Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-5nwft Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-09T07:42:50.156Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Phenomenological Analysis of Disaster-Related Experiences in Fire and Emergency Medical Services Personnel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2012

Erik De Soir ,
Marcia Knarren ,
Emmanuelle Zech ,
Jacques Mylle ,
Rolf Kleber  and
Onno van der Hart
Erik De Soir*
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
Marcia Knarren
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Emmanuelle Zech
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium
Jacques Mylle
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
Rolf Kleber
Affiliation:
Department of Social Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Onno van der Hart
Affiliation:
Department of Social Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
*
Correspondence: Erik De Soir, MSc, MA Stress and Trauma Study Center 30 Avenue de la Renaissance B-1000 Brussels, Belgium E-mails: erik.de.soir@telenet.be, erik.desoir@mil.be
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article explores the experiences of fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel during and immediately after a technological event using a phenomenological approach. Personnel engaged in the rescue operations during and immediately after the Ghislenghien gas explosion reflected upon their experiences in their responses to a specially designed, self-reporting questionnaire that included open-ended questions. Firefighters reported more perceived threat and direct exposure to death than did EMS personnel. Qualitative analysis indicates that the central characteristics of this potentially traumatizing event were the suddenness and massiveness of the impact, and the fact that it involved young victims and/or multiple deaths. With regard to emotions, powerlessness, horror, fear, a sense of apocalypse, and grief were experienced by both firefighters and EMS personnel. Firefighters noted that the death of colleagues, the involvement of friends and family, the massive impact, and exposure to the burned victims were most shocking. Emergency Medical Services personnel and in-hospital staff reported the impact, the confrontation with death, the involvement of friends and family, and the pain, suffering, and screaming of burned victims as the most shocking aspects of this event. Qualitative differences in the lived experiences of firefighters, EMS personnel, and in-hospital staff might be explained by differences in life threat, contact with death, and various degrees of training.

De Soir E, Knarren M, Zech E, Mylle J, Kleber R, Van der Hart O. A phenomenological analysis of disaster-related experiences in fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(2):1-8.

Keywords

Emergency Medical ServicesEMSfirefighterslived experiencetechnological disaster
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 115 - 122
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Soeterman, RJH, Yzermans, CJ, Kerssens, JJ, et al. . The course of post-disaster health problems of victims with pre-disaster psychological problems as presented in general practice. Fam Pract. 2006;23(3):378-384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Dirkzwager, AJE, Grievink, L, van der Velden, PG, Yzermans, CJ. Risk factors for psychological and physical health problems after a man-made disaster. Br J Psychiatry. 2006;189:144-149.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3. Beaton, R, Murphy, S. Secondary traumatic stress in crisis workers: research implications. In: Figley C (ed.), Compassion Fatigue. New York: Brunner-Mazel; 1995:51-81.Google Scholar
4. Morren, M, Yzermans, JC, van Nispen, RMA, Wevers, SJM. The health of volunteer firefighters three years after a technological disaster. J Occup Health. 2005;47:523-532.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Durham, T, McCammon, S, Allison, E. The psychological impact of disaster on rescue personnel. Ann Emerg Med. 1985;14:664-668.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6. Fullerton, CS, Ursano, RJ. The other side of chaos: understanding the patterns of posttraumatic responses. In: Fullerton CS, Ursano RJ, eds, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Acute and Long-Term Responses to Trauma and Disaster. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press; 1997:3-15.Google Scholar
7. Laposa, JM, Alden, LE. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the emergency room: exploration of a cognitive model. Behav Res Ther. 2003;41(1):49-65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Leon, GR. Overview of the psychosocial impact of disasters. Prehosp Disast Med. 2004;19(1):4-9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Smith, A, Roberts, K. Interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological distress in emergency ambulance personnel: a review of the literature. Emer Med J. 2003;20(1):75-78.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Mitchell, JT, Dyregov, A. Traumatic stress in disaster workers and emergency personnel. In: Wilson JP, Raphael B, eds, International Handbook of Traumatic Stress Syndromes. New York: Plenum; 1993:905-914.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Ursano, RJ, Fullerton, CS, Vance, K, Kao, T. Posttraumatic stress disorder and identification in disaster workers. Am J Psychiatry. 1999;156:353-359.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12. Wagner, D, Heinrichs, M, Ehlert, U. Prevalence of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in German professional firefighters. Am J Psychiatry. 1998;155(12):1727-1732.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13. Weiss, D, Marmar, C, Metzler, TJ, Ronfeldt, H. Predicting symptomatic distress in emergency services personnel. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1995;63(3):361-368.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14. De Soir, E. Psychologische debriefing bij brandweermannen en ambulanciers [in Dutch]. NVBB Magazine. 1999;146:27-36.Google Scholar
15. Clohessy, E. PTSD symptoms, responses to intrusive memories and coping in ambulance service workers. Br J Clin Psychol. 1999;38(Part 3):251-265.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16. Kessler, RC, Sonnega, A, Bromet, E, Hughes, M. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the national comorbidity survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1995;52(12):1048-1060.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17. Grevin, F. Posttraumatic stress disorder, ego defense mechanisms, and empathy among urban paramedics. Psychol Rep. 1996;79(2):483-495.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. Hodgkinson, PE, Stewart, M. Coping with Catastrophe: A Handbook of Disaster Management. London: Routledge; 1991.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19. Myles, G, Levine, K, Ramsden, F, Swanson. The impact of providing help: emergency workers and cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts. J Trauma Stress. 1990;3(2):305-313.Google Scholar
20. Jonsson, A, Segestin, K. The meaning of traumatic events as described by nurses in ambulance service. Accid Emerg Nurs. 2003;11(3):142-152.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21. Van Kaam, A. Phenomenal analysis exemplified by a study of the experience of really feeling understood. J Indiv Psychology. 1959;15:66-72.Google Scholar
22. Van Kaam, A. Existential Foundations of Psychology. Pittsburg: Duquesne University Press; 1966.Google Scholar
23. Van Kaam, A. Existential Foundations of Psychology. New York: Doubleday; 1969.Google Scholar
24. Dyregrov, A. Katastrofpsykologi. Lund: Studentlitteratur; 1992.Google Scholar
25. Dyregrov, A, Mitchell, JT. Traumatic stress in disaster workers and emergency personnel. In: Wilson JP, Raphael B, eds, International Handbook of Traumatic Stress Syndromes. New York: Plenum; 1993:905-914.Google Scholar
26. Hartsough, D. Emergency organizational role. In: Role Stressors and Supports for Emergency Worker. HS Publication (ADM) 85-1408. Rockville, Maryland: National Institutes of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 1985.Google Scholar
27. Green, B, Grace, M, Gleser, G. Identifying survivors at risk: long-term impairment following the Beverly Hill Supper Club fire. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1985;53(5):672-678.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28. Martelli, T, Waters, L, Martelli, J. The police stress survey: reliability and relation to job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Psychol Rep. 1989;64(1):267-273.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29. Jeavons S, Greenwood KM, Horne DJ de Le. Accident cognitions and subsequent psychological trauma. J Trauma Stress. 2000;13(2):359-365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30. Herman, JL. Trauma en herstel. De Gevolgen van Geweld van Mishandeling thuis tot politiek geweld. Amsterdam: Wereldbibliotheek; 2002.Google Scholar
31. Shakespeare-Finch, JE, Smith, SG, Gow, KM, et al. . The prevalence of posttraumatic growth in emergency ambulance personnel. Traumatology. 2003;9:58-70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32. Bravo, M, Rubio-Stipec, M, Canino, GJ, et al. . The psychological sequelae of disaster stress prospectively and retrospectively evaluated. Am J Community Psychol. 1990;18:661-680.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33. Tugade, MM, Frederickson, BL, Barrett, LF. Psychological resilience and positive emotional granularity: examining the benefits of positive emotions on coping and health. J Personality. 2004;72(6):1161-1190.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34. Moran, CC. Individual differences and debriefing effectiveness. Aust J Disast Trauma Studies. 1998;1:14.Google Scholar
35. Laposa, JM, Alden, LE. Posttraumatic stress disorder in the emergency room: exploration of a cognitive model. Behav Res Ther. 2003;41(1):49-65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36. Valle, RS, Halling, S. Existential-Phenomenological Perspectives in Psychology. Exploring the Breadth of Human Experience. London/New York: Plenum Press; 1989.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
37. Wester, F, Perters, V. Kwalitatieve Analyse. Bussum: Coutinho B.V.; 2004.Google Scholar
38. Baker, C, Wuest, J, Stern, PN. Method slurring: the grounded theory/phenomenology example. J Adv Nur. 1992;17(11):1355-1360.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39. Crotty, M. Phenomenology and Nursing Research. Melbourne: Churchill Livingstone; 1996.Google Scholar
40. Lebigot, F. Le traumatisme psychique. Rev Fr Stress Trauma. 2004;4:5-11.Google Scholar
41. Engelhard, IM, Van den Hout, MA, Vlaeyen, JWS. The sense of coherence in early pregnancy and crisis support and posttraumatic stress after pregnancy loss: a prospective study. Behav Med. 2003;29(2):80-84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
42. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Ed). Washington, DC: APA; 1994.Google Scholar
43. Hagström, R. The acute psychological impact on survivors following a train accident. J Trauma Stress. 1995;8(3):391-402.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
44. Lebigot, F. L′effroi du traumatisme psychique. Le regarder en face ou s′en protéger. Rev Fr Stress Trauma. 2002;2:139-146.Google Scholar