Incidents affecting people.
WHAT COUNTS
A serious injury or death A violent incident A robbery or threat A major accident The death of a colleague An incident affecting customers
WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY
Attend to safety and injury Contact emergency services Secure the area Contact families, appropriately
WHY APPROPRIATELY
Families should hear from a person, not from rumour or news.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Who informs families, and how.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE INVOLVED
Remove them from the situation Ensure they are not alone Arrange for them to get home safely Do not require them to continue working
WHY
Immediate continuation of work after a serious event is harmful.
WHAT TO PROVIDE IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS
Contact Information about what is happening Access to support Time
WHAT TO EXPECT
Reactions varying widely, and some delayed.
WHAT REACTIONS ARE COMMON
Difficulty sleeping Reliving the event Anxiety in similar situations Difficulty concentrating Avoidance
WHY IT MATTERS TO SAY
These are ordinary responses, and treating them as weakness prevents people seeking help.
WHAT TO AVOID
Requiring immediate return to normal Minimising the event Telling people what they should have done Pressing for detail
WHY THAT THIRD POINT
It produces self-blame and it is the commonest unhelpful response.
WHAT TO ARRANGE
Professional support, available.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
That accessing it is confidential and not recorded against them.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE WHO WERE NOT PRESENT
Inform them, and recognise that they are affected too.
WHAT TO REVIEW
What happened, and what would prevent recurrence.
