IM11 - Post Traumatic Stress

Purpose

To identify the causes of critical incident stress and to prevent or reduce situations that may result in undue and detrimental stress.

Policy

The owner or operator of an aquatic facility should take serious incidents seriously and should have appropriate measures and procedures in place to maintain the welfare of staff, volunteers and sub-contractors. During the course of duty staff may be exposed to or involved in a serious incident.

Reactions to these incidents may occur straight away or after a period of time.

Definition

For the purpose of this document post-traumatic stress means the negative impact (psychological or physiological) on individuals, caused by serious or other incidents in an aquatic facility.

Causes of Stress

Post-Traumatic stress occurs as a result of trauma associated with serious incidents, such as emergencies.

Examples of serious incidents in an aquatic facility may involve staff dealing with a deceased person, a significant rescue or a resuscitation etc.

Signs and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress

Factors that may assist in the identifying stress factors in yourself and others include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Distressing recollections or memories of the event
• Distressing dreams of the event
• Flashbacks
• Avoiding thoughts, feelings or conversations associated with the event
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Irritability or outbursts of anger
• Difficulty concentrating
• Avoidance of the psychical location of event
• Intensified symptoms when exposed to situations or activities that resemble or symbolize the original trauma

Control Measures

Critical incident stress is a significant health and safety issue and steps must be taken to ensure staff are not subjected to unnecessary stress. Control measures to minimise stress may include, but are not limited to:

• Providing adequate training for personnel, allowing for extra time if required
• A safe working environment is provided at all times
• Awareness training for staff on the occurrence of stress following exposure to critical incidents
• Effective communication within the workplace and within work teams
• Counselling for identified individuals in a “peer support” role

Serious incidents can have a strong emotional impact, which can overwhelm the usually effective coping skills of the individual or group. Staff members may experience a number of different reactions to a critical incident, all of which are completely normal. Staff, contractors and families play an important role in ensuring that a counselling service is used effectively. Recognising the early warning signs of a staff member experiencing on-going reactions and knowing how to refer that person to a counselling service is a very important role.

When the owner or operator of an aquatic facility (or their delegate) is conducting an operational debrief they should:

• Observe and record any members displaying obvious emotional trauma;
• Outline the effects that traumatic events can have on people (immediate/delayed on-set);
• Outline what support is available and how to access it (hotline, counselling sessions);
• Provide supporting information (brochures, contact information);
• Outline the process ‘from here’ as far as follow-up, accessing additional support etc;
• Ensure all staff directly involved completes the relevant notification of injury forms from the state/territory regulator

When to Seek Professional Counselling?

Following a traumatic event it’s common and normal for the member to experience a range of emotions, including numbness, fear, anxiety, guilt, sadness, anger and regret. These acute reactions generally subside over time as the members involved process the experience and come to terms with the event.

Seeking confidential professional counselling will offer the staff member the opportunity to talk about and process their experience, understand reactions and assist with the recovery process.

Employers or State/territory regulators (I.e. Work Safe or Work Cover) should offer a counsellor will work with the staff member to assist with healthy coping behaviours to manage and reduce any distressing reactions and/or negative impact.

Confidentiality

Expert counselling and State/territory regulators are confidential from the moment you call in. No information from sessions with the counsellor can be disclosed.

Follow Up Welfare Check

As the symptoms of trauma on members can present themselves sometime after the incident, It is important that the owner or operator of an aquatic facility communicate post-incident to discuss the event and the need to ensure that the staff members involved are monitored and provided ongoing support (if required).

References

• Australian Post Traumatic Stress Guidelines – Phoenix Australia
• Guidelines for Psychological Services – Attorney Generals Department (Emergency Management)