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CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT
Dublin Fire Brigade provides psychosocial support
for its staff following traumatic events through
a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
system. Education around general mental health
and wellbeing begins on entry to Dublin Fire Brigade
and is followed by further education specifically
designed to prepare members of staff to deal with
the effects of traumatic incidents. Specialised
training is provided to each Officer rank in order to
ensure that immediate support is available. This is
enhanced by members of a Peer Support Team who
offer their support on a voluntary basis and can be
contacted 24 hours a day on well-advertised phone
numbers.
Unfortunately, we were unable to train new Peer
Supporters during 2023 but hope to rectify matters
early in 2024. On a brighter note, we were able to
access advanced training and instructor training
for senior Peer Supporters. We now have three
Instructors who are fully trained to the standard of
the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. Brigade staff members help each other. This is to
We are now in a position to train our own staff.
Indeed, we were also able to offer training to staff
of the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive through
this valuable resource.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023 Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 2023
While informal conversations with Peer Supporters
are a common occurrence amongst DFB staff and
not formally counted our CISM Peer Support Team
was formally alerted to 38 formal CISM interventions
during 2023. Some 82 incidents were directly
reported to the CISM Peer Support Team by the East
Region Control Centre.
Highlights of 2023 include a return to ‘live’ Recruit
Family Evenings. These were held for two classes
of Recruit Firefighter/Paramedics and two classes
of Emergency Services Controllers. A large
attendance from families ensured that Recruits and
their loved ones had an opportunity to understand
the challenges of their new role and the supports
available to them. Finally, members of the CISM Peer
Support Team were honoured to be present with
retired members of Dublin Fire Brigade who gave
evidence to the Stardust Fire Inquests in 2023.
CISM is an excellent resource where Dublin Fire
the benefit of Dublin Fire Brigade, Dublin City Council
and ultimately to the public we serve.
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