Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) in Rural Communities

Livia M. D’Andrea - University of Nevada, Reno
Paul C. Abney - University of Nevada, Reno
Richard Swinney - Bureau of Licensure & Certification/Emergency Medical Services
James R. Ganyon - Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (Ret.)

Emergency crews in rural areas face certain challenges that urban crews may not. These challenges center mainly around the fact that people in small communities tend to know each other and that many emergency workers are volunteers who give up time with their family to work in the service of their community. This article reviews the seven debriefing stages and suggests how each stage might be adapted to emergency personnel in rural communities.