First Responders after Disasters: A Review of Stress Reactions, At-Risk, Vulnerability, and Resilience Factors

Abstract

Disasters are widely reported, commonplace events that characteristically leave an enormous legacy of human suffering through death, injury, extensive infrastructural damage, and disorganization to systems and communities.The economic costs may be almost incalculable. Professional and civilian first responders play a vital role in mitigating these effects. However, to maximize their potential with the minimum health and welfare costs to first responders, is important to have a good understanding of the demands of such work on them, how they cope, and what enables them to fulfi ll their roles.This review will explore these themes by highlighting important findings and areas of uncertainty.

Post-traumatic effects in policing: perceptions, stigmas and help seeking behaviours

“…Police officers are exposed to traumatic events during their careers (Weiss et al, 2010) that may impair their ability to function normally (Alexander & Klein, 2009). Continued avoidance of treatment can cause problems at work and at home, termination of Police Practice and Research: An International Journal 7 employment, and sometimes, in worse-case scenarios, suicide (Barron, 2010;Bloodgood, 2006;Chae & Boyle, 2013;Larned, 2010;McCafferty, McCafferty, & McCafferty, 1992;Perin, 2007).…”

“…As a result, they are often exposed to traumatic events that produce emotional and cognitive reactions and potentially debilitate normal functioning in daily roles and responsibilities (Alexander & Klein, 2009;Collins & Gibbs, 2003). As reported in Perrin et al (2007), the US' national prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is roughly 4%; however, for first responders, these levels range from 5 to 36% (Bloodgood, 2006;Carlier, Lamberts, Van Uchelen, & Gersons, 1998;Centers for Disease Control, 2004;Kleim & Westphal, 2012;Norris, Tracy, & Galea, 2009;Robbers & Jenkins, 2005).…”

Vital Analysis: Annotating sensed physiological signals with the stress levels of first responders in action

“…Recent studies have shown that these professionals have the highest occupational fatality rates in the U.S., mainly due to cardiovascular problems [1]. These problems can result from the long time exposures to several traumatic, non-traumatic, and organizational stressors over time [2], which are known to be associated with psychological and physical illness [3]. This motivates the need for new systems and technologies capable of monitoring, in real time, the physiological signals and the behaviour patterns of these professionals, in order to assess their stress levels.…”

Ideal and nonideal moral theory for disaster bioethics

“…At the same time, many responders report positive impacts of their work during disasters, especially the development of resilience. Frontline healthcare workers have reported that their work during an outbreak had positive impacts through opportunities to reassess their life values and priorities, and deepen their relationships with co-workers and others (Alexander & Klein, 2009). Similarly, many who stayed to fight Ebola within their local communities, or who left home to serve in Ebola regions, reported some positive experiences (von Drehle, 2014).…”