What is a Critical Incident?
A critical incident can be any situation which causes an emergency services worker to experience strong emotional reactions that have the potential to interfere with their ability to function.
Critical incidents may produce a wide range of stress symptoms, which can appear immediately at the scene, after a few hours, or even several days later. Following a critical incident, it’s not uncommon for someone to develop symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder or, eventually, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The more symptoms experienced, the more powerful the stress reaction can be. The longer the symptoms last, the more potential there is for permanent harm.
Critical incidents may produce a wide range of stress symptoms, which can appear immediately at the scene, after a few hours, or even several days later. Following a critical incident, it’s not uncommon for someone to develop symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder or, eventually, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The more symptoms experienced, the more powerful the stress reaction can be. The longer the symptoms last, the more potential there is for permanent harm.
Examples of Critical Incidents include, but are not limited to:
- Automobile Accidents
- Sexual Assault/Abuse
- Robbery
- Physical Injury/Abuse
- Perception of Serious Threat to Self or Significant Other
- Psychological Abuse
- Suicide
- Homicide
- Line of Duty Injury or Death Among First Responders
- Observing a Traumatic Incident
- Natural Disasters
- Acts of Terrorism
- Child-Related Traumatic Events