The psychological of impact of disasters can oftentimes be more devastating to survivor than the physical damage or tangible losses themselves. Also, it’s very difficult to quantify this impact on a given population when conducting disaster preparedness activities and, as a result, efforts to mitigate these impacts can oftentimes be overlooked. The CSAR program covers a broad overview of disaster psychology, however, there was a recognized need for additional training. We wanted to provide our campus responders with a greater depth of knowledge in this area so that they will be more capable to effectively address the mental health concerns of disaster survivors after a devastating event.
On Monday, February 8th the UCI Emergency Services Unit hosted the American Red Cross Psychological First Aid course to members of both the Campus Search & Rescue (CSAR) and Care & Shelter Team (CAST). The objectives of this training were to 1) Help responders be able to recognize the signs of stress in clients, co-workers and themselves, 2) Apply Psychological First Aid principles in providing immediate support to people who may be experiencing stress, and 3) Understand how to obtain additional mental health support for themselves, co-workers and clients.
There were 45 campus responders that attended this course and the class was delivered by a certified American Red Cross Instructor. The American Red Cross has been an outstanding partner to the UCIPD Emergency Services Unit over the past few years with the development of the CAST initiative and continue to help shape and improve the program as it evolves.
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