FLETC EXAM 3 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Critical Incident - Correct Answers -An even requiring an extraordinary degree of
adaptation by the individual who experiences the event
Events that are grave, crucial, momentous, and sometimes life threatening. However,
they may also be predictable, and not always sudden and arbitrary
Not always a crisis
Crisis - Correct Answers -Always a critical incident
An even that is sudden, arbitrary, and unpredictable
An even that is grave, crucial, momentous and sometimes life threatening; but is
unpredictable, sudden and arbitrary.
The potential for psychological disruption is greatest at this stage
Critical Incident Characteristics - Correct Answers -Fright/fear
Sense of self control is lost (helpless)
Disruption in belief and value systems
Terror
Hopelessness
Critical Incident Stress - Correct Answers -Stress experienced at any level resulting
from exposure to a critical incident
May or may not result from the unexpected, sudden or arbitrary; but also from the
religion of events, from the duration of an event or from the sense of vulnerability and
helplessness experienced during an event
Stress - Correct Answers -Term used to describe any demand placed upon the
mind/body systems. Stress levels and responses can be mild, moderate, or extreme.
,Physical Responses Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Fatigue
Thirst
Headaches
Grinding of teeth
Chest pain/ difficulty breathing
Cognitive Responses to Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Inability to concentrate
Hyper vigilance
Day/night mares
Blaming someone
Re-living event
Emotional Responses to Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Intense anger
Anxiety
Survivor guilt
Denial
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) - Correct Answers -Development of
characteristic symptoms following an exposure to one or ore traumatic events
Duration of the disturbance more than 1 month
Caused by a psychological traumatic event that is generally outside the range of usual
human experience
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Symptoms - Correct Answers -Problems with
concentration and memory
Nightmares, dreams, flashbacks
Easily startled
Anxiety
Depression
,Intense fear
Helplessness
Immediate Physiological Symptoms to Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Time
distortion
Slow motion
Fast motion
Auditory distortion
Diminished sound
Intensified sound
Visual distortion
Tunnel vision
Heightened sense of detail
Behavioral responses to Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Changes in activity
Emotional outbursts
Paranoia
Increased startle response
Addictive behavior
Loss or increase in appetite
Psychological effects of a delayed critical incident (0-7 days) - Correct Answers -Denial
- Dazed, inattentive, feeling of disbelief
- Numbness with occasional anxiety
- Feeling of running on auto-pilot
- Disruption of recall ability
- Overreactive / hyper tense or irritable
Isolation- Feeling no one cares or understands
Preoccupation with the event - Find yourself thinking about it almost continually
, Heightened sensitivity to others reactions - Tendency to read into and exaggerate
verbal and non-verbal responses
- can lead to ptsd if not addressed
Incidents that may cause physiological and psychological effects are: - Correct Answers
-Natural- Floods, building collapses, earthquake, volcanoes, storms, acts of terrorism
Man made - War, acts of terrorism, gruesome scenes, child torture/death, rape,
sodomy, abuse, hostage situations, shootings, violent death of partner, multiple vehicle
accidents, major fires, air crashes, long term search and rescue ops with no success,
drowning, suicide investigations
Coping Strategies for Critical Incident Exposure - Correct Answers -Resiliency - The
process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even
significant sources of stress
- Being able to bounce back after a set back
Resilience is achieved by: - Correct Answers -Cognitive Restructuring
Mental Rehearsal - If-then, or when-then thinking
Mental Focus
Rituals or maintaining your schedule
Techniques that can be used to reduce critical incident stress: - Correct Answers -On-
scene techniques
- Talk to other officers who are leaving the scene
- Visually prepare your mind for the sights by visualizing the gruesome scene
- Auditory techniques; practice calming techniques, wear hearing protection
- Odors; Be prepared for the smells, wear a mask sprayed with deodorant, practice
mouth breathing
Post-Incident Techniques to Reduce Critical Incident Stress - Correct Answers -Accept
what you feel now is a normal response
Tell yourself you can learn and grow from this incident or you can punish and destroy
yourself
Examine your thoughts
Participate in agency-sponsored critical incident stress defusing and critical incident
stress debriefings
ANSWERS
Critical Incident - Correct Answers -An even requiring an extraordinary degree of
adaptation by the individual who experiences the event
Events that are grave, crucial, momentous, and sometimes life threatening. However,
they may also be predictable, and not always sudden and arbitrary
Not always a crisis
Crisis - Correct Answers -Always a critical incident
An even that is sudden, arbitrary, and unpredictable
An even that is grave, crucial, momentous and sometimes life threatening; but is
unpredictable, sudden and arbitrary.
The potential for psychological disruption is greatest at this stage
Critical Incident Characteristics - Correct Answers -Fright/fear
Sense of self control is lost (helpless)
Disruption in belief and value systems
Terror
Hopelessness
Critical Incident Stress - Correct Answers -Stress experienced at any level resulting
from exposure to a critical incident
May or may not result from the unexpected, sudden or arbitrary; but also from the
religion of events, from the duration of an event or from the sense of vulnerability and
helplessness experienced during an event
Stress - Correct Answers -Term used to describe any demand placed upon the
mind/body systems. Stress levels and responses can be mild, moderate, or extreme.
,Physical Responses Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Fatigue
Thirst
Headaches
Grinding of teeth
Chest pain/ difficulty breathing
Cognitive Responses to Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Inability to concentrate
Hyper vigilance
Day/night mares
Blaming someone
Re-living event
Emotional Responses to Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Intense anger
Anxiety
Survivor guilt
Denial
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) - Correct Answers -Development of
characteristic symptoms following an exposure to one or ore traumatic events
Duration of the disturbance more than 1 month
Caused by a psychological traumatic event that is generally outside the range of usual
human experience
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Symptoms - Correct Answers -Problems with
concentration and memory
Nightmares, dreams, flashbacks
Easily startled
Anxiety
Depression
,Intense fear
Helplessness
Immediate Physiological Symptoms to Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Time
distortion
Slow motion
Fast motion
Auditory distortion
Diminished sound
Intensified sound
Visual distortion
Tunnel vision
Heightened sense of detail
Behavioral responses to Critical Incidents - Correct Answers -Changes in activity
Emotional outbursts
Paranoia
Increased startle response
Addictive behavior
Loss or increase in appetite
Psychological effects of a delayed critical incident (0-7 days) - Correct Answers -Denial
- Dazed, inattentive, feeling of disbelief
- Numbness with occasional anxiety
- Feeling of running on auto-pilot
- Disruption of recall ability
- Overreactive / hyper tense or irritable
Isolation- Feeling no one cares or understands
Preoccupation with the event - Find yourself thinking about it almost continually
, Heightened sensitivity to others reactions - Tendency to read into and exaggerate
verbal and non-verbal responses
- can lead to ptsd if not addressed
Incidents that may cause physiological and psychological effects are: - Correct Answers
-Natural- Floods, building collapses, earthquake, volcanoes, storms, acts of terrorism
Man made - War, acts of terrorism, gruesome scenes, child torture/death, rape,
sodomy, abuse, hostage situations, shootings, violent death of partner, multiple vehicle
accidents, major fires, air crashes, long term search and rescue ops with no success,
drowning, suicide investigations
Coping Strategies for Critical Incident Exposure - Correct Answers -Resiliency - The
process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even
significant sources of stress
- Being able to bounce back after a set back
Resilience is achieved by: - Correct Answers -Cognitive Restructuring
Mental Rehearsal - If-then, or when-then thinking
Mental Focus
Rituals or maintaining your schedule
Techniques that can be used to reduce critical incident stress: - Correct Answers -On-
scene techniques
- Talk to other officers who are leaving the scene
- Visually prepare your mind for the sights by visualizing the gruesome scene
- Auditory techniques; practice calming techniques, wear hearing protection
- Odors; Be prepared for the smells, wear a mask sprayed with deodorant, practice
mouth breathing
Post-Incident Techniques to Reduce Critical Incident Stress - Correct Answers -Accept
what you feel now is a normal response
Tell yourself you can learn and grow from this incident or you can punish and destroy
yourself
Examine your thoughts
Participate in agency-sponsored critical incident stress defusing and critical incident
stress debriefings
