The HORROR

The absolute horror of rescue work performed by the TEERS-international during a major disaster is so devastating that of 100 new rescuers there might be only one that will return for the next disaster. Many rescuers will be so changed that they cannot relate to anything they have known before. Some will experience no problems at work or home as a result of the work assignment.

In massive death situations, there may be few differences between the stress reactions of surviving victims and the secondary stress experienced by crisis workers. Among the highest ranked stress causes for rescuers are "situations where children have been killed," "rescue where bodies or body parts are uncovered," "interviewing survivors of a collapsed building where members of their family have died in the disaster."

Of those rescued from the earthquake in Kobe, Japan, 56 have taken their own lives since the disaster. By joining the TEERS-international Operational units there is a strong possibility that secondary traumatic stress reactions will cause some rescuers to take their own lives as a result of what they have seen.

The Symptoms

We cannot stress this point enough ! !

Although programs have been developed for helping rescue workers and public safety employees with distress associated with smaller incidents, there currently exists no specific programs for intervention and prevention of distress which you may experience in a major disaster.

Symptoms you may experience after a Major Disaster

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD (Help For Diagnosing PTSD)
• Major Depression
• Phobias
• Generalized anxiety
• Somatization
• Physical health symptoms

A rescuers age, number of incidents attended, number of years performing rescue work, exposure to sights and smells of a major disaster scene and other variables have not shown any statistically significant relationships between these variables and development of physical or mental disorder or symptoms of disorders.

NO Glory

There is no glory in what we do! There is only everlasting horror! It is not unusual, months and even years after a major disaster, for rescuers to hear screams and panic-stricken outcries from trapped victims facing their own deaths.

There is, however, the satisfaction of having been able to make a difference if you have the "right stuff" and no amount of training in the world will give you this, you either have it or you do not. Most of our team members indicate that they are not "afraid of dying" due to any reason while on scene, while a few have indicated fear of death on scene. A few team members have reported that their lives had been improved after a major disaster.

If you want to know, "What effect will rescue at a major disaster have on my life?"

We cannot say, but we do know that it will hurt!