Critical Incident Stress Management Team

The Midstate Regional EMS Council sponsors a Critical Incident Stress Management Team. The Midstate CISM Team is available 24/7, 365 days to responded to assist first responders in their time of need after stressful incidents. The provides for peer mentors from the fields of Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement, 9-1-1 as well as mental health professionals. 

WHO ARE WE?

• Peer mentors from the fields of Fire, EMS, LE and 9-1-1 as well as mental health professionals.

• Team members are trained in helping first responders learn to cope with the stressors of their “abnormal experiences” associated with critical incidents incurred on the job.
• Defusing and/or debriefing sessions
• Safe forums for discussion and reduce provider burnout and risk for suicide.
• Direct mental health professional intervention with our member trained in grief and trauma counseling

Referrals to other mental health resources

WHERE CAN YOU FIND THE CISM TEAM?

• 24/7/365 AVAILABILITY
•  Midstate Region (Herkimer/Oneida/Madison counties)
• ACTIVATED BY E-9-1-1, AGENCY LEADERSHIP
• CONTACT US AT
• MIDSTATE EMS M-F 8AM-4PM 315-738-8351
• EMAIL:  cism@midstateems.org
• Night/weekends/holidays: Josh Stagner (315)271-1396
• Responders concerned for the health and wellbeing of themselves or a peer may also call us, 1:1 responses can be authorized by Team Leaders

WHY CALL CISM?

• EXPOSURE TO EXTREME SITUATIONS (I.E. CRITICAL INCIDENTS)
• LINE OF DUTY DEATH
• SUICIDE OF A PEER
• SERIOUS WORK RELATED INJURY
• MCI/TERRORISM/DISASTER RESPONSE
• PEDIATRICS
• RESPONDER RELATIVE/FRIEND/ACQUAINTANCE
• PROLONGED EVENTS/EVENTS WITH NEGATIVE OUTCOME
• EVENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT RISK OF HARM, REGARDLESS OF OUTCOME

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM A CISM RESPONSE?

• Prompt response to activation (call back from Team Leader or Chairperson)
• Coordination of Team response to meet the immediate needs of the responders affected (where, when, how many involved, etc.)
• Decisions made regarding type of response and how many CISM members are needed
• This is determined by who calls the team and the Team Leader or Chairperson,
• TRAINED, QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED PEER VOLUNTEER MEMBERS
• CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFIDENTIALITY!
• INTEGRITY
• SELF AWARENESS REGARDING ISSUES OF BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION AND TRAINING TO AVOID CONFLICTS WITH RESPONDERS DURING INTERVENTIONS
• CONDUCTS THEMSELVES AS A PROFESSIONAL, RESPONSIBLE, MATURE MEMBER OF A TEAM WHICH STRIVES TO ASSIST THEIR PEERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH  AND STRESS RESPONSE