FRIDAY       December 14, 2012
 
On Friday, December 14th, 2012, the CT CISM Team received a call shortly before noon, requesting assistance in dealing with what was a developing large scale event.  A gunman had shot numerous adults and children inside the Sandy Hook Elementary School, directly adjacent to a fire house.  Once the school had been cleared by Police, the remaining 600+ students were evacuated to the fire house and reunited with their parents.

A leadership team from the CT CISM Team assembled at the town's EMS Headquarters several miles away, as the chaos at the local fire house was not conducive to planning or the potential interventions that were anticipated.  In addition, early on diffusing sessions were conducted at the EMS HQ by additional CT CISM Team members.

Contacts were made with all affected agency chiefs including the Police (both State and Local), Fire, EMS, Town Dispatchers, School System, and Town Government.  Direct exposure to victims by local Fire and EMS personnel were limited - only two ambulances transported patients, and one adult injured person walked to the fire house and was treated there.  Local and State Police had significant exposure, including several of the Newtown Police Officers who had the unbearable task of checking each victim immediately to determine possible EMS action.  Fire personnel had exposure to the parents trying to be reunited with their children - trying, because for 20 parents who came to look for their kids the news was devastating.  

Media, well intentioned visitors, and even free-lancing social support workers descended upon the town.  The CT CISM Team brought in more of its members when various specialties or background peer support members were needed.  In all, approximately 50 Emergency Services Personnel (ESP) were contacted Friday.
 
SATURDAY        December 15, 2012

Saturday the Team provided individual support, and facilitated a large diffusing for emergency services personnel - more than one hundred attended including EMS, Fire, Police and even some Federal Agents assigned to the investigation.
 
SUNDAY     December 16, 2012

Today a small session was conducted by several CT CISM Team members for specific follow-up.

MONDAY    December 17, 2012

A debriefing is planned for tomorrow evening.  The CT CISM Team has 15 members set to properly handle the event.  It is anticipate that there will be no further scheduled interventions, but anticipate individual requests for some time up to and including anniversary sessions.

A message of Appreciation
 

It is with great appreciation that the CT CISM Team thanks all other teams and individuals for their outpouring of support over the past few days.  Knowing that additional help was a phone call away has helped manage our own stress.
 
The Team will be conducting a full debriefing for all CT CISM Team members who have participated in this or any other interventions throughout the year mid-week.
 
Should any additional support be needed, we will reach out, and thank all who did not volunteer themselves as the logistics for this crisis have been overwhelming.
 
Charles Epstein
 
Team Coordinator
Connecticut CISM Team, Inc.

The CT CISM Team will be writing up a report of the planning and interventions used for the ICISF Members Newsletter.