ABSTRACT
Days following the accident, the heroic efforts of Alana and her colleagues were acknowledged and celebrated in newspapers and on the television. Parents, local citizens, and school authorities praised the rapid response and courage of rescue workers who worked through dreadful conditions. Like her colleagues, Alana was proud of her skills and ability to assist the youngsters. Nevertheless, she struggled with feelings of detachment and emotional unresponsiveness days after the accident. Alana became agitated when family or friends recounted specific details of the tragedy and tried to engage her in conversation about her experience.
