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  • Introduction
  • Modules
    • Module 1: Preparing To Be An ESS Responder
    • Module 2: ESS Overview
    • Module 3: ESS Responder Functions
    • Module 4: Scenario
  • Resources

Sources of Stress for ESS Responders

The pace of an operation is accelerated to provide the most assistance to the largest number of people in the shortest possible time, so survivors can move toward recovery and well-being as soon as possible. Stress resulting from disaster can come from many sources (Ministry of Health, 2007):

Event-Related Stressors

  • Distressing sights, sounds, or smells from attending a mass casualty incident
  • Prolonged exposure to the event
  • Experiencing unsafe or unhealthy working conditions

 

Occupational Stressors

  • Working under time pressures
  • Working in a physically demanding environment requiring long hours, strength, stamina, or endurance in adverse conditions
  • Being exposed to trauma stories from evacuees and survivors
  • Dealing with limited resources and high expectations

 

Organizational Stressors

  • Working with unclear, inadequate, or inconsistent supervision or leadership
  • Lacking effective communication and information dissemination
  • Unaddressed or acknowledged conflict

 

Environmental Stressors

  • Working in extreme weather conditions such as heat waves, cold, rain
  • Working in environmental hazards such as poor air and water quality

 

Module Menu

  • Module 1: Preparing To Be An ESS Responder
    • Introduction
    • Definition of ESS
    • Effects of Disasters on People
      • Factors Affecting Reaction to Loss
      • Common Reactions
    • Worker Care
      • Sources of Stress for ESS Responders
      • Signs of Stress in Responders
      • Looking After Yourself
    • Family Emergency Plan
    • Before Your Assignment
    • During Your Assignment
    • After Your Assignment

About

  • About Us
  • Acknowledgements

Partners

  • JIBC Emergency Management Division
  • Emergency Management BC
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Introduction to Reception Centres by Emergency Management BC (EMBC), in partnership with the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://www.jibc.ca/ess/