighters who respond to emergencies encounter highly stressful events almost every day. Sometimes an event is so traumatic or overwhelming that they may experience significant stress reactions.

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) provided by members of the NJ FMBA is a process specifically designed to prevent or mitigate the development of post – traumatic stress among emergency services professionals.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) represents an integrated “system” of interventions designed to prevent and/or mitigate the adverse psychological reactions that so often accompany emergency services, public safety, and disaster response functions. CISM interventions are especially directed towards the mitigation of post-trau- matic stress reactions.

Critical Incident Stress intervention is one of the most important NJ FMBA services offered to the firefighting community. Over the years, it has helped countless numbers of firefighters cope with this deadly stress associated with the job.