Behavioral Wellness – Workshop
Early efforts of the fire service to manage impacts of stressful events on the job paved the way for much research and information now available regarding occupational exposure to traumatic events. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) was widely adopted in the fire service. Widespread use led to rigorous investigation of intervention efficacy by independent researchers in psychology, psychiatry, and public health. Authoritative guidelines for early interventions following exposure to traumatic events now recommend against routine debriefing or other procedures incorporating debriefing-like assumptions and approaches. This workshop will discuss the latest research and programs for addressing traumatic stress, the changes to NFPA 1500 and the components of Stress First Aid.