Overview
Join Cofounder Jeffery T Mitchell, PhD, CCISM as he discusses challenges Emergency Medical Services. He will describe actual Case Studies of CISM work in this field and its effectiveness.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
$9.99
Join Cofounder Jeffery T Mitchell, PhD, CCISM as he discusses challenges Emergency Medical Services. He will describe actual Case Studies of CISM work in this field and its effectiveness.
Jeffery T Mitchell, PhD, CCISM
Co-Founder
ICISF, Inc.
Jeffrey T. Mitchell, PhD, CCISM is Clinical Professor of Emergency Health Services at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County, Maryland and President Emeritus of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. He earned his Ph.D. in Human Development from the University of Maryland. Dr. Mitchell serves on the graduate faculty of UMBC and also has served as a dissertation reviewer for numerous graduate students in international universities when their dissertations were related to emergency personnel. He has presented at conferences in twenty-eight nations around the globe.
After serving as a firefighter/paramedic, Dr. Mitchell developed a comprehensive, integrated, systematic, and multi-component crisis intervention program called “Critical Incident Stress Management.” He has authored over 275 articles and 19 books in the stress and crisis intervention fields and serves as an adjunct faculty member of the Emergency Management Institute of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Dr. Mitchell is a reviewer for the Journal of the American Medical Association and the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health. He received the Austrian Red Cross Bronze Medal for his work in Crisis Intervention in the aftermath of the Kaprum Train tunnel fire.
The Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists approved Dr. Mitchell as a Certified Trauma Specialist, and The United Nations appointed him to the United Nations Department of Safety and Security Working Group on Stress. He actively teaches CISM and consults with emergency services, military personnel, hospitals, business and industries on a regular basis.
This presentation outlines the findings of a small yet impactful study exploring the experiences of Peer Support Workers in an Irish Fire based EMS organisation. It was noted that there was a gap in the literature pertaining to the voices of those first responders who provide peer support to their colleagues and so a qualitative research approach utilising semi structured interviews was carried out. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to examine the results and findings revealed four master themes, namely Giving Back, Old versus New, Personal Transformations and Frustrations. These, along with their twelve superordinate themes, will be presented using direct quotes from participants transcripts. Much of the research on peer support in first responders reports the negative effects of critical incident stress but this study demonstrates that there are positives to be gleaned from this essential work. Reflexivity of the researcher will be described as it is of the utmost importance in this study and the quality of the work will also be addressed. Recommendations will be made on the implications for possible future research in this area.
Michelle L. O'Toole, BSc, GDip EMS, MA
Researcher (Former Firefighter/Advanced Paramedic)
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Formerly a Firefighter, Advanced Paramedic and CISM Team member with Dublin Fire Brigade, Republic of Ireland, I was recently appointed to full time researcher role in the Simulation Dept of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. I'm an Accredited Paramedic Tutor and CISM Instructor with an interest in enhancing mental health and wellbeing in all first responders, particularly following traumatic events. I have completed a MAsters in Psychological Trauma at University of Nottingham (UK) which sparked my interest in Post Traumatic growth following adverse events. My presentation will be based on peer supporters perspectives of providing support in an Irish context.
After losing 6 friends on my FD to suicide, I went to Chaplain Mario Gonzalez, the director of my peer support program and he called for a meeting with the clinical director. It was decided there was an obvious need and I was instructed to do a 3 month pilot study with Charlie at my station. That’s how the MDFR Response K9 program got started. It looked different back then but has grown into what it is today.
When I started doing research into the benefit of therapy and service dogs I decided certification was the way to go for our teams and our organization as we already had CISM training for the humans. It was through the connections with I.C.I.S.F. and our CISM training program that I ended up meeting Cindy Ehlers, an expert in the field of civilian canine crisis response and a K9 handler at the WTC site after 9/11.
After seeing the direct benefits as backed up by current research indicating therapy and service dogs play a role in resiliency and post traumatic growth we set up the program with 3 separate tiers for this specific responder program.
The purpose of this presentation is to promote an awareness of how crisis response canines can help both civilian and responder organizations and explain the differences in training and certification currently available for both.
(1) CISM Response K9
In this tier, the responder with his or her own trained K9 is an active member of the CISM Peer Support team. In all CISM settings the benefit to the recipients is the oxytocin release and immediate physiological responses for calming. The dogs help create a safe space for responders where its ok not to be ok and process what they just experienced.
We’ve noticed the dog can also become a focal point for people who are struggling to share. when the guys have a hard time talking they automatically start staring at Charlie.
its easier to look at a dog than other people when they have something difficult to say. the dogs can be a focal point for people having a hard time sharing and some have used Charlie as a shield to lean on when they flat out broke down. In a diffusing setting we expect the dogs to alert to mood changes when humans change emotions and pheromones are produced. In this way the dogs aren’t just a prop for people to look at, they become active participants in the diffusing.
(2) Station Dogs
Because of cumulative trauma, station dogs are justified as reasonable to have something in place before and after each call as responders are not able to process the events of the last call before running the next call.
The expected benefits from long term exposure to the same dog include less time off from work, more cohesive crews, less discipline issues, etc.
(3) Service dogs
To be able to provide personnel with service dogs that can provide healing to the soul, reduce symptomology and build the foundation of the person, not just the first responder.
Shawn Campana, CK9RT, CDT, CISM
Response K9 Coordinator for Peer Support Team
Miami Dade Fire Rescue
Captain Shawn Campana has worked for Miami Dade Fire Rescue for 24 years. She has been on the department's CISM Peer Support team since 2015. Shawn started a Response K9 program 5 years ago in response to the PTSD and Suicide Ideation epidemic that has impacted her fire department. She started the program with her dog Charlie who was also her service dog, and has grown the program into what it is today. The team has grown to 10 Peer Support handler K9 teams. She is looking forward to expanding the program to provide station dogs, and service dogs for firefighters, and continues to help other organizations implement their own Peer Support canine programs.
Cindy Ehlers, D.N.C.C.M., CT, CFE, FT
Cindy Ehlers
Green Cross
Cindy’s passion is helping responders and civilians through the human animal bond. After responding to a high school shooting in Oregon in 1998, she developed and implemented programs utilizing dogs to reach at risk populations and those in crisis. In 2001, at the request of the American Red Cross, Cindy and three other handler/dog teams provided comfort on the ferry boats and provided respite foot responders at the WTC site. She has achieved diplomate status through the National Center for Crisis Management for her experience & contribution in the field of Canine Crisis Response and Animal Assisted Crisis Interventions. Cindy provides expert advice in the field of canine crisis response to both civilian and responder organizations. She is a member of ICISF, Green Cross and National Center for Crisis Management.
Join Dr. Jeffrey T Mitchell, Phd, CCISM, cofounder ICISF as he discusses case studies using the CISM protocol in Natural Disasters. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is a protocol designed to help individuals and communities cope with the emotional and psychological impact of critical incidents, including natural disasters. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is a protocol designed to help individuals and communities cope with the emotional and psychological impact of critical incidents, including natural disasters.
Jeffery T Mitchell, PhD, CCISM
Co-Founder
ICISF, Inc.
Jeffrey T. Mitchell, PhD, CCISM is Clinical Professor of Emergency Health Services at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County, Maryland and President Emeritus of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. He earned his Ph.D. in Human Development from the University of Maryland. Dr. Mitchell serves on the graduate faculty of UMBC and also has served as a dissertation reviewer for numerous graduate students in international universities when their dissertations were related to emergency personnel. He has presented at conferences in twenty-eight nations around the globe.
After serving as a firefighter/paramedic, Dr. Mitchell developed a comprehensive, integrated, systematic, and multi-component crisis intervention program called “Critical Incident Stress Management.” He has authored over 275 articles and 19 books in the stress and crisis intervention fields and serves as an adjunct faculty member of the Emergency Management Institute of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Dr. Mitchell is a reviewer for the Journal of the American Medical Association and the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health. He received the Austrian Red Cross Bronze Medal for his work in Crisis Intervention in the aftermath of the Kaprum Train tunnel fire.
The Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists approved Dr. Mitchell as a Certified Trauma Specialist, and The United Nations appointed him to the United Nations Department of Safety and Security Working Group on Stress. He actively teaches CISM and consults with emergency services, military personnel, hospitals, business and industries on a regular basis.
Presentation Details:
This presentation will be prerecorded followed by a live breakout session with interactive activities and facilitated conversation. The content will include educational information on the particular types of stress that comes with disasters and impacts an activated Emergency Operations Center environment. Whether that EOC is a government agency, a private business or a school system, the work is impacted by the intensity of the task at hand. Emergency Managers of all kinds often see themselves as immune since they are not in the field dealing hands-on with victims or survivors.
The reality is they are at times more prone to disaster stress than their counterpart first responders. The appropriate use of CISM activities are designed to keep people productive, not take them off line. Just like trickle charging a battery, effective in the moment disaster stress management can help ensure good judgement and appropriate decisions are being made. This workshop will use case studies and facilitated conversation to explore this topic.
Learning Objectives:
Mary C. Schoenfeldt
Emergency Management Professional
Green Cross Academy of Traumatology
Dr. Mary Schoenfeldt is an Emergency Manager with a specialty in school and community crisis. She has a passion for Disaster Psychology delivers Disaster Stress Management for a non profit ..Green Cross Academy of Traumatology. She responded to Columbine HS shooting, Hurricane Katina, Haitian Earthquake, Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting, Hurricane Harvey and was in the Emergency Operations Center for 6 weeks following the 530 Mudslide. She currently is providing support manage COVID 19. When she isn’t traveling she is behind the podium as Past President of Everett Port Gardner Rotary.
