Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a system that has been created to fill the newly perceived need of first responders and the way in which they meet the needs in turn experienced by victims in a disaster situation. Recently, officials recognized the need for a set of clear guidelines to help disaster personnel handle the stress and rigors of meeting the psychological and emotional needs of victims while also creating a platform for logistical support. To facilitate this, the PFA system consists of eight core actions, including contact and engagement, safety and comfort, stabilization, information gathering, practical assistance, connection with social supports, information on coping support, and linkage with collaborative service. Of these, the first two will be considered in more depth.

The first component, contact and engagement, is a response to the immediate challenge that disaster responders face when arriving at the site in question. This challenge focuses on...
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