Critical Incident Stress Management Hotline – 1-888-226-0435
24 hrs / 7 days a week

ATC's CARING 4 ATC's
To Activate CISM Team Call
1-888-226-0435
513-820-5322

Non Emergency 513-563-2172
24/7 Digital Pager
Calls Returned within 20 minutes

You're there in your patient’s time of need...
We’re here in yours

As athletic trainers we all work in a profession that prides itself on winning and never failing.  Thus, the stress of our daily lives builds until it boils over as distress.  Distress is simply more stress than one can handle.  Yet, ATC’s will put up a false facade and act like all is well while internally they are in a crisis situation.

This is where a new OATA program can be of great service and benefit to you simply by being an OATA member.  The OATA has a current Crisis Intervention Team that has been utilized to effectively and efficiently return individuals to a more normal life; no matter how abnormal our lifestyle is.  The idea behind Crisis Intervention Stress Management is simply to allow trained Athletic Trainers to help their fellow Athletic Trainers.  The OATA CISM Team is up, running, and as been activated numerous times.  You may be unaware of this because the committee is drilled on the importance of confidentiality.  Other Athletic Trainers have activated services through their own company or workplace programs as well.  While this is fine, I must point out the biggest difference between employment services and the OATA service is that this program is built on the concept of Athletic Trainers Aiding Athletic Trainers.  If Athletic Trainers are there to aid the physically active in crisis; who is there to aid the Athletic Trainer in Crisis?

Stress and the Licensed Athletic Trainer

Athletic Trainers in Ohio face stressful events every day.  The work they choose to perform can be emotionally difficult and physically draining. Yet this same career is seen as extremely rewarding, often exciting and an opportunity for fulfilling personal needs.  The work still presents the professional health care provider with a constant low to moderate level of stress and an occasional dose of high level stress.

Recognizing Critical Incident Stress

Critical incidents may produce a wide range of stress symptoms, which can appear immediately at the scene, a few hours later or within a few days of the event. The more symptoms experienced, the more powerful the stress reaction can be. The longer the symptoms persist, the more potential for harm exists. It is not just the event but your role or closeness to the critical incident.

Known Critical Incidents

Employee killed in the performance of his/her duty
Suicide of a co-worker or student athlete
Death/ Serious injury of a child
Discharge of a firearm
Prolonged failed medical condition
Mass casualty incidents
Victim known to the responder
Personal safety is jeopardized
Administrative betrayal
Excessive media coverage
Harmful or damaging illegal event

When to request the CISM Team

You are encouraged to call the CISM Team about the need for services any time you or one of your fellow workers are having difficulty dealing with an incident.  It is possible that the stress response is from several events not just a single incident. Your OATA team is comprised of licensed athletic trainers and mental health support personnel that have specific CISM training. We are recognized by the international critical incident stress foundation, www.icisf.org.

Critical Incident Stress Interventions