Work with a pupil collective involved in a traffic accident with the help of EMDR

On Tuesday. November llth 2004 in Gevelsberg, Germany a traffic accident happened with a truck and a school bus. A number of children were slightly injured. 17 pupils of a basic school were involved. A part of them were in need of acute ambulatory medical care in a hospital. In addition were some siblings, attending higher schools likewise casualties of the accident. At request of the "Opferschutzbeauftragten" and the school the Psychiatry for children and youngsters, Herdecke, Germany as hospital in responsibility at Monday, November 29th were asked to treat this incident with this 17 pupils of the school. Three co-workers of the Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie Herdecke, a policeman, the "Opferschutzbeauftragte" [commissioner for victim protection], a person from the bus company, the principal of the school and the 17 pupils were present. The methods were presented, involving EMDR in the collective. Installation of a safe location. Treatment of the actual accident event in the group as well as strategies for stabilisation of the pupils was represented in detail. Especially the persons present were entered into the legal, organisational and practical topics of the problem. Later a re-inquiry took place in the families, the result will be also presented at congress. On the occasion of this event a concept of proceeding in acute trauma was developed together with the "Opfenchutzbeauftrogten" of our region of providing. This will be presented as well, if finished until then, at congress.

Conference

English

Michael Meusers

Meusers, M. (2005, June). Work with a pupil collective involved in a traffic accident with the help of EMDR. In EMDR and children. Symposium conducted at the 6th EMDR Europe Association Conference, Brussels, Belgium