ABSTRACT
The literature on physiological concomitants of maladaptive rescue and caretaking is sparse. The ill effects on rescuers of caring for victims became obvious soon after establishment of outreach projects to disaster sites. Anguish results from intense worry and preoccupation that death or injury may result or have resulted from one’s failure to rescue or care. Help varies according to the needs of each disaster phase. Rescue usually occurs in the impact phase of disasters, whereas caretaking is a longer rehabilitating process. Rescue, care, nurture, and preservation carry deep pleasures and joys. Saving lives is supremely good, and caretaking is associated with virtues of kindness, patience, pity, and charity. Ideals of rescuer and parental roles crumble, and it appears that others’ lives and happiness are devalued. People seem to work according to the “me-first” principle and “human selfishness coming out in bad times”.
