Stress First Aid for Wildland Firefighters Stress First

Stress First Aid for Wildland Firefighters

Stress First Aid Use Stress First Aid (SFA) to: § Improve self awareness and self-care § Recognize those who are reacting to stressful events and may need support to promote healing § Apply a range of basic actions to assist those individuals § Help to create bridges to higher levels of care, when needed

Stress Continuum Model READY (Green) DEFINITION § Optimal functioning § Adaptive growth § Wellness FEATURES § At one’s best § Well-trained and prepared § In control § Physically, mentally and spiritually fit § Mission-focused § Motivated § Calm and steady § Having fun § Behaving ethically REACTING (Yellow) DEFINITION § Mild and transient distress or impairment § Always goes away § Low risk CAUSES § Any stressor FEATURES § Feeling irritable, anxious or down § Loss of motivation § Loss of focus § Difficulty sleeping § Muscle tension or other physical changes § Not having fun INJURED (Orange) DEFINITION § More severe and persistent distress or impairment § Leaves a scar § Higher risk CAUSES § Life threat § Loss § Moral injury § Wear and tear FEATURES § Loss of control § Panic, rage or depression § No longer feeling like normal self § Excessive guilt, shame or blame ILL (Red) DEFINITION § Clinical mental disorder § Unhealed stress injury causing life impairment TYPES § PTSD § Depression § Anxiety § Substance abuse FEATURES § Symptoms persist and worsen over time § Severe distress or social or occupational impairment

Stress First Aid Model

SFA Cover: Interventions § § § § Ask about concerns Reassure that it is safe here and now Reduce triggers, reminders, or circumstances that make the person feel unsafe Educate the person about how to feel more safe Provide an accurate voice to help limit sense of threat Educate family members Focus on what to do rather than what not to do

SFA Calming: Interventions § § § § § Maintain a calm presence Respect the person’s needs Reassure by authority and presence Show understanding Validate concerns Ask questions in calming or distracting way Provide information about reactions Provide brief instruction in grounding/breathing Provide information about resources and services

SFA Connect: Interventions § § Ask about social support Help individuals to link with supportive others (peer support, family, friends, colleagues, professional support) Provide support yourself Address potential negative social influences

SFA Competence: Interventions § § § Give extra training / mentoring in tasks that are causing stress Ask what the person usually does to calm down, and/or remind him/her of the strategies and skills that have worked before Encourage active coping “Recalibrate” expectations/goals Help problem-solve and set achievable goals Connect to community resources

SFA Confidence: Interventions § Identify, amplify, concentrate on strengths § Normalize responses § Honor and make meaning § Reframe self-defeating statements § Encourage positive coping behaviors § Avoid judgment § Reduce guilt about actions § Clarify rumors, misunderstandings, distortions

Essential SFA Skills 1. Recognize when a peer has a stress injury 2. Act: If you see something, say something 3. § To the distressed person § To a trusted support of the distressed person Know at least 2 trusted resources you would offer to a peer in distress

How Can You Use SFA? Check Approach Decide what is most needed: Anxiety Guilt/Shame Sleep Problems Isolation Grief Severe Inability to Function Competence Calm Cover Connect Confidence Coordinate

Key Point Emphasis § SFA is collaborative and non-judgmental § Timing and context are important § Mentoring and problem solving are highlighted § Flexibility and small steps are emphasized § SFA is not meant to address all ranges of issues § Bridge to higher care when indicated

Next Steps • Training • Support