Indiana § 36-8-2.5-1 Definitions

Indiana Statutes

§ 36-8-2.5-1 — Definitions

Indiana § 36-8-2.5-1

Title 36LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Art. 8PUBLIC SAFETY

Ch. 2.5Critical Incident Stress Management Services

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Bluebook

Ind. Code § 36-8-2.5-1 (2026).

Text

The following definitions apply throughout this chapter:

(1)"Communication" means an oral or written statement, note, record, recording, report, or document made during, or arising out of, a first responder's receipt of CISM services or peer support services.

(2)"Critical incident" means an actual or perceived event or situation that involves crisis, disaster, trauma, or emergency.

(3)"Critical incident stress" means the acute or cumulative psychological stress or trauma that a first responder may experience in providing emergency services in response to a critical incident. The stress or trauma is an unusually strong emotional, cognitive, behavioral, or physical reaction that may interfere with normal functioning by causing:

(A)physical and emotional injury or illness;

(B)failure of

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The following definitions apply throughout
this chapter:
(1) "Communication" means an oral or written statement, note,
record, recording, report, or document made during, or arising out
of, a first responder's receipt of CISM services or peer support
services.
(2) "Critical incident" means an actual or perceived event or
situation that involves crisis, disaster, trauma, or emergency.
(3) "Critical incident stress" means the acute or cumulative
psychological stress or trauma that a first responder may
experience in providing emergency services in response to a
critical incident. The stress or trauma is an unusually strong
emotional, cognitive, behavioral, or physical reaction that may
interfere with normal functioning by causing:
(A) physical and emotional injury or illness;
(B) failure of a usual coping mechanism;
(C) loss of interest in work or normal life activities;
(D) loss of ability to function; or
(E) psychological disruption of personal life, including the
emergency responder's relationship with a spouse, child,
relative, or friend.
(4) "CISM services" means critical incident stress management
services that include programs and services related to education,
prevention, and mitigation of the effects from exposure to highly
stressful critical incidents. The term includes services provided by
an individual certified to provide group crisis intervention,
individual crisis intervention, peer support, or any related service.
(5) "CISM services provider" means an individual who is certified
to provide CISM services and who is acting as part of a CISM
team or in another official capacity.
(6) "CISM team" means an organized community or local crisis
response team that is trained and certified under standards
substantially similar to the training and certification standards
established by the Indiana emergency medical services
commission as set forth under IC 16-31-2.
(7) "First responder" has the meaning set forth in IC 10-10.5-2-1.
(8) "First responder recipient" means an individual who is a first
responder and receives CISM services, peer support services, or
both.
(9) "Peer support services" means services provided by a person
who:
(A) is a first responder working for the same department or
public agency that the first responder recipient works for; and
(B) acts:
(i) in the person's official capacity as a peer support team
member; and
(ii) within the written peer support guidelines that are in
effect for the person's respective first responder agency
program.
The term includes active listening, assessment, mentoring, crisis
intervention, or other support services provided to an employee
experiencing personal or professional difficulties that may or may
not be a result of the employee's exposure to highly stressful
critical incidents.
(10) "Peer support team member" means a first responder who:
(A) has successfully completed peer support training; and
(B) is designated a peer support team member;
by the head of the first responder's agency or the president of the
bargaining unit of the employees of the department or agency.