Terms used in this chapter mean:

1. (1) "Critical incident stress," the acute or cumulative psychological stress or trauma that an emergency service provider may experience by providing services during a critical incident, crisis, disaster, or emergency. Critical incident stress is a strong emotional, cognitive, or physical reaction that has the potential to interfere with normal functioning, such as:

   1. (a) Physical, mental, or emotional illness;
   2. (b) Failure of usual coping mechanisms;
   3. (c) Loss of interest in the job or in usual social relationships;
   4. (d) Personality changes; or
   5. (e) Loss of ability to function;

2. (2) "Critical incident stress management," any consultation, incident briefing and debriefing, on-site crisis intervention, counseling, risk assessment, case management services, harm prevention, and referral, provided to an emergency service provider affected by critical incident stress by:

   1. (a) Any person designated by this state or a political subdivision of this state; or
   2. (b) A health care facility licensed in accordance with chapter 34-12;

3. (3) "Critical incident stress management team," any person who is:

   1. (a) Designated by this state, a political subdivision of this state, or a health care facility licensed in accordance with chapter 34-12, to provide professional critical incident stress management to an emergency service provider affected by critical incident stress; and
   2. (b) Certified by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation as a critical incident stress management provider;

4. (4) "Peer support team member," any person, who is:

   1. (a) A peer of the emergency service provider, designated by this state, a political subdivision of this state, or a health care facility licensed in accordance with chapter 34-12, to provide critical incident stress management services to the provider; and
   2. (b) Certified by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation as a critical incident stress management provider; and
5. (5) "Emergency service provider," any person who provides response services during a critical incident, by or on behalf of this state, a political subdivision of this state, or a health care facility that is licensed in accordance with chapter 34-12 and provides emergency medical services.

Source: SL 2015, ch 187 , § 1; SL 2023, ch 130 , § 1.