Transcript OIF TIP – HOW TO FACE THE INJURED AND DEAD

332 AEW COMBAT LIFE SKILLS
TOOLKIT
332 AEW TIP – HOW TO FACE
THE INJURED AND DEAD
In combat or disaster situations, you may see, hear, smell, and perhaps have to
handle badly injured and dead people. There may be a few or very many,
depending on the extent of the tragedy. They may be men and women of all ages.
You may be struck with combinations of pity, horror, repulsion, and anger at the
senselessness or malice of the event. You may feel guilty for failing to prevent it,
for surviving it, or for not helping enough. These reactions are normal, a part of
being human. You may blame yourself or the U.S.A. It hurts most when a victim
reminds you of someone you love, or yourself.
Keep in mind that these feelings are honorable, and confirm your humanity. At
times, however, you may feel emotionally numb, and may use “graveyard humor”
to make the suffering and deaths seem less terrible. Whatever you feel, remember
that the mission must continue.
If you are in this situation, here are lessons learned by people who faced such
horrible experiences. These tips can help you do the mission and live with the
memories without being haunted by them.
1. Remember the larger purpose of what you must do. You are showing care,
giving hope, and preventing disease for the living. You are recovering the
bodies for registrations and respectful burial.
2. Limit exposure to the stimuli: don’t sightsee; use screens, poncho curtains,
partitions, covers, body bags, and barriers to keep away anyone who does not
need to see.
3. Wear gloves and disposable uniforms, if available.
4. Mask odors with disinfectants, deodorants, and air-fresheners. Save perfumes
or aftershaves for afterwards. Don’t be surprised when odors trigger
memories.
5. Be compassionate, but AVOID FOCUSING on any individual victims, especially
those you most identify with. Don’t focus on personal effects.
6. Have people who did NOT search the body examine any materials collected for
identification of the body or intelligence.
7. Remind yourself the body is not "the person", just the remains.
8. Keep humor alive, even "graveyard humor" with buddies who understand it,
but don't get too gross or too personal (e.g. no picking on each other).
9. Don't desecrate or steal from the victims--those are UCMJ crimes.
10. Say silent prayers; ask unit or local ministers to conduct memorial services.
11. Schedule frequent breaks; maintain hygiene, drink plenty of fluids, and eat
good food. Command should arrange facilities for washing hands and face,
and later showers and fresh clothes.
12. Have your team get together for mutual support and encouragement.
Acknowledge horrible aspects, but don't dwell on these memories of details.
13. Help buddies or subordinates in distress by being a good listener. Don't jump
in with "off the shelf" answers. Don't mistake feelings as weakness. Say they
are normal and honorable. Remind them that the mission must go on, and the
team needs everyone.
14. If forewarned of the mission, prepare yourself for what you will see and do;
take the supplies and equipment mentioned above.
15. Afterwards, don't feel guilty about having distanced yourself mentally from
the suffering or tragic deaths of individuals.
16. Don't be disheartened by horrible dreams, feeling tense, or intrusive
memories. Those are normal, and it is better to have them now than to
suppress them. Don't keep them hidden. Share them with your buddies, and
keep that positive humor alive.
17. 1-3 days after exposure, participate in a critical event debriefing with trained
people from your supporting Chapel staff and/or life skills support/combat
stress control team.
These techniques and coping skills cannot make a horrible and tragic event
acceptable or easy, but they can help you and your teammates better cope with
the stress in order to complete the mission. Be proud of what you have done, and
use these lessons learned to take care of yourself, your buddies, and your family
when you get home.
COPING WITH DEPLOYMENT
SEPARATION
Tips for both the deployed parent and the stay-at-home parent (or designated
caregiver)
• Establish and maintain supports that help the family to cope.
• Plan for family stress relievers like fun outings and get-togethers.
• Plan opportunities for the at-home parent to get away from the children
revive emotionally and physically.
• Encourage family members to share feelings and give assurances.
• Honestly discuss the Airman's deployment. Share information about
Airman's work and what he/she is doing for our country. Answer
questions openly and honestly, using words your children understand.
• Provide a method for your child to count the days the parent has been
deployed.
• Maintain a structured and safe emotional and physical environment.
• Mention the deployed parent in everyday conversations.
• Help your children sort out their feelings about what they hear and see in
news reports. Find out what they know and understand, and talk with
them about their feelings.
• Follow your child's lead. Give a little information at a time and see how
your child responds before deciding what to do next.
• Provide your child with ways to communicate to the deployed parent, e.g.
letter writing, e-mail access, sending pictures or tapes. Make it creative
and fun.
• Maintain family routines and traditions at home and long distance.
• Involve your child in outside activities; communicate with school.
Tips for couples (e.g. spouse, parent, roommate, close friend)
• Anticipate arguments prior to deployment. Arguments reflect the distress
of pending separations. Try not to take them too seriously.
• Prior to deployment, discuss expectations for managing finances,
care-giving concerns (e.g. children, sick relatives, pets), personal
conduct.
• Expect changes in departure and return dates.
• Avoid listening to or spreading rumors as they usually cause distress and
harm to someone.
• Accept growth and change in all family members and relationships.
• Reserve serious disagreements for face-to-face discussion.
• Put existing, unresolved relationship issues on hold until homecoming.
• Communicate regularly and creatively. Always end on positive notes.
• Keep other important people informed and give mutual support.
Coping with Stress in
Contingency Operations
The day-to-day stress that comes with stability and support operations (SASOs)
can, at worst, be as bad as that of major combat. The danger may be as high, the
mission less clear, some civilians hostile, and rules of engagement are stricter. It
is hard to recognize threats. Concrete progress is difficult to see. There is
boredom, no privacy, restricted movement, and separation from home with poor
communications. Under these conditions, anyone can begin to show signs of
distress, and it is important to know how you can help yourself and your buddy.
Learn effective relaxation techniques:
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workout or running
play cards or sports
talk with friends
write a letter or diary
read a book
take slow, deep breaths
imagine a favorite place
Relaxation techniques can help you refocus in action, recharge after grueling or
boring work, and can help you get to sleep. Request training on relaxation
techniques from Life Skills Support or combat stress control teams and unit
Chapel Staff in your area.
What to do for yourself:
• Remind yourself that the way you are feeling is normal given the situation
that you are in;
• Make certain that you get enough sleep, food, water, and exercise - if you
are physically stressed, your ability to deal with the day-to-day SASO
stressors is reduced;
• Focus on the mission at hand - break down objectives into smaller tasks
and reward yourself with rest breaks after each task is accomplished;
• Stay tied in with buddies in your unit;
• Maintain contact with friends and family at home whenever you can - if
something at home is bothering you, talk about it with your buddies, your
leaders, or anyone else you trust;
• If things start to feel out of control, get with your unit first sergeant,
chaplain, Life Skills Support staff, or commander ASAP.
What to do for your buddies:
• Know the members of your team and welcome newcomers when they
arrive--help them learn skills they need;
• Be on the lookout for sudden changes in how your buddies act - if you
see such a change, ask them about it;
• Include your buddies and new guys in opportunities to relax;
• Offer encouragement and recognition when your buddies do something
well;
• If you're concerned for your buddies, talk to them about how they're
doing;
• If you think that your buddy may be having a really hard time and won't
talk to you, get with your supervisor/First Sergeant and let them know
about your concern.
What to do for your subordinates:
• Keep your team informed of new developments as they come up but be
careful not to pass on rumors - say you don't know and will tell them when
you do.
• Be on the lookout for changes in behavior or performance and act to
address issues before they become problems;
• Organize team events to help your Airmen relax and have some fun; give
them some private time when you can.
• Check in with team members on how they're handling the deployment and
how things are going back home;
• Assure they get a fair share of MWR communication.
• Talk with any Airmen about whom you are concerned and listen to them;
• Conduct sensing sessions as frequently as possible and make sure
Airmen's feelings are expressed and heard;
• Refer Airmen to unit chaplains, Life Skills Support, or combat stress
control (CSC) team assets for help if they need it.
332 AEW TIPS - HELPING AN
AIRMAN IN DISTRESS
LEADERS TRIANING GUIDE
In Operation Iraqi Freedom, any Airman can run into rough times. It could
be any combinations of:
• Seeing destroyed homes, dead bodies, human remains;
• Hostile reactions from civilians;
• Being ambushed, receiving small arms fire, improvised explosive
devices;
• Knowing or seeing someone seriously injured or killed; having close
calls;
• Long deployments; lack of privacy and personal space;
• Separation from family, difficult communication home.
All of us can sometimes come to feel badly. If you see a fellow Airman who is
upset, fuming or brooding alone, you can help them through a painful and
sometimes risky time. Emotionally distracted Airmen can endanger the
mission, the unit and themselves. Often, just talking to a friend (or leader)
who listens, tries to understand, and praises their strengths, is all that people
need to find their own answers. The following can be suggested to Airmen in
order to help a buddy:
1. Be a good friend. For example, say, "Something seems to be bothering
you. How can I help? I can listen without being upset."
2. Listen attentively and encourage him or her to continue telling you
what's wrong. Stay calm and objective. Don't criticize or argue with
the Airman's thoughts and feelings, but listen and allow silent time for
him/her to find words.
3. Acknowledge the Airman's grievances against others, but don't
amplify them by agreeing with them too strongly.
4. Ask questions to help you understand the problem and the feelings. If
the talking stalls, try to summarize what has been said and ask if you
have it right.
5. Delay offering different perspectives or practical advice until you
believe your Airman knows that you really know the situation, and
understand why he/she is upset.
6. Plant the seeds of new ideas. Don't drive them in with a hammer.
7. Praise the Airman for the work he/she has been doing under such difficult
circumstances, and for talking with
Sometimes the problems are too big to resolve after one talk, or without
additional, outside help. Remember the Air Force deploys in OIF additional help
for Airmen with such problems. Beyond yourself and other NCO and officer
leaders, there are:
• Base Chapel Staff, hospitals, and providing area support in Corps area
and Kuwait.
• The primary medical providers in medical facilities should know where
these helpers are and how to contact them, as well as being helpers, too.
• Life Skills Support Officers, NCOs, and Airmen.
If the Airman seems preoccupied with death, hint at having thoughts of
suicide, or makes threats toward others, remember your Suicide Prevention
Training!
• Say something like, "I can see that you feel distressed." "Have you
thought of hurting yourself or someone else?" or, "Do you wish you were
dead?"
• Then "Have you thought of how you could kill yourself?" (or whomever);
• Don't act shocked or alarmed! Encourage the Airman to talk using the
techniques on this card.
• If the Airman is armed, say, "Let me unload your weapon and keep it
safe for you while we talk."
• After the Airman has talked as much as he wants, say, "I need to get
you help for this. There are people near who can help you."
• Don't leave this person alone. Secure any weapons. Take the Airman
immediately to your chain of command or to medical care.
A SUICIDAL PERSON NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
332 AEW TIPS - HELPING AN
AIRMAN/BUDDY IN DISTRESS
In Operation Iraqi Freedom, any Airman can run into rough times. Examples
of hard thins include: seeing destroyed homes; dead bodies; hostile reactions
from civilians; being ambushed; small arms fire; IEDs; knowing someone
seriously injured or killed; long deployments; lack of privacy and personal
space; separation from family; difficult communication back home.
The fact is that all of us can sometimes come to feel badly. If you see a fellow
Airman who is upset, fuming or brooding alone, you can help them through a
painful and sometimes risky time. Emotionally distracted Airmen can endanger
the mission, the unit and themselves. Often, just talking to a friend (or leader)
who listens, tries to understand, and praises their strengths, is all that people
need to find their own answers. The following can be suggested to Airmen in
order to help a buddy:
1. Be a good friend. For example, say, "Something seems to be bothering
you. How can I help? I can listen without being upset."
2. Listen and encourage your buddy to talk about what is bothering him or
her. Stay calm and objective.
3. Acknowledge the Airman's grievances against others, but don't
amplify them by agreeing with them too strongly.
4. Ask questions to help you understand the problem and the feelings. If
the talking stalls, try to summarize what has been said and ask if you
have it right.
5. Delay offering different perspectives or practical advice until you
believe your Airman knows that you really know the situation, and
understand why he/she is upset.
6. Plant the seeds of new ideas. Don't drive them in with a hammer.
7. Praise the Airman for the work he/she has been doing under such
difficult circumstances, and for talking with you.
Sometimes the problems are too big to resolve after one talk, or without
additional, outside help. Remember the Air Force deploys in OIF additional help
for Airmen with such problems. Beyond yourself and other NCO and officer
leaders, there are:
• Base Chapel Staff, hospitals, and providing area support in Corps area
and Kuwait.
• The primary medical providers in medical facilities should know where
these helpers are and how to contact them, as well as being helpers, too.
• Life Skills Support Officers, NCOs, and Airmen.
If the Airman seems preoccupied with death, hint at having thoughts of
suicide, or makes threats toward others, remember your Suicide Prevention
Training!
• Say something like, "I can see that you feel distressed." "Have you
thought of hurting yourself or someone else?" or, "Do you wish you were
dead?"
• Then "Have you thought of how you could kill yourself?" (or whomever);
• Don't act shocked or alarmed! Encourage the Airman to talk using the
techniques on this card.
• If the Airman is armed, say, "Let me unload your weapon and keep it
safe for you while we talk."
• After the Airman has talked as much as he wants, say, "I need to get
you help for this. There are people near who can help you."
• Don't leave this person alone. Secure any weapons. Take the Airman
immediately to your chain of command or to medical care.
A SUICIDAL PERSON NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.