Heart Education Awareness Resource and Training through eLearning (HEARTe)

Supporting the Responders

MIND, a leading UK mental health charity, reported that 87% of emergency service workers had experienced stress, low mood and poor mental health at some point since taking up their post. It is important that professionals responding to a OHCA event are offered the opportunity for support, if required.

One strategy for allowing responders to reflect on their experience of an OHCA is “hot” debriefing. A hot debrief is an informal supportive session, exploring events immediately after they have occurred. It takes place while everybody involved in the incident is still present and while everything is fresh in people’s minds.

The video below shows an example of a hot debrief being carried out by firefighters following their attendance at a cardiac arrest.

The impact of responding to an event, such as Rose’s cardiac arrest, may not always be immediately evident. An example of good practice can be seen in a collaboration between Scottish Fire & Rescue and NHS Lothian’s Rivers Centre. Fire & Rescue staff who attend an OHCA are offered the opportunity to complete a 1 month critical incident support form (see below). This acknowledges that issues can emerge for an individual some time after an actual event.

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RIVERS CENTRE AND SCOTTISH FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE: PROMOTING RESILIENCE & KEEPING STAFF WELL
You”ve been sent this questionnaire because you were recently involved in a critical incident. This questionnaire is one of the ways SFRS staff can access support from the Rivers Centre. The information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be accessed only by Rivers Centre clinicians.

If you request an appointment we aim to see you within 7 working days. If you do not request an appointment but we believe you may benefit from further support, we may contact you.
Some questions about you
  1. Your name………………….
  2. A telephone number on which we can contact you…………………
Some questions about the incident
Were you directly involved in this incident? **
If no then you can return the form in the prepaid envelope now.
If yes then:		 Yes No
1. Has this particular incident bothered you more than others have? Yes No
2. During the incident, did you feel as if it wsn”t happening or wasn”t real? Yes No
3. In the 2 or 3 days after the incident did you have a sense of unreality? Yes No
4. Do you feel you were able to help as much as you could have done? Yes No
5. Are there things you wish you had done differently? Yes No
6. Do you think other people could have helped more than they did? Yes No
7. Did things go according to plan as far as possible? Yes No
8. Did any of the victims remind you of anyone close to you? Yes No
Some questions about stress
1. Is there someone you would talk to if you thought you had a problem? Yes No
2. Do you feel particularly under pressure at the moment at home? Yes No
3. Do you feel particularly under pressure at the moment at work? Yes No
4. Have you been “off sick” for more than 10 days in the last six months? Yes No
5. Do you think you receive the support you need? Yes No
The following questionnaire is concerned with the reactions that sometimes occur after traumatic events. Please consider the following questions in relation to how you”ve been feeling since the last critical incident. Please indicate whether or not you have experienced any of the following AT LEAST TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK:
Yes, at least twice in the past week No
1. Upsetting thoughts or memories about the event that have come into your mind against your will. ✓
2. Upsetting dreams about the event. ✓
3. Acting or feeling as though the event were happening again. ✓
4. Feeling upset by reminders of the event. ✓
5. Bodily reactions (such as heartbeat, stomach churning, sweatiness, dizziness) when reminded of the event. ✓
6. Difficulty falling or staying asleep. ✓
7. Irrability or outbursts of anger. ✓
8. Difficulty concentrating. ✓
9. Heightened awareness of potential dangers to yourself and others. ✓
10. Being jumpy or being startled at something unexpected. ✓
Please fill in the box below if you would like to tell us anything else about the incident or how you are feeling.
I have difficulty relaxing and have lost my appetite.
Contact with the Rivers Centre
If you would like to talk in confidence to someone at the Rivers Centre please tick the box: ✓
You can contact us by:

  1. returning this form in the prepaid envelope
  2. calling us
  3. emailing us
You can find out more information about the Rivers Centre and the service we provide to SFRS staff at NHS Lothian: Rivers Centre