ITD Safety Stand Down:
Critical Incident Stress Signs

On Dec. 19, ITD will hold it's 2019 Safety Stand Down with an agency-wide event at 9 a.m. MST. A video teleconference will kick things off with a discussion of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Peer-to-Peer support team members will lead discussions and answer questions following the brief introduction.

Forty-seven employee volunteers from various districts and divisions who constitute the Peer Support team will oversee the discussions in the various locations around the state.

"Although the critical incident or traumatic event may be over, employees may experience a strong stress reaction manifesting itself right then, or long after the event in a number of ways — physical, cognitive, emotional or behavioral," said Phillips. "It is very common for people to experience aftershocks when they have been involved in a traumatic event. These signs and symptoms may appear immediately following or long after the event."

The signs and symptoms of a stress reaction may last days, weeks, months and even longer, depending on the severity of the traumatic event to the individual. With understanding and support, the stress reactions usually pass more quickly.

Below are a few of those signs and symptoms:

Published 12-06-19