Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 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. This guide will help responders build the skills needed to keep a clear mind in times of high stress.
Information for First Responders on Emotional Reactions of Human Bodies in Mass Death- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stess: This document contains lessons learned by other people who have worked with bodies in disaster environments.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation - Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is a method of helping first responders and others who have been involved with events that leave them emotionally and/or physically affected by those incidents. CISM is a process that enables peers to help their peers understand problems that might occur after an event. This process also helps people prepare to continue to perform their services or in some cases return to a normal lifestyle. ICISF provides training for individuals interested in becoming a part of a crisis management team, or for an organization that is dedicated to helping individuals or groups recover from incidents.
Tips for Disaster Responders: Returning to Work - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: While the life saving contributions made by first responders can be rewarding, the stress created by responding to disasters can sometimes cause adjustment difficulties when first responders return to work after a major disaster. This tip sheet can help ease your transition back to routine work.
Tips for Disaster Responders - Preventing and Managing Stress - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Responding to disasters and other emergencies is critically important, and while personally rewarding, it also carries the potential for affecting responders in harmful ways. Responders can take actions to protect themselves and to manage stress before a disaster or other traumatic event, as well as during the response and recovery phases.