Recognize the Signs

Recognizing the signs of Burnout and Secondary Stress

Responding to disasters is both rewarding and challenging work. Sources of stress for emergency responders may include witnessing human suffering, risk of personal harm, intense workloads, life-and-death decisions, and separation from family. Stress prevention and management is critical for responders to stay well and to continue to help in the situation. There are important steps responders should take before, during, and after an event. To take care of others, responders must be feeling well and thinking clearly.

Coping techniques like taking breaks, eating healthy foods, exercising, and using the buddy system can help prevent and reduce burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Recognize the signs of both of these conditions in yourself and other responders to be sure those who need a break or need help can address these needs.

Responders experience stress during a crisis. When stress builds up it can cause:

• Burnout – feelings of extreme exhaustion and being overwhelmed.

• Secondary traumatic stress – stress reactions and symptoms resulting from exposure to another individual’s traumatic experiences, rather than from exposure directly to a traumatic event.

• Signs Of Burnout:

• Sadness, depression, or apathy

• Easily frustrated

• Blaming of others, irritability

• Lacking feelings, indifferent

• Isolation or disconnection from others

• Poor self-care (hygiene)

• Tired, exhausted or overwhelmed

• Feeling like:

  • A failure

  • Nothing you can do will help

  • You are not doing your job well

  • You need alcohol/other drugs to cope

• Signs of Secondary Traumatic Stress

• Excessively worry or fear about something bad happening

• Easily startled, or “on guard” all of the time

• Physical signs of stress (e.g. racing heart)

• Nightmares or recurrent thoughts about the traumatic situation

• The feeling that others’ trauma is yours

Get support from team members: Develop a Buddy System

In a buddy system, two responders partner together to support each other, and monitor each other’s stress, workload, and safety.

• Get to know each other. Talk about background, interests, hobbies, and family. Identify each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

• Keep an eye on each other. Try to work in the same location if you can.

• Set up times to check-in with each other. Listen carefully and share experiences and feelings. Acknowledge tough situations and recognize accomplishments, even small ones.

• Offer to help with basic needs such as sharing supplies and transportation.

• Monitor each other’s workloads. Encourage each other to take breaks. Share opportunities for stress relief (rest, routine sleep, exercise, and deep breathing).

• Communicate your buddy’s basic needs and limits to leadership – make your buddy feel “safe” to speak up.

Responder Self-Care Techniques

• Limit working hours to no longer than 12-hour shifts.

• Work in teams and limit amount of time working alone.

• Write in a journal.

• Talk to family, friends, supervisors, and teammates about your feelings and experiences.

• Practice breathing and relaxation techniques.

• Maintain a healthy diet and get adequate sleep and exercise.

• Know that it is okay to draw boundaries and say “no.”

• Avoid or limit caffeine and use of alcohol.

It is important to remind yourself:

• It is not selfish to take breaks.

• The needs of survivors are not more important than your own needs and well-being.

• Working all of the time does not mean you will make your best contribution.

• There are other people who can help in the response.

Information provided by: https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/responders.asp