NASA logo NASA Headquarters' Directives
HQPR 1830.1
Effective Date: September 24, 2008
Expiration Date: June 28, 2019
Responsible Office: QA
Headquarters Critical Incident Stress Management Program
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Table of Contents | Preface | Chapter1 | Chapter2 | Chapter3 | Chapter4 | AppendixA

CHAPTER 1. Critical Incident Stress Management

1.1 Overview

1.1.1 A critical incident is any event that causes an unusually intense stress reaction. The distress people experience after a critical incident limits their ability to cope, impairs their ability to adjust, and negatively impacts the work environment. Examples of traumatic events that produce such reactions include:

a. A coworker's sudden death or serious illness.

b. Natural or manmade disaster that affects a worker's ability to function in the workplace.

c. Major mission failure or accident.

d. Suicide.

e. A violent or threatening incident in the workplace.

f. Acts of terrorism.

1.1.2 It is the intent of the NASA Employee Assistance Program (EAP), NPD 1830.1, and NASA Occupational Health Program Procedures, NPR 1800.1, to provide Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) to employees as part of various other assessments and short-term counseling services offered within an atmosphere of confidentiality. The goals of the CISM intervention services are to identify those in distress, to minimize suffering and impairment, and facilitate access to the next level of care.

1.1.3 CISM includes:

a. Pre-crisis education and pre-deployment briefing sessions for CISM team members.

b. Disaster demobilization planning to develop a process for returning to pre crisis normal operations after a critical incident or disaster.

c. Brief small group defusing sessions immediately following an event, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) by a trained CISM team in a small group setting (1-3 days post-incident which includes one-to- one psychological support), and follow-up and referral mechanisms.

1.1.4 CISM is coordinated and initiated by the Headquarters Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Coordinator in concert with the EAP Counselor (Service Provider). The nature and extent of those requiring CISD will vary by incident, but the determination of who requires CISD shall be made by the EAP Counselor and/or Headquarters Medical


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