ABSTRACT

Until recently, disaster workers have been neglected both by researchers and their own employers for a variety of possible reasons. These include popular stereotypes of helpers as being strong and resourceful (a perspective often cherished by members of the emergency services) as opposed to survivors who might be viewed as helpless and lacking resources (285). Emergency service personnel often hide emotion, some describing (186) how their uniforms provide protection from the experience of distress (at least whilst they are wearing them). Helpers are simply not supposed to be at risk whereas the needs of direct survivors are much more obvious.