PEER SUPPORT – FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC PEER SUPPORT – FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC col. PhDr. Zuzana Vrbová Head psychologist.

PEER SUPPORT – FIRE & RESCUE PEER SUPPORT – FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE OF THE CZECH REPUBLICSERVICE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

col. PhDr. Zuzana Vrbová

Head psychologist

Fire & Rescue Service of the Czech Republic

General Directorate1

Teams of postTeams of post traumatic traumatic intervention care of F&R Serviceintervention care of F&R Service

14 departments in the Czech republic (in each department – 1 psychologist of F&R Service)

14 regional teams of post traumatic intervention care regional coordinators – relevant regional psychologists central coordination – head psychologist of F&R Service

In the Czech republic, psychological care is stated in the law about security forces.

Internal norms of Fire & Rescue Service about psychological care and about peer-support system.

Peers = volonteersPeers = volonteers

Interview before acceptation to the system of training with each candidate : aims:1. Uncover motivation2. Find out knowledge of peer support system3. Uncover soft skills – self-relfection - emotional stability - communication skills - ability to solve problems - ability to start contact other people

the quality of personality of each peer-supporter is important in addition to training and knowledge.

Peers are trained in:Peers are trained in:

CISM (40 hours)First psychological aid (20 hours)

+ 3 day training each year (theory, model situations, case reports)

Training of peersTraining of peers

Number of peersNumber of peers

Actual number - 200 peersContinuous progressive training of

others firefighters

Ideal number – 1 peer in each workshift?

In Internal norms of Fire & Rescue Service about peer-support system:

List of potential traumatic events when the management or commander should activate peers:

Potential traumatic eventsPotential traumatic events

A health or life threatening situation An especially tragic event or a disaster A witnesses to victims of multiple injuries, cases of cruel

death A death of a colleague A deceased or seriously injured child A death of a victim of an accident during a rescue operation An unsuccessful rescue operation A sudden loss of shelter An intensive feeling of fear, helplessness or extreme

disgust

Lists of members of teams of peers Lists of members of teams of peers in each fire brigade stationin each fire brigade station

including - contact information

(telephone number, fire brigade

station, photograph)

- brief information about post

traumatic care

11

Activities of peersActivities of peers

Support for colleagues – colleague support, colleague counselling, liaison to other care personnel etc.

Support for victims of disasters – (first on-site of

accident) - psychological first aid, on accident site information dissemination, liaison to other care personnel

Regular field training Regular field training excercisesexcercises

Peer with an unhurt passenger - figurantPeer with an unhurt passenger - figurant

Documentation of activitiesDocumentation of activities

Record of activity of each peerRecords of the coordinatorAnnual statistics

Thank you for your attention.

[email protected]

+ 420 950 819 807

+ 420 602 705 947