Bobsled track accident scene poses PTSD risk for 1st responders

Police,paramedics and firefighters respondingto Canada Olympic Park in Calgary on the weekenddiscovered a gruesome situation they couldn't have been prepared for, even withtraining or experience.

A total of eight teenagers suffered various degreesof injury, with 17-year-old twinsJordan and Evan Caldwell, who had worked at the park,dyingon the hillwhile attempting to toboggan down the bobsled track.

First on scene were two firefighter crewsfrom the Valley Ridge department whobegan triaging patients and set up a command postright away. Paramedics weren't far behind.

"They were confronted with a grim scene," said EMS spokesman Stuart Brideaux of the 15 paramedics who arrived around 1:30 a.m. MT Saturday.

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The friendssnuckinto the park with toboggans for a late-night run down the bobsled track, but a concrete gate stopped them partway down.

The trauma of what was witnessed and experienced Saturday morning extends beyond the friends and family of the boys.

Special debrief sessions have been held by police, fire and EMS to helpofficers and paramedics deal with the stress. More formalcounsellingis also available to those asking for it.

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"You can have great services but you still need people who are willing to access them," said forensic psychologist Patrick Baillie.

Though they're trained for grim situations, those who were at the scene are at risk of suffering lasting stress-related symptoms, according toBaillie.

Officers tasked with notifying victims' family members can also be vulnerable to lasting effects after the often anguished, emotional interactions.

Another factor adding to the gravity of the situation is the fact the victims are young, and many first responders have their own children.

Nenshi weighs in

Calgary's mayor acknowledged the toll of the incident onofficers and Emergency Medical Services.

"Our thoughts are with the families of all of the young men injured in this, but also with the first responders who had really had a difficult job early on Saturday morning, as well as with the folks who work at WinSport," said Naheed Nenshi.

EMS'sfirst level of mental-health services involvescritical incident stress management debriefs, conducted with peers and a mental-health representative from Alberta Health Services.

The process aims to capture immediate concerns and offer additional supports to those who need it.

Peer debriefs

According toBrideaux,one of the most common practices is even less formal.

"Paramedics among themselves debriefalmost every day on calls that have been significant to them."

Though the scene was complicated and grim, Brideaux is cautious comparingit to others.

"Though unexpected, the situation falls well within their capacity to continue performing their jobs."

Research on coping with disasters indicatesabout 30 per cent of those who experience major trauma will later have difficulties.However,Baillie arguesthat number is likely lower for first responders.

Because they're exposed to repeated trauma, most have developed their own ways of coping, he said.