Critical Incident Stress Management Workshop Held
Vaughn Donaldson, district chief of the Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Division of the Midland (Texas) Fire Department and president of the Permian Basin Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team , lead a panel discussion, "Responding to Traumatic Events on Campus," on June 12, 2001, at Buffalo State College.
A renown expert in the field, Donaldson coordinated the critical incident response to the 1999 Texas A bonfire tragedy.
Members of the panel included Michael Walters, commissioner, Erie County Department of Emergency Services; Craig Allwes, assistant superintendent for Human Resources and Planning, Sweet Home Schools of Amherst and Tonawanda; and Bonita S. Frazer, director of Staff and Program Development, Erie County Crisis Services.
Critical incident stress management is a comprehensive, multi-component crisis intervention program designed to reduce the incidence, duration and severity of, or impairment from, crisis and disaster situations, and to facilitate access to formal mental health assessment and treatment if needed. Most often directed at "first responders" such as emergency medical personnel, police and firefighters, critical incident stress management deals with the human consequences of community members' involvement in a traumatic event. Its core components include :
Buffalo State College established its CISM team to provide and coordinate a variety of prevention and post-trauma-related services to the college community, supplementing existing campus resources such as the Counseling Center and Employee Assistance Program and offering assistance to those groups responding to the emotional impact of critical incidents.
A renown expert in the field, Donaldson coordinated the critical incident response to the 1999 Texas A bonfire tragedy.
Members of the panel included Michael Walters, commissioner, Erie County Department of Emergency Services; Craig Allwes, assistant superintendent for Human Resources and Planning, Sweet Home Schools of Amherst and Tonawanda; and Bonita S. Frazer, director of Staff and Program Development, Erie County Crisis Services.
Critical incident stress management is a comprehensive, multi-component crisis intervention program designed to reduce the incidence, duration and severity of, or impairment from, crisis and disaster situations, and to facilitate access to formal mental health assessment and treatment if needed. Most often directed at "first responders" such as emergency medical personnel, police and firefighters, critical incident stress management deals with the human consequences of community members' involvement in a traumatic event. Its core components include :
- pre-incident preparation and education,
- individual crisis intervention,
- defusing,
- critical incident stress debriefing,
- demobilizations and staff consultations,
- crisis management briefing,
- family support,
- organizational consultation,
- pastoral crisis intervention, and
- mechanisms for follow up and referrals.
Buffalo State College established its CISM team to provide and coordinate a variety of prevention and post-trauma-related services to the college community, supplementing existing campus resources such as the Counseling Center and Employee Assistance Program and offering assistance to those groups responding to the emotional impact of critical incidents.
Media Contact:
Nanette Tramont, Director of News Services | 7168784325 | newsservices@bscmail.buffalostate.edu