Emergencies From Start to Finish: Who’s Involved?
The first person we most likely think about in an emergency or disaster incident like the one pictured above is the victim(s), and rightfully so, because there is the potential for the victim to incur life-threatening injuries and experience change to their and their family’s lifestyle.
There is also a ripple effect to consider with the personnel responding to this scene and those that may be pulled in later on. This article will review how various responders could be pulled into an incident and how they are at risk of different forms of trauma.
The first person to come into contact with an emergency is the person answering your 911 phone call- dispatchers. Dispatchers are behind the scenes, but their exposure to trauma can be just as damaging. Dispatchers are the first to get the account of the emergency and hear the cries and screams of distress from victims or their loved ones. Dispatchers must maintain control of the call to get vital information for the additional responders that will be sent to help. Additionally, a dispatcher frequently stays on the line with the person until the next responder steps in to take over. Sometimes this means they are the first to hear of a fatality. Other times they may never know the outcome at all, which can present its own emotional challenges. While the dispatcher isn’t physically present, they are very mentally and emotionally present for the person on the other end, which places them at high risk of experiencing vicarious trauma.
The next group of responders on scene could be police, state troopers, fire police, and firefighters. These responders have the responsibility of going directly into dangerous situations- house fires, cardiac arrests, scene of a death, car accidents, natural disasters, gun violence, and MANY other types of incidents. The situations responders are exposed to put them at risk of experiencing their own trauma, vicarious trauma, or both. They are worried about the lives of the victims, themselves, and their peers.
EMS/Paramedics
Either during or toward the end of an emergency or disaster incident, EMS is the next likely group of responders to assume responsibility at an emergency scene. EMS has the responsibility of stabilizing the injured or affected person(s) in hopes of getting them to an emergency department. EMS have to work in less-than-ideal and sometimes unfamiliar settings, including people’s homes, outside including during inclement weather, in vehicles en route to the hospital, and in the midst of an on-going incident. These are high stress environments for EMS, which places them at risk of experiencing trauma.
Emergency Department Personnel
Next, the patient(s) hopefully reach the emergency department and receive treatment from a variety of responders- technicians, nurses, doctors, surgeons, and physician assistants. While this group is trained to handle various medical emergencies, it is important to remember that they may spend significant time with patients and build a relationship with them. Losses can be especially difficult for this group and various triggers of trauma can develop without them realizing it.
Other Responders
There are a few other groups of people that may respond to an emergency depending on the type of incident. Social workers sometimes become involved to provide forensic interviews, as well as to address reports or suspicions of child abuse, domestic abuse, and other situations that involve risk of harm, and to provide emergency support. Medical examiners help in the unfortunate scenario of a deceased body and work with the person’s loved ones. Critical Incident Stress Management teams come out to support police and firefighters after especially traumatic incidents to provide them with emergency mental health support. A veterinarian may be needed after a house fire to care for an animal that was stuck inside, or for other general animal emergencies. If incarceration is deemed necessary, correctional officers are also front-line responders after an incident. Disaster workers, such as the Red Cross, also become emergency responders when a natural disaster, pandemic, or devastating fire leads to the displacement of people. Each of these responders play a unique role in helping someone in an emergency, which means they also need to be conscious of potential for their own trauma and their overall wellbeing.
How Do We help?
Emergencies and threats of any kind will exist as long as we do. In order to improve the performance and quality life of emergency responders, the first step is letting them know it’s okay if they AREN’T okay. They can mentally prepare for a lot of different types of incidents. They can justify the fact that they didn’t cause the emergency that arose and they did everything they could to assist. But what they can’t do is fully prepare for that one incident, or handful of incidents, that they just can’t shake off. Their support networks can play an important role in reassuring them that it’s okay to accept help to heal their mental wounds, and it’s not a sign of weakness. In fact, it often can take great courage to accept help. Luckily, courage is a trait emergency responders have in great abundance. Emergency responders need to take care of themselves in order to continue their passion of helping others. Therapy can help responders restore their mental strength to continue providing their much needed services in times of crisis.
