Psychosocial first aid: the Braunau crisis intervention team in action

Psychosocial first aid: the Braunau crisis intervention team in action

In the Braunau district there is a committed team that quickly gets on hand in crisis situations. The crisis intervention team, consisting of volunteers of the Red Cross, offers those affected after traumatic events, first aid. In the event of serious accidents, medical emergencies or even in cases of suicide, these helping hands are indispensable. Because while the affected people are the focus, a whole group of relatives and friends is often shocked.

Franz Ginzinger, the district coordinator of the crisis intervention team, emphasizes the central role of empathy in his work. "We are there to give people strength and to support them in coping with their grief," he explains. The helpers calm down and listen to those affected without imposing themselves. Based on their experiences, they know that it often helps to just be there. "Sometimes it also helps to be silent together. Others start talking on their own," adds Hildegard Paischer, another team member with over ten years of experience.

create and reflect

Every situation that the team copes with is then discussed in detail. These debriefs are crucial to process their own emotions. "We have to be able to differentiate ourselves in order to really help people," said Paischer. Emotional cases like the death of a child often remember the helpers for a long time. "Everything that has to do with children is particularly stressful," says Paischer.

The crisis intervention team is called for over 100 missions annually. They come in critical situations, ranging from housing fires to traffic accidents and sudden deaths. The operations can take different lengths, from one hour to sometimes eight hours, depending on the severity of the situation.

training and team structure

In order to work in the crisis intervention team, no special paramedics training is required, but comprehensive training is required. This includes several modules and role -playing games to prepare the employees for their challenging task. Interested parties who want to participate in the training must be checked for their suitability beforehand by a psychologist.

The team currently consists of 14 volunteers, and the average age is relatively high, with many pensioners who want to use their time sensibly. Mutual support within the team is essential. "It is important that we can admit to ourselves if we need help ourselves. Then someone else steps in and takes on the service," explains Ginzinger.