Critical Incident Stress Management Team Policy

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, roles, and procedures detailed in the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department General Order 08-03 on Critical Incident Stress Management.

Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team

A specialized group within the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department that provides stress-management support to personnel after critical incidents or disasters.

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

A facilitated, confidential communication session conducted after a serious incident to help personnel process and manage stress.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

A support program for career employees; its staff serve on the CISM Team and its coordinator acts as the CISM Team Coordinator.

Volunteer Assistance Program (VAP)

A support program for volunteer members; its staff also serve on the CISM Team.

CISM Team Coordinator

The Coordinator of the EAP/VAP who oversees CISM Team staffing, activation, training, and overall operations.

Critical Incident

An event smaller than a disaster that may seriously impact personnel, such as a line-of-duty death, child fatality, mass casualty, or serious media attention.

Disaster (CISM context)

A large-scale incident for which the Fire Chief or Incident Commander may request the CISM Team to provide advisory and on-scene stress-management support.

On-scene Support

Assistance offered by CISM members to personnel who are on work breaks during prolonged incidents.

Diffusing Session

A brief, short-term stress-relief meeting held away from the scene for personnel leaving an incident or going off duty.

Activation Hotline

Confidential phone line (240-343-2467) used to request one-on-one help and initiate a CISM Team response.

Executive Officer

Primary official responsible for activating the CISM Team once it is requested by the Fire Chief or Incident Commander.

Duty Chief

Officer who activates the CISM Team if the Executive Officer is unavailable.

Mutual Aid CISM Team

An external CISM resource that can be requested, with Fire Chief approval, when the incident exceeds the local team’s capacity.

Watch Office

Fire/EMS office (301-583-2200) that can anonymously page the CISM shift leader if the hotline does not generate a prompt callback.

Shift Leader (CISM)

The on-duty CISM team member whose pager is activated by hotline messages; coordinates the immediate response.

Quarterly Meetings

Regular gatherings, in addition to annual in-service training, that CISM Team members must attend to maintain skills and readiness.