Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Justin Buck on October 5, 2008 at 9:06pm

after a fatal call we will all go back to the station sit around and talk about what happen and what we did.

Permalink Reply by Norman E. Flanders on November 5, 2008 at 8:20am

Hi Lt. Scott,

Our FD has had to deal with three MVA fatalities this year. Two involved victims who were in there late teens. One was my sons friend. A friend since elementary school who had just graduated last June.

My sons also member of the FD and we were first on scene with the Engine. Being short handed in the beginning with manpower I put him on the cover line. While doing this task he discovered it was his friend. Then all hell broke loose.

In this case we removed my son from the scene to the EMS unit and got him some help. I turned to the IC & IAP task over to my A/C while we settled my son down.

It's very tough and tougher to deal with when you know the person or persons. It's tougher to deal with as the IC and setting up IAP when this strikes one of your own FF's, but worse when it's your child.

After it was over we discussed the incident at a debriefing at the fire house and we also had CISD meeting for all that were involved. A must do, in this type of situation.

CISD is a way to vent and seek help to discuss the incident, not only with your fellow FF but another resource.
If this incident is bothering you or other members ask the Chief, another officer, whoever to set up a CISD.
Don't wait and don't think you can't use help.

CISD is very effective. Will you ever forget this incident or others? NO! It's apart of the job that will be with you forever. But discussing it, crying, screaming, asking why and venting is an avenue of stress relief relating to this and all loss of life incidents.

I wish you the best of luck and God Bless. Norm

Permalink Reply by 144Truck on November 5, 2008 at 9:21am

I will offer CISD, especially if if it is obvious someone is having a hard time. I have even sent people for one on one services. Personally, the whole let's dredge it up, relive it in minute detail then sing Kumbayah doesn't really make it for me... And we had one of the most HIDEOUS summers for calls in recent memory.

The older salts will usually talk it out like we always have.. We try to help the younger folks. Sometimes the CISD does work.

It DOES work for some folks though, and that's what counts.

Permalink Reply by Dennis Brown on November 5, 2008 at 2:16pm

Well we go back and talk about it and if there is a member that needs more help we call in professionals in the mental health but most of the time just talking about it works

Permalink Reply by Lt. Ballinger on February 21, 2009 at 10:23pm

Our line officers pretty much talk to our crews when we return to the house and make sure everyone is ok with what happened. The veterans who have been through it more times than we care to remember can usually tell who might have problems and pull the new guys to the side and talk things over with them. My guys know that if they want to talk they can call me 24/7 and I will talk to them. If they want we have a dept. chaplain, we have a former member that works at one of the hospitals and we can give him a call and he will page a regional member of the CISD team or whatever the person wants.

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