The Recovery Centre
204-659 Upper James St L9C5R8 Hamilton, ON, Canada

The high level of risk that First Responders encounter daily is now being recognized by the Ontario Government. The new pending First Responders Act is presumptive legislation, which is an atypical point of view, and in this case should be applauded. First Responders are the men and women that put aside their own safety so other can live with less danger, stress and fear.

TYPICAL REACTIONS TO A CRITICAL INCIDENT as posted on www.therecoverycentre.ca During and subsequent to a traumatic or highly stressful event that overwhelm a person’s usual coping mechanisms some typical reactions are often evident, such as:... --Hypervigilance the heightened awareness to one’s surroundings -Being easily startled and the startle response is often exaggerated -Increased irritability and proneness to anger -Sleep disturbances difficulty falling asleep due to ruminative thinking or worrying, or frequent waking, or excessive sleep -Difficulties with concentration and memory -Being thirsty -Various levels of dissociation -Nightmares or night terrors -Flashbacks varies mild intrusive thoughts to full re-experiencing -Emotional numbing -Ruminative thoughts of the event or frequent recollections of the event -Avoidance -Lack of energy and low motivation -Heightened vulnerability to illness -Emotional memories where the body is triggered, at times unknowingly, to re-experience the emotion of the event -Re-enacting the event choosing behaviors that, knowingly or unknowingly, recreate the event. -Body reactions shaking, sweating, numbness in limbs, racing heart, difficulty breathing, especially when re-triggered (anxiety symptoms) -Avoidance of social or interpersonal activity prevents overload of person’s systems -Hyperactivity to distract oneself from ruminative thinking. -May drink or do drugs to sleep or avoid nightmares and flashbacks. -Emotional constriction where one finds it difficult to feel emotions, both positive and negative emotions. -Loss of libido. -Obsessive-compulsive behaviours to provide a false sense of control over one’s environment -Feelings of demoralization, helplessness, guilt and hopelessness -Loss of personal identity or loss of spirit -Mistrust of others, heightened fear of previously enjoyed activities. -Dysphoria nothing seems to matter -Sense of detachment from others and activities. -Self-destructive behaviours or tension reduction behaviour drinking, drugs, risk-taking -Impulsive behaviours