Which process confronts the responses to critical incidents and defuses them?

Which process confronts the responses to critical incidents and defuses them?

• A. CISM
• B. EAP
• C. Debriefing
• D. SOP

Answer: (A)

Managing the immediate emotional reactions that follow a critical incident is handled by a structured approach aimed at confronting those responses and defusing the distress. This is Critical Incident Stress Management, or CISM. CISM provides early, supportive interventions designed to identify acute stress reactions, normalize feelings, and teach coping strategies so reactions don’t escalate or become long-lasting. It often includes defusing sessions shortly after the event and can route individuals to further help if needed. While Employee Assistance Programs offer ongoing counseling for broader personal or work issues, and debriefing sessions are a part of post-incident processing, the formal process whose explicit purpose is to confront and defuse post-incident responses is CISM. A standard operating procedure is a set of task steps, not a psychosocial intervention.

Managing the immediate emotional reactions that follow a critical incident is handled by a structured approach aimed at confronting those responses and defusing the distress. This is Critical Incident Stress Management, or CISM. CISM provides early, supportive interventions designed to identify acute stress reactions, normalize feelings, and teach coping strategies so reactions don’t escalate or become long-lasting. It often includes defusing sessions shortly after the event and can route individuals to further help if needed. While Employee Assistance Programs offer ongoing counseling for broader personal or work issues, and debriefing sessions are a part of post-incident processing, the formal process whose explicit purpose is to confront and defuse post-incident responses is CISM. A standard operating procedure is a set of task steps, not a psychosocial intervention.