Critical Incident Stress Management

What is the Portage Critical Incident Stress Management Team?

The Portage County CISM Team is made up of trained volunteers from the mental health and emergency service professions. Peers from nursing, fire, EMS, dispatch and law enforcement services are all represented on the team with four coordinators overseeing the team. The unique collaboration between skilled peers and mental health professionals is the foundation of the organization and produces a high level of integrity and acceptance within the emergency service community. 

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Our Mission

The mission of the Portage County CISM Team is to prepare emergency services personnel to manage their job-related stress through education and prevention programs; Assist emergency personnel who are experiencing the negative effects of stress after exposure to an unusually stressful event through peer-support or referral;

Assist with on-scene support in relation to disaster response for emergency services personnel.

What is a Critical Incident?

A Critical Incident is any event with significant emotional power, strong enough to produce unusual or distressing reactions in emergency service professionals. A critical incident is so unusual that it overwhelms the normal coping abilities of emergency personnel.

Examples of Critical Incidents include:

• Line of duty death

• Serious line of duty injury

• Multiple victim incidents

• Police use of force resulting in injury or death

• Significant events involving children

• Victims known by the rescuer

• Failed mission after extensive effort

• Prolonged events

• Any powerful event

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What is Critical Incident Stress?

Stress is an expected part of the emergency service professions and is routinely managed on a day-to-day basis. However, critical incident stress can produce reactions which may interfere with or overwhelm emergency workers’ abilities to function or cope either at the scene or later.

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Services available to Portage County First Responders:

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• On-Scene Support: Advisement and support to command staff and personnel operating at the scene of an emergency.

 

• Defusing: A 30–45-minute group process, typically conducted within the first day or two after a critical incident. Usually with single work units. This is the most common service provided.

 

• Debriefing: Is a specific, 7-phase, small group, supportive crisis intervention process.

 

• Demobilization: Brief stress management processes involving education, rest and nutrition used at the scene of large-scale disasters or emergencies. The
  de-mobilization process is implemented through the Incident Command System as personnel are released from the scene.

 

• Peer Support: A one-on-one confidential discussion with a trained CISM peer. 

 

• Educational Services & Referrals: The CISM Team can provide educational presentations about stress management and critical incident stress and referrals for personnel.

 

Things to Know

All services are delivered in a confidential manner and covered under ORC 2317.12(k). This is not a critique of emergency services operations. 

 

• Services are provided at no charge, Peer and mental health support team members of the Portage County CISM Team volunteer and donate their training and skills as a civic contribution to the emergency services community.

• The CISM model is based on the prevention of serious, long-term reactions.

• Education is the primary component of prevention.

• These services are not psychotherapy.

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The Portage County CISM Team is not an employee assistance program, but supplements the services provided by an EAP.

 

Sometimes it may be difficult to decide if the Portage County CISM Team should be called to respond to your agency. Do not hesitate to call if you have questions or concerns regarding the need for critical incident stress services for your organization or personnel.

 

For 24-hour emergencies or to activate the CISM Team call 330-678-HELP (4357) Or the Kent State University Police Department 330-672-2212

 

PC CISM COORDINATORS 

Bob Walker- Portage County Health Department/Retired Ravenna Fire

Susie Forgacs- RN University Hospitals Portage/Fire Medic Rootstown Fire  

Tricia Knoles - Police Sgt Kent State University Police 

Rebecca Schneider - Dispatcher Kent City Police Department 

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Portage CISM Facebook Page

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The team is supported by the Mental Health & Recovery Board and their funded agencies.