Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: A ... - PHE Home

• Engage the responder or care provider for purposes of followup assessments and
identification of service needs across multiple domains, including home, clinical,
work, and community settings that involve individuals, families, and groups.
Benefits
One of the primary ways to reduce stress for first responders and other service providers
is through “psychoeducational programs,” especially training that emphasizes skills in the
following:
• Coping with people. Stress reduction also occurs through increased confidence
and abilities to have an impact on and help other people rather than just oneself
(e.g., microcounseling, “psychological first aid,” human relations training,
assertiveness training).
• Interpersonal awareness. Stress reduction also occurs through increased
understanding and awareness of your own and other people’s cognitive and
emotional reactions to traumatic events.
These programs significantly decrease the following:
• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Psychological strain.
• Physical strain.
• Emotional exhaustion.
• Vocational strain.
• Interpersonal strain.
Additionally, these programs decrease anger and improve relationship adjustment.
Risk Communication and Media Issues
Information should be communicated to the public in timely, accurate ways that do not
heighten concern and fear. Communicating effectively during a crisis requires the
following:
• Planning.
• Preparation.
• An understanding of communications protocols, messaging, and the media.
• The ability to manage the flow of information.
Each element is a challenge that can be met effectively, to the benefit of those receiving
messages in times of crisis.
Developing Goals and Key Messages
People often fail to communicate effectively due to a lack of clear communications goals
and key messages to support them. Setting such goals and identifying support messages
are tasks that should be accomplished before issuing any public comment and are
especially important in a crisis.
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