First Responders: Coping With Community Traumatic Events

Abstract

The researcher conducted an online survey through social networking sites to identify coping processes utilized by first responders responding to a Community Traumatic Event (CTE) and to identify beneficial supportive services. The majority of participants utilized positive coping styles with "positive reappraisal" being the most common type of coping used. Debriefing was found to be the most commonly used supportive service and was helpful for the majority of participants who used it. Factors including type of CTE and proximity of the CTE to friends and family also played a role in how first responders coped. Implications for research and practice are also discussed.