scholarly journals Volunteer firefighters: A qualitative exploration of critical incidents and applied coping skills

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Timothy Lentz
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Coping Skills ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Critical Incident Stress Management ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Volunteer Firefighters ◽  
Trauma Informed Practice

Volunteer firefighters have limited up-to-date training and awareness in applied coping skills and trauma informed practice (TIP). Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) has been a standard of practice within emergency services — including fire rescue services — for decades in Northern British Columbia. With new developments in TIP, I suggest we can further improve volunteer firefighters’ wellness by exploring specific coping strategies. The purpose of this endeavour was to interview volunteer firefighters, explore their experiences, and better understand their coping styles and approaches to managing stress related to the work. In the exploration of critical incident coping skills, a qualitative methodology and thematic analysis was applied. This study adds to the current literature on work-related coping, and hopefully increases awareness of best practices for psychological safety and wellness of volunteer firefighters in Northern British Columbia.

A Model for a Statewide Critical Incident Stress (CIS) Debriefing Program for Emergency Services Personnel

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith W. Neely ◽  
William J. Spitzer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Fire Department ◽  
Critical Incident Stress ◽  
Emergency Services Personnel ◽  
Response Team

AbstractPurpose:Emergency services personnel are highly vulnerable to acute and cumulative critical incident stress (CIS) that can manifest as anger, guilt, depression, and impaired decision-making, and, in certain instances, job loss. Interventions designed to identify such distress and restore psychological functioning becomes imperative.Methods:A statewide debriefing team was formed in 1988 through a collaborative effort between an academic department of emergency medicine and a social work department of a teaching hospital, and a metropolitan area fire department and ambulance service. Using an existing CIS debriefing model, 84 pre-screened, mental health professionals and emergency services personnel were provided with 16 hours of training and were grouped into regional teams.Debriefing requests are received through a central number answered by a communicator in a 24-hour communications center located within the emergency department. Debriefings are conducted 48–72 hours after the event for specific types of incidents. Follow-up telephone calls are made by the debriefing team leader two to three weeks following a debriefing. The teams rely on donations to pay for travel and meals.Results:One hundred sixty-eight debriefings were conducted during the first four years. Rural agencies accounted for 116 (69%) requests. During this period, 1,514 individuals were debriefed: 744 (49%) firefighters, 460 (30%) EMTs, and 310 (21%) police officers, dispatchers, and other responders. Deaths of children, extraordinary events, and incidents involving victims known to the responders (35%, 14%, and 14% respectively) were the most common reasons for requesting debriefings. Feedback was received from 48 (28%) of the agencies that requested the debriefing. All of those who responded felt that the debriefing had a beneficial effect on its personnel. Specific individuals identified by agency representatives as having the greatest difficulty were observed to be returned to their pre-incident state.Conclusion:CIS debriefings are judged as beneficial. A statewide response team is an effective way to provide these services at no cost to agencies.

Coping Skills Training to Adolescent Girls in a Small Group Counselling Context

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shireen Hawkins ◽  
Vicki McKenzie ◽  
Erica Frydenberg
Keyword(s):  
Small Group ◽  
Coping Skills ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Group Counselling ◽  
Coping Skills Training ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Self Knowledge ◽  
Skills Education

AbstractThis study utilised a mixed-methods approach to examine change for 27 self-selected female adolescents (aged 14-15) who received 11 sessions of coping skills education (Frydenberg & Brandon, 2002a; 2002b) at school in a small-group counselling context by a trainee psychologist. All sessions were tape-recorded and transcribed. Participants reported improvements in self-knowledge, knowledge of options for coping, attitude towards solving problems, differentiating threatening from non-threatening stressors and self-belief. Analysis of pre- and post-teacher questionnaires indicated that class misbehaviour for these students significantly reduced and academic engagement significantly increased. Analysis of students’ pre- and post-questionnaires for their main concern indicated significant reductions in Non-Productive coping. Participants were more likely to use coping strategies that they perceived to be helpful after taking part in this program. When it came to coping in general, students reported significant reductions in their use of Non-Productive coping and increases in both Productive and Reference to Others coping styles.

Abstract 151: Barriers and Opportunities for a Drone-Delivered AED Network in Durham, North Carolina

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique A Starks ◽  
Jessica Sperling ◽  
Amy Cardenas ◽  
Audrey L Blewer ◽  
Edward Sharpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Automated External Defibrillators ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities ◽  
Stakeholder Attitudes

Background: The general public is unfamiliar with the concept of medical drones delivering life-saving technologies. Our research sought to define stakeholder attitudes towards development of drone-based emergency care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: Using qualitative methodology, we explored key stakeholder attitudes about using a drone to deliver automated external defibrillators (AED), challenges and facilitators to early establishment of a drone AED network, implementation considerations, and factors related to long-term sustainability. We identified 22 key individuals as potential respondents based on professional position; 16 respondents participated in data collection. Research participants included leaders in government, healthcare, emergency services, business, community, and the aviation industry (regulation and drone operation). Interview data were recorded and transcribed; data were analyzed using NVivo. A coding schema was developed based on constructs identified in previous literature and inductive consideration of this study’s data, including both thematic and descriptive coding. Results: We found broad support for a drone-delivered AED network. Such a network was perceived as valuable for reduced response times and for enhanced access to hard-to-reach areas. Identified challenges included operationalizing an autonomous drone AED network, privacy and safety concerns, current legal and regulatory requirements, financial liabilities, public buy-in and concern for public actually using an AED, and the need for research on treatment and cost- effectiveness of a drone network. Facilitators of development for a drone AED network included solidifying key partnerships (including integration into current EMS or fire services), identifying viable funding from private and public entities, and learning from existing drone models (e.g. commercial package or medical supply delivery). Conclusion: This study found general and conceptual support for the development of a drone network for AED delivery across key informants from an array of related fields. Such information should be considered in developing a regional drone AED network.

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