Behind The Scenes
Because of the confidential and behind the scenes nature of what TIP does people often ask "What do volunteers do when they are called to help survivors of tragedy?" We call what TIP volunteers do Emotional First Aid. Following is a brief description of what TIP volunteers do to provide Emotional First Aid.
Being There. Someone said "95% of helping is just showing up." We have found that to be true in TIP. Our volunteers respond, provide a gentle touch and acknowledge the survivors pain. Although just "being there" seems on the surface to be not very helpful, it is our volunteers' caring presence our clients say they appreciate most.
Protecting. Our clients are in shock and often are forgetful, impulsive and vulnerable. Therefore, our TIP volunteers serve as Protectors to our clients who can be dangerous to themselves or who can be re-injured by others. Protecting may involve protecting our clients from the media, from horrible sights or from "lookie lous."
Informing. Often the primary need of our clients when the TIP volunteers arrive is for information about "what's happening?" Volunteers do their best to be "information advocates" by serving as a "go betweens" between busy emergency responders who have information and clients who desperately need the information.
Organizing. Because of the sudden natures of tragedy, survivors are caught totally unprepared. They do not have a plan and don't know what to do..."What do I do now?" TIP volunteers help our clients develop a simple plan and give them the information necessary to take the next steps.
Advocating. Survivors of tragedy often have unique needs and special requests in the aftermath of their tragedy. For example, a wife might want a lock of her deceased husband's hair. Often emergency responders are too busy to attend to these special requests. TIP volunteers listen for special needs and try their best to meet those needs.
These are some of the ways TIP volunteers try to help our clients. Ultimately what volunteers do is dictated by the clients themselves. Volunteers go into all of the situations they encounter with the attitude: "I'm here to meet this unique person's needs." To meet the needs of the clients we are called to help, TIP volunteers know that they need to listen carefully throughout the TIP call. Volunteers also know that they must approach each TIP call with a deep sense of humility and with the belief: "It's not about me. It's all about this person I've been called to assist." |
