The HTH Model

Major Objective

To maintain a rescue teams’ functional operability and performance as well as prevent post traumatic effects during prolonged periods at the disaster scene. This requires a systematic ongoing effort to provide immediate and prolonged attention to the physical and mental health needs of the rescue teams. This includes supervising and evaluating the intervention's outcomes in order to provide timely and flexible response to the rescue team’s needs.

Model Framework

The HTH model provides a mechanism to quickly build support networks to assist rescue forces in two key areas: (1) support networks that focus on physical factors such as food, rest, communicating with their families, physical and health protection, transports, logistics etc. and (2) mental health factors such as providing structured discussion and feedback sessions, creating an “open line” to event managers, daily activity summaries and questioning that encourages continuous improvement.

Protocol Procedures

The model requires the selection of an experienced and knowledgeable person to head the event managing staff with the specific responsibility for developing responses to the rescue teams' needs, even if they themselves may be unaware of them. Proactive (rather than response) goals guide support services that are adapted to the rescue teams’ needs, services that are provided by trained professionals originally selected for their abilities and skills. Built into this protocol is a continuous evaluation of the impact of support services to rescue teams at the command and staff level. This will detail the reality of field performance and functioning of the rescue teams, monitor their improvement and signal to the support network staff and its members where difficulties have or are likely to arise. In this manner, the support network provides the ongoing physical and mental health needs for rescue teams that should optimize their performance.

Key Model Directives

· Pre-preparation of mental health support members.

· Trauma preparation of rescue teams before missions.

· Shift scheduling to assure R&R and continuous fielding of teams.

· Daily activity summary meetings.

· Preparing area close to the event to hold support meetings.

· Develop data pool as basis for evaluation and improvement.

· Generate physical and logistic support networks to rescue and help teams.

· Create a support response for the volunteers involved in rescue team activity.

· Ensure involvement/commitment of event managers to HTH support teams.