Work Fit Analysis
Archive
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19-02-2010
Death in the Luge in Vancouver - Is This a Symptom of Something Else? -
22-01-2010
Erwin Rommel - Lessons for Leadership and Management in the 21st Century -
09-12-2009
Christmas Business -
05-11-2009
Functional Foods, Fads or Pharmacy by Another Name -
29-10-2009
Immigration: Populate and/or Perish -
16-10-2009
Suicide by French Workers - A Symptom of Something Deeper? -
08-10-2009
The Ideal Job -
06-10-2009
Gambling - You Bet! -
20-09-2009
Networks and Six Degrees of Separation -
10-09-2009
Mining Human Potential -
10-09-2009
What Can Be Done To Reduce The Toxicity Of Work Stress -
09-09-2009
Happy Employees = Improved Profitability? -
09-09-2009
Relationships.com -
03-09-2009
The Off Season, A Time For Action -
25-08-2009
Late For Work Again -
20-08-2009
Kids In Sport -
20-08-2009
The Economic Meltdown -
12-08-2009
Sporting Parents Behaving Badly -
11-08-2009
Le Tour De France -
11-08-2009
Sporting Careers and Excecutive Performance Coaching -
23-07-2009
Psychology and Golf -
21-07-2009
Mortgage Stress - 8 Ways to Beat It -
09-07-2009
Woman and Perfection -
07-07-2009
Burn - Out In Sport, Over Training and Problem Behaviours -
09-06-2009
The Psychology of State of Origin -
02-06-2009
'A Plague in Your Houses' - Swine Flu and other Epidemics -
28-05-2009
Good Samaritan? Not a Good Idea -
22-05-2009
8 Ways to Grow Old Gracefully -
14-05-2009
On Being Older -
07-05-2009
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes -
07-05-2009
You're All Class -
30-04-2009
Ideas and People, Good for Business -
28-04-2009
The Gordian Knot -
23-04-2009
Man and the Machine -
23-04-2009
Psychological Response To the Global Financial Crisis -
16-04-2009
Boosting Self Confidence -
03-04-2009
Work Environments -
02-04-2009
New Premises -
01-04-2009
Work -
31-03-2009
Pains In the Work Place -
12-03-2009
Young Men Behaving Badly -
26-02-2009
PTSD, The On Going Story -
13-02-2009
Open Plan - Open Question -
11-02-2009
Trucking -
09-02-2009
Out of the Ashes -
19-01-2009
Bikes, Frogs And The Training Budget -
19-01-2009
Change Management -
12-01-2009
Burn Baby Burn
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Article
Out of the Ashes
09-02-2009
In September 1666 the Great Fire of London, which started in a bakery, destroyed the houses of 70,000 of London’s 80,000 inhabitants. The fire was contained only when the wind dropped, and a crude fire break was formed by destroying buildings using gunpowder.
Man has managed to contain fire for domestic and industrial use, but recent events underline its dangers when out of control.
The immediate costs of the Victorian bush fires are difficult to calculate. The longer term human costs are equally difficult to calculate, but merit some thought.
Psychological problems following such traumatic events are well documented. Professor Beverley Raphael carefully followed those affected by the Granville train disaster. Professor Alexander McFarlane has studied the psychological effects of the Ash Wednesday bush fires.
Immediate responses centre on physical requirements for food, water, shelter and emergency medical care. A media frenzy often surrounds this phase.
Emotional responses range from the horror of witnessing first hand the devastation and threat posed by fire, to feelings of loss associated with the death of loved ones and the destruction of ones home. Emotional “numbing” often occurs. It is as if one is going through the motions of life without actually being a part of it.
As time passes the traumatic events will be remembered (either consciously or in dreams) with the same intensity of emotion that occurred during the actual event. People feel understandably “on alert” to possible further dangers (to self and to loved ones). Sleep is often disturbed by nightmares.
Most people involved with fires (firefighters and emergency services included) will experience the immediate emotional impact described above. Over the next year about half of these will lose most of their symptoms, but half will continue to have them. They will persist for years if not treated by someone with experience in this area. This psychological condition is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is often complicated by depression and alcohol abuse, as people attempt to self treat their symptoms.
Those suffering PTSD should be aware that if something else of a life threatening nature occurs, even if they are symptom free, their chances of developing PTSD again are increased.
Burns are dreadful injuries which often require long term treatment, with multiple surgical procedures. Hospitalisation in specialist centres often causes further disruption to the family, especially where a child is injured.
Those left behind after the Victorian fires will need to rebuild their lives, both physically and emotionally.
- Be aware of the possible psychological effects of disasters.
- In the early stages seek support from those who are close to you, (family and people with similar experiences, whom you know and trust).
- Strong emotion is normal. Don’t try to suppress it.
- If you feel “numb”, remember that this can also happen. In time emotions will be experienced in the usual manner.
- Beware of the temptation to self treat with alcohol or drugs. Short term band aids can provide major longer term problems.
- If you are still in trouble (not sleeping, experiencing horrifying nightmares, constantly on edge and alert) a month after the disaster, seek help. This can often be provided by government funded agencies or your local GP.
There are no quick fixes. This is all occurring in the midst of appalling personal losses. Adaptation to these is a process which, although taking time, in most cases is successful.
Latest Articles
-
19-02-2010
Death in the Luge in Vancouver - Is This a Symptom of Something Else? -
22-01-2010
Erwin Rommel - Lessons for Leadership and Management in the 21st Century -
09-12-2009
Christmas Business -
05-11-2009
Functional Foods, Fads or Pharmacy by Another Name -
29-10-2009
Immigration: Populate and/or Perish
