Think of what youshould be doing, such as:
- taking notes of pertinent findings and information
- inventory of personal belongings
- legal aspects
If you keep your mind on the job, then the body is NOT foremost on your mind as a deceased person.
It is never easy to control one’s emotions when a rescuer confronts a deceased person. It is even more difficult when the deceased is a child or is badly mutilated. A rescuer seeing a dead person for the first time may or may not be able to gain control over emotions.
Critical Incident Stress Management
CISM is the way of dealing with the effects arising from a stresses of an emergency situation. It includes the techniques to avoid or reduce exposure to stresses, re-interpretation of the stress, and techniques to reduce and ventilate the effects of stress.
A defusing is usually 20 to 45 minutes long, consists of all members whom were affected, and occurs in a neutral environment (away from the search area).
The process consists of the Introduction, Exploration, and Information phases. The rules include:
1) everything mentioned is confidential and doesn't leave the site
2) avoid detailed information that might become part of an investigation
3) no notes are taken.
During the Exploration phase each person in order introduces himself describes his part of the event. The leader then guides the group to begin thinking about the event, which allows one to transition to emotional reactions.
From this point on, anyone may speak as he desires. People offer their experiences and reactions to the event with emphasis upon what was felt and thought at the time.
The Information stage consists of summarizing the exploration, normalizing the experience and reactions, teaching survival skills, and again offering additional help for those severely affected.
