COMDTINST 1754.3
command should not discount or repress individuals' responses to these incidents. A strategy
implying "You'll get used to it" or "It comes with the job" is ineffective to help members cope
and leads to burnout, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, or other
personal and mental health problems. These disorders adversely affect our personnel's ability
to perform their jobs and may cause domestic difficulties. This Instruction provides
Commanding Officers and Officers in Charge with access to a team skilled in helping
personnel to cope with the stresses that are often associated with critical incidents.
5.
DEFINITIONS.
a.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). An integrated system of interventions
designed to prevent and/or mitigate the adverse psychological reactions often
accompanying disaster response functions. The CISM process is not therapy; its goal is
to return the affected group or individual to their normal level of functioning. CISM
concentrates on mitigating post-traumatic stress reactions. CISM has proved a means to
assist personnel in dealing with the symptoms of Critical Incident Stress. The
intervention process involves trained peers with oversight from experienced mental
health professionals with advanced training.
b.
Critical Incident. Any event with sufficient impact to produce significant emotional
reactions now or later. Considered generally extremely unusual in the range of ordinary
human experiences. (Mitchell, Everly, 1997, pg 80) Examples of critical incidents
include these, among others:
(1)
Crew member's death in the line of duty;
(2)
Children's death or serious injury;
(3)
Multiple fatalities or seriously injured survivors;
(4)
Suicide, successful or attempted;
(5)
Natural disasters;
(6)
Class A or B mishaps;
(7)
Use of deadly force;
(8)
Grotesque injuries;
(9)
Acts of terrorism;
(10)
Acts of violence resulting in injury or even death; and
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