The handbook for looking out for each other and your community

Peer support, stress management, crisis intervention, special populations and more!

The No. 1 reference, used by hundreds of public safety agencies, chaplains and other responders.

An essential reference.  A copy should be in every patrol bag, go kit, and cargo pocket in the Public Safety universe.

James O’Neil, Chief Operating Officer, Training For Safety, and Retired LEO

Durable and compact, the Pocket Guide to Stress Management and Crisis Response covers established protocols and processes, informed by decades of experience. Packed with reminders, prompts, outlines and more (see below), this is your go-to reference for stress management, self care, peer support, crisis intervention, helping special populations and much more.

This comprehensive and clear guide enables Critical Incident Stress responders and Peer Supporters to access information and tools to support their efforts in working with responders and citizens in crisis and stress. It is easy to use and provides detailed techniques for specific situations. It reminds all that we need to care for ourselves as we respond to others. I recommend this guide to all teams and individuals who are working on the front lines, providing stress management and building resiliency after trauma.

Janet Childs, Director, Bay Area CISM Team

Sixty-page pocket-sized, spiral-bound booklet with laminated waterproof and tear-proof covers. Extra blank pages in the back for your notes. Also available for Kindle and as an Android app.

An informative and useful memory jogger for crisis responders everywhere.  In the hands of well-trained CISM folks, this will be a great resource!

K.C. Peterson, Crisis Response Care Instructor, 28-year California Fire Service veteran,  CISM Team co-leader and Fire Chaplain

Buy on Amazon: Spiral-bound or Kindle Paypal (U.S. orders only – discounted!): [wp_paypal_payment]
Get the Android app

Table of Contents

  • Crisis Intervention Overview
  • Self-Care – you can’t give away what you don’t have!
  • Stress  Symptoms – physiological, psychological and spiritual signals.
  • Stress Myths – eleven things we often get wrong about stress and coping
  • When to Consider Crisis Intervention – stressful events, including the “Big Five.”
  • When Offering Support – Do’s and Don’ts.
  • Intervention Strategies – thinking strategically, communicating when facing crisis.
  • Peer Support – includes the Stage Model and signs of public safety burnout.
  • Psychological First Aid – reminders for the SAFER-R and NCTSN protocols.
  • Mental Status Exam – SEA 3 – for evaluating needs.
  • Defusings and Debriefings – critical incident stress steps and prompts.
  • Crisis Management Briefings – for responders or the public.
  • RITS: Rest, Information & Transition Services (Demobilization) – during major incidents.
  • Challenging Interventions – delayed, multiple-incident, disaster
  • Line-of-duty death – checklists for pre-planning, management, notifications, family support, agency support, incident response, community/media, coordination.
  • Suicide – prevention, intervention and postvention.
  • Death and Trauma Notification – how to prepare, notify and care for survivors.
  • Helping Children – how to meet the needs of pre-school, school-age and adolescent children.
  • Faiths and Culture – what to remember to consider when working with a community.
  • Grief – Do’s and Don’t’s when someone is grieving.
  • Referrals When and How – triggers for making referrals, how to go about them.
  • Contacts – national crisis lines and (print edition only) space for you to add local and personal crisis contacts.