Any incident that causes an individual to experience unusually strong emotional involvement whose reactions to it has the potential to interfere with that individual's ability to function during or after the incident may qualify for a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. The following are some examples of incidents that may be selected for a debriefing:

• Serious injury or death of an emergency services personnel at an incident
• Mass casualty incidents
• Suicide of a co-worker
• School-related crisis
• Death or violence to a child
• Natural disasters
• Incidents that attract extremely unusual or critical media coverage
• Any incident that is charged with profound emotion, and is deemed critical by the officer or person in authority

The lists below represent some of the symptoms a person may experience following a critical incident (CI). These symptoms are temporary and may last from several days up to a couple weeks. However, if the symptoms persist longer than several months, it is important to seek professional help. Symptoms of CI stress include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Physical Symptoms*
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• Fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping or developing insomnia
• Easily startled
• Chest pain
• Headaches
• Elevated blood pressure
• Rapid heart rate
• Teeth grinding

• *Any of these symptoms may indicate the need for medical evaluation. When in doubt, consult a physician.

• Behavioral Symptoms*
•  
• Hyperarousal — increased arousal: the person continues to anticipate an overwhelming threat. It may cause difficulties with attention and concentration.
• Avoidance — withdrawal: avoids close emotional ties with family, colleagues, and friends. Other changes in social activity, including isolation (being distant).
• Inability to rest.
• Intensified pacing.
• Erratic movement.
• Loss of or increase in appetite.
• Increased alcohol consumption: abusing alcohol or other drugs as a form of self-medication.
• Change in usual communications.
• Completes only routine mechanical activities.

• Emotional Symptoms*
•  
• Fear
• Grief
• Panic
• Denial
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Irritability
• Depression
• Intense anger
• Apprehension
• Guilt because he or she survived while others did not
• Emotional outbursts — suddenly irritable or explosive, whether provoked or not
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Loss of emotional control
• Inappropriate emotional response
• Inability to feel or express emotions
• Emotional numbness (difficulty feeling love and intimacy, or in taking interest and pleasure in day-to-day activities)

• Cognitive Symptoms*
•  
• Confusion
• Nightmares
• Uncertainty
• Suspiciousness
• Intrusive images — the unwanted memories so strong he or she feels the critical incident is actually occurring again
• Blaming others
• Poor problem solving
• Poor abstract thinking
• Shortened attention span or indecisiveness
• Poor concentration or memory
• Difficulty identifying objects or people
• Heightened or lowered alertness
• Increase or decrease awareness of surroundings
• Memory loss
• Self-blame