CISM refers to which type of intervention?

• A. A method of physical first aid
• B. A legal process for incident reporting
• C. A standard operating procedure
• D. A type of behavioural health mechanism for crisis intervention that stabilizes potential negative responses

Answer: (D)

CISM is a behavioural health mechanism for crisis intervention designed to stabilize people after a traumatic incident and limit negative psychological responses. After a critical event, responders and others can experience acute stress, anxiety, or intrusive memories; CISM provides structured support—through education, defusing, small-group or individual debriefing, peer support, and follow-up resources—to help people process the experience and return to normal functioning. It’s not about physical first aid, it isn’t a legal reporting process, and it isn’t a standard operating procedure for tasks—it's specifically about psychological support and crisis stabilization. In vehicle rescue and extrication contexts, applying CISM helps protect mental health, maintain operational readiness, and reduce the risk of long-term psychological impact on both responders and those affected by the incident.