Critical incident debriefing methods law enforcement officers and agencies use to help officers
Critical incident debriefing is the technique that enables first responders to cope with both the physical and physiological consequences of traumatic events. Debriefing is essential since it guarantees a safe place for law enforcement officers, especially when they need to demonstrate the degree of their anger, grief, and sorrow regarding the outcomes of specific events witnessed. Debriefing methods include mass disaster debriefings, multiple incident debriefings, symbolic debriefings, and line-of-duty death debriefing (PAHO and WHO, 2001, p.n.p). Mass disaster debriefings require the direct ventilation of emotions based on the significance of the constructive aspects of the events that transpired. The primary aims of mass disaster debriefings are to rebuild and move on. Notably, the debriefing team in mass disaster debriefings is quite overt, and they tend to question the participant's thoughts regarding the situation. Multiple incident debriefings are applicable in situations in which an organization’s personnel is exposed to diverse traumatic stressors within a short debrief period, which is usually less than 14 days.
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Under such circumstances, the personnel can debrief a minimum of four events simultaneously. However, if the worst events are more, they can focus on the four most tragic ones. The briefing team can blend several events, which have been simultaneously debriefed into a random discussion. Symbolic debriefings are those that focus on triggering the old memories associated with past traumatic episodes. After bringing the memories to the fore, the debriefing personnel can jot down vital points by listening carefully and identifying a common theme. In this method, the individual may be required to reintroduce the current event based on the emotional power and the specific old topics that should be resisted (Gilmartin, 2002, p.n.p). Lastly, line-of-duty death briefings are intricate meetings that involve intense levels of shock, denial, and anxiety, which can result in grief among participants (PAHO and WHO, 2001, p.n.p). This kind of debriefing usually involves the entire organization, and it invites the whole workforce to take part in the debriefing process.
Individual steps you can take to manage the overall stress associated with law enforcement
Step 1: Introduction
The first step of the incident stress management involves the introduction, a stage in which the participants familiarize themselves with each other and describe the entire process. The participants usually present guidelines regarding the conduct of the critical incident stress debriefing (CISD). In the first stage, the debriefing team encourages participants to actively participate in providing realistic and confidential information voluntarily (Mitchell, n.d, p.4). Notably, the manner in which information is organized determines the session's tone and helps the team identify the problem areas while encouraging group members to continue participating actively.
Step 2: Facts
The second step involves gathering the available facts based on the summarized information provided by the participants. The step motivates participants to begin talking and narrate what happened before embarking on the event's impacts. Generally, the step allows group members to contribute to the discussion to lower anxiety and gain control of the discussion. Therefore, the thumbnail sketch of what transpired in the event is crucial to gathering the participants' diverse perspectives and having a sense of direction regarding the overall situation.
Step 3: Thoughts
The third stage encompasses the transition from the cognitive domain to the affective domain to summarize the participants' thoughts instead of focusing on the most traumatic aspects of the event. Notably, the step is majorly concerned with the participants’ first thoughts immediately they realized they were thinking.
Step 4: Reactions
The reactions phase is a crucial step that considers the impact of the event on the participants. For instance, it looks into the degree to which it triggered anger, sadness, confusion, loss, and emotional preoccupation. In the reactions stage, participants openly express their personal opinions regarding the very worst thing concerning the event (Mitchell, n.d, p.5). The support team can gather ideas by listening and encouraging the members to comment further based on their perceptions, and express their moves as they transition from the affective domain to the cognitive domain.
Step 5: Symptoms
At the symptoms phase, team members allow participants to express how the event manifested itself in their lives. They can frame the question in a manner that reflects the event's cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioral consequences, and the most common issues arising due to the exposure to traumatic events (Gilmartin, 2002, p.n.p). Consequently, the team can note the symptoms of emotional distress as they prepare for the next stage.
Step 6: Teaching
The team can then decide to normalize the symptoms that participants expressed in the fifth step. For instance, the team can provide solutions to the participants’ reactions, as they recommend the best strategies for managing stress. For example, the debriefing process was sparked off due to a suicide case, then suicide information must appear in the teaching phase.
Step 7: Re-entry
The participants can ask questions and present their final remarks. Thereafter, the debriefing team can summarize the information and offer the very last explanations concerning the best actions to guide participants on how to adopt positive thoughts regardless of the traumatic event's consequences.
Resources and how they may help law enforcement officers manage the emotions of a critical incident and job-related stress
Working out is an essential resource in managing incident stress and improving a sense of well-being. It boosts overall health due to its direct stress-bursting benefits, and its ability to bump up endorphins triggers the production of feel-good neurotransmitters, specifically endorphins. Endorphins relieve stress and pain by producing euphoria feelings. Speaking openly with friends and family members ensures that relevant parties receive adequate information regarding critical stress and educates them on the best management techniques, including social support. Therefore, they can easily plan how to manage future traumatic events and cope with tragic workplace experiences.
Reflections, action plan for emotional survival, stress coping strategies, and appealing resources
Incident stress manifests itself in acute ways, and it can overwhelm the victim and professionals who deal with it, including first responders and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Therefore, an action plan is essential to survive emotional pain. For example, going yoga, walking to the beach, being mindful every time, setting boundaries for people who cause pain, and becoming engrossed on things that I love will decrease the effects of adverse and traumatic experiences that cause emotional distress. To cope with stress, practice regular sleep hygiene, give yourself regular breaks, and maintain a healthy diet. Always reduce alcohol consumption and exercise regularly. Finally, time management, recognizing your emotional triggers, and practicing relaxation are essential resources for stress management.
References
Gilmartin, K. M. (2002). Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A Guide for Officers and Their Families. E-S Press.
Mitchell, J. T. (n.d). Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). Trauma . American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. http://www.info-trauma.org/flash/media-f/mitchellCriticalIncidentStressDebriefing.pdf
PAHO and WHO. (2001). Stress Management in Disasters. Section 7: Debriefings. http://helid.digicollection.org/en/d/Js2925e/9.html#Js2925e.9
