TY - JOUR
PY - 2017//
TI - Exploring critical incidents and postexposure management in a volunteer fire service
JO - Journal of aggression, maltreatment and trauma
A1 - Brazil, Amanda
SP - 244
EP - 257
VL - 26
IS - 3
N2 - Volunteer firefighters make up approximately 85% of the fire service in Canada (Haynes, 2016) and almost the entire fire service on Prince Edward Island. Through this voluntary service, these men and women are at an increased risk of witnessing critical and traumatic events. This descriptive study surveyed 102 volunteer firefighters on Prince Edward Island from 5 different departments representing each of the 3 counties. It explored the rates of critical incident exposures as interpreted by the firefighters themselves and examined the various postexposure interventions used within the fire service on Prince Edward Island. Finally, the participants were asked whether certain environmental factors increased the severity of critical incident calls.
FINDINGS indicated that most firefighters in the sample have had numerous critical incident exposures and that departments are working to provide postexposure assistance. The findings also suggest that there are environmental factors that can increase the severity of critical incident calls, which departments can help to mitigate by including specific training and preparedness measures.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1092-6771 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2016.1264529 ID - ref1 ER -