After the Event Trained volunteers will be the first to help survivors with post event traumatic stress, which may affect how people think and act, their physical health, and how they interact with others. If we don’t have trained volunteers, we will ask the most qualified person to provide psychological first aid.

The basic steps are:

1. Stabilize the survivors to calm the incident scene. Address medical needs then provide psychological first aid. Observe survivors to determine their level of responsiveness and determine whether they pose a danger to themselves or others. Get uninjured survivors involved in stabilizing the situation to help them cope with the situation. Give them constructive jobs. Provide support by (a) listening, empathizing, and connecting them to their natural support systems (Unit 5, pp. 5-10). 
2. Provide psychological first aid by listening, protecting, and connecting. Be an empathic listener, paraphrase what they say, and pay attention to the survivors’ nonverbal communication. Pay attention to what they say, how they act, and what they need in the moment. Remember that survivors may not be ready to talk; check back with them regularly. Do what you can to protect them from added stress by providing support, encouragement, and reassurance. Connect survivors with their friends, loved ones and other resources to promote a faster psychological recovery (Unit 5, pp. 5-10 and 5.11).
   1. What volunteers say is as important as what they do not say. Those providing psychological first aid should avoid phrases like “I understand,” “Don’t feel bad,” “You are strong” or You will get through this,” “Don’t cry,” “It is God’s will,” “It could be worse,” “At least you have…,” or “Everything will be ok.”
   2. Recommended phrases include “I’m sorry for your pain,” I’m sorry this happened,” Is it alright if I help you with…,” and “what do you need.”

Training. Volunteers will take part in semi-annual mock post-disaster scenarios to strengthen and maintain their psychological first aid skills.