First 48 Hours

The first 48 hours are critical to the recovery of trauma victims.

First responders make the difference between life and death for trauma victims. But what is often not recognized is that when disaster strikes, spiritual caregivers are often among those first on the scene. For these caregivers response should also help propel survivors toward positive transformation. This book focuses on critical responses that are key in the aftermath of natural disaster, community violence, personal injury, and crime. These basics include: the power of presence, safety, assessment and triage, how we help, putting the pieces together, telling the story, hope, and caring in the long haul.

The first 48 hours are critical to the recovery of trauma victims.

First responders make the difference between life and death for trauma victims. But what is often not recognized is that when disaster strikes, spiritual caregivers are often among those first on the scene. For these caregivers response should also help propel survivors toward positive transformation. This book focuses on critical responses that are key in the aftermath of natural disaster, community violence, personal injury, and crime. These basics include: the power of presence, safety, assessment and triage, how we help, putting the pieces together, telling the story, hope, and caring in the long haul.

Jennifer S. Cisney, MA, CRT, is the Team Coordinator for the National Crisis Response Team of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). She also is Director of AACC’s Christian Crisis Response Training Program. She led AACC’s response in New York City following 9/11 and functions as coordinator for all of AACC’s responses to local and national disasters. She is a member of AACC’s National Crisis Training Team.

Jennifer has served as a coordinator and presenter for the Grief, Crisis, and Disaster track at the AACC 2005 and 2007 World Conferences and the 2006 and 2008 East and West National Conferences and will serve as track leader for the Grief, Crisis and Disaster track at AACC’s 2009 “Grace and Truth” World Conference to be held in September 2009 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN.She is also a trained trainer with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation in several courses including, Group Crisis Intervention, Grief Following Trauma, and Emotional and Spiritual Care in Disasters.Jennifer Cisney has served as faculty for many of AACC’s video-based training curriculum including “Life After Divorce,” “Christian Crisis Response Training,” and “Caring for Teens”. She will be an instructor in the “Care and Counseling for Traumatic Stress” training curriculum currently being jointly produced by “The American Association of Christian Counselors” and “Military Ministries,” a division of Campus Crusade for Christ. This program is scheduled to be released in October 2008.

Jennifer Cisney is a trained therapist and operated a counseling practice in the Charlotte, North Carolina area until August 2006.

Recent articles and presentations:

Presentations:

AACC 2007 World Conference: “From Trauma to Transformation: Crisis, Faith and Resiliency”

ICISF World Congress 2007 – Emotional and Spiritual Care in Disasters course (co-trained with Kevin Ellers)

AACC 2006 East National Conference: “Treating Complicated Grief and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”

AACC 2006 East National Conference: “Sex, Lies, and Forgiveness: Recovery for Those Devastated by Sexual Betrayl”

AACC 2006 West National Conference: “Christian Singles: 8 Guidelines for Helping Them Thrive”

AACC 2005 World Conference: “The Never Ending Story: Grief and Chronic Illness”

Articles -2008

Christian Counseling Today – Vol. 15 No. 3 – “The First 48 Hours: 10 Things You Must Do”

Kevin Ellers, D.Min.

Territorial Disaster Services Coordinator

The Salvation Army Central Territory

10 W. Algonquin Rd

Des Plaines, IL 60016

Office: (847) 795-3293

Fax: (847) 294-2297

www.edscentral.org