Research two programs: “Catch a Falling Star” http://www.catchafallingstar.net/index.html and watch the video “When Trauma Doesn’t Bleed”. Then research ERIN (Emergency Responders In Need at the Southwest Ohio Critical Incident Management internet site) http://www.cism-southwestohio.org/
• How would this concept address your policy within your department?
• What steps would need to be taken in order to address this policy?
If your area has a Critical Incident Stress Management Team, you may want to interview the team coordinator to discover the success or failure of the team within your area and then evaluate how this team could impact your department during or after a critical event. If you do not have a team in your area, go the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation web site and evaluate how a team within your area would be effective.
Also as research for this assignment, please read in Course Documents the Thesis by Captain Steven G. Cohn, “An Evaluation Of The CISM and Colerain F.D. Response To The Squirrelsnest Lane Firefighter Tragedy.” Posted in Course Documents.
Questions to answer in your assignment: (Do the research first, then determine the answers to the questions below)
• Does your department have a policy for Alcohol and Drug Abuse?
• Does your area have a team that deals with Critical Incident Stress Management?
• If not, what is in place to help firefighters and medical personnel in your department or area that may be dealing with abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
• If nothing is in place, What do you intend to do to assure that the First Responders to Emergencies have some kind of help when in need?
• Discuss these issues by indicating why your department should have policies in place for alcohol / drug abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These subjects are similar because one is a symptom and the other is a solution.