Critical incidents: the aftermath

For many technicians, a critical incident will trigger something akin to an adrenaline response. With experience, this will give you focus and clarity of thought as the incident unfolds. However, the response can only be sustained for a limited amount of time, and once it is over, you will likely experience some tangible aftereffects.

These aftereffects will vary from person to person, and from incident to incident. In general, we can say that the stronger the response, the stronger the aftereffects. These include:

• Exhaustion
• Hunger
• Nausea
• Soreness of muscle
• Hypo-mania

Why do I mention this? Forewarned is forearmed, and by knowing what aftereffects you may get, you will be better equipped to deal with them, and to lessen their effect.