Critical incidents

Critical incidents are a ‘normal’ part of the emergency services workplace. We know that in many cases people will have a psychological reaction to the jobs that they attend. This too is quite normal even if the job attended was ‘routine’.

What is a critical incident?

A critical incident (CI) has been defined by international health and emergency services organisations as:

as an event out of the range of normal experience – one which is sudden and unexpected, involves the perception of a threat to life and can include elements of physical and emotional loss; and/or
any incident where the effectiveness of the police response is likely to have a significant impact on the confidence of the victim, their family and/or the community.

Victoria Police employees are faced with a range of incidents at work. From an operational point of view, we tend to think of an incident as ‘critical’ when there is a certain level of risk, threat to life, or violence involved, or there are serious consequences for an employee, or a member of the public. In comparison to operational CIs – which focus on what happened – psychological CIs focus on how we responded to what happened, both physically and emotionally.

Scenarios that trigger a strong emotional and physical response might hold some significance for the employee (even if they attend these jobs frequently). There are some jobs that can be inherently more triggering (for example cases involving children, and cases in which the victim has a likeness to themselves/ someone they know) or employees might be triggered by frequent attendance or exposure to information regarding one type of job (like a string of road fatalities or domestic violence incidents).

What might I experience after a critical incident?

After a critical incident (CI), employees may experience a range of symptoms and emotions, or they may experience no change at all. The way you feel immediately after a CI might not be the same as how you feel weeks or months down the track. The important thing to remember is that there is no ‘right’ way, or timeframe for CI responses.

Emotional aftershocks, or stress reactions are symptoms that can be felt even by the most experienced emergency services workers.

Critical incident reactions

Reactions to critical incidents (CI) vary from person to person, but usually involve one or more of the following responses.

- Frustration
- Anxiety
- Guilt
- Sense of loss
- Anger
- Denial
- Fear of losing control
- Irritability; Depression
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Feeling isolated
- Blaming
- Confusion
- Reduced attention
- Flashbacks
- Poor concentration
- Loss of confidence
- Negative self-talk
- Decreased awareness
- Troubled thoughts
- Nightmares
- Easily distracted
- Poor short-term memory
- Exhaustion
- Nausea/vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pains
- Rapid heart rate
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Raised blood pressure
- Fainting/dizziness
- Emotional outbursts
- Change in activity
- Disturbed sleep
- Increased smoking
- Easily startled
- Withdrawal
- Change in eating
- Difficulty relaxing
- Fidgety
- Increased alcohol use
- Change in sex drive

How can I look after myself after attending a critical incident?

One of the most important things you can do is to recognise that you have been through a distressing experience; give yourself permission to experience some reaction to it, and process what has happened. The following strategies can also be helpful.

- Maintain a normal routine as much as possible
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, regular exercise, recreation and quality sleep are key
- Limit stimulants such as coffee, caffeinated drinks, cigarettes and chocolate
- Avoid alcohol and drugs as a way of coping – these can affect sleep quality and can create longer term problems
- Take care in relation to driving, cooking and using machinery and tools – post critical incident you may be experiencing fatigue and poor concentration
- Avoid making major life decisions in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
- You may or may not need time off work
- If you feel able to work, talk with local management about duties and rostering, to make sure you are not overwhelmed
- Keep monitoring how you feel at work and speak with your manager or your GP if you find that you are struggling.
- Keep up contact with supportive family, friends and colleagues
- Some people find it useful to talk with others who have had similar experiences or who were there at the time
- Your family and friends might not know how best to support you. If you don’t feel comfortable talking with them about how you’re feeling, perhaps they could help in other ways, such as helping with childcare, becoming a running buddy, or cooking you a meal
- Sometimes members are overwhelmed by the volume number of people contacting them after a critical incident. You might initially need to screen your calls or take some ‘time out’… that’s ok, just don’t allow yourself to become too isolated.
It is natural to want to keep up to date with broader responses to the incident, however it is important to avoid overexposing yourself to media coverage of the event.
You may be offered advice and opinions from a range of different sources. If possible, obtain reliable and accurate information about any formal processes (such as investigations, operational debriefs, etc.) following the event and make sure that you are clear on what your obligations are.

When should I seek help?

People have natural resilience and coping mechanisms. Your personal strengths, sense of purpose, and the support of friends and family, will be key to your reponse to and recovery from exposure to a CI. You are advised to speak to a counsellor if you experience any of the following:

You are feeling on edge, jumpy, irritable or frightened most of the time.
You are concerned or distressed by your reactions, or your reactions are getting worse
Your reactions are impacting your daily life and functioning.
You are unable to carry out your normal roles, e.g. as a parent or at work.

You should seek help immediately if you are feeling hopeless or that you can’t go on.

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Triple zero 000 if or you are in danger, thinking about suicide, self-harm or harming others.

Treatment

There are different options available to get support for yourself or a loved one who is experiencing difficulties following a critical incident at work. This can include both psychological treatment and medication.

To explore different options:

Victoria Police 24/7 Wellbeing Services (for current and former Victoria Police employees) 1300 090 995
Contact Phoenix Australia | Responder Assist 1800 329 191 (9am – 5pm Monday – Friday)

Updated 20 December 2024