When should a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing begin?

• A. One month after the incident
• B. Immediately after terminating the incident
• C. During the rescue as time allows
• D. Before rescuers arrive at a scene involving serious injuries

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested is the proper timing for a critical incident stress debriefing. The goal of CISD is to address acute stress-related reactions soon after a traumatic incident while the events are still fresh and responders have safely transitioned from active operations to a post-incident phase. Initiating the debriefing immediately after the incident ends ensures that psychological processing can begin without hindering rescue challenges or delaying after-action safety steps, and it helps reduce the risk of long-term stress effects.

Delaying it for a month is not ideal because acute stress reactions can intensify or become harder to address if not addressed promptly. Conducting the debriefing during the rescue would distract from safety-critical work and could compromise operations. Starting before rescuers have finished at the scene would similarly interfere with ongoing tasks and safety priorities.