Emotional First Aid

Emotional First Aid (EFA)

When tragedy strikes, survivors enter what TIP calls The Horrible Hours — a time of shock, disorientation, and emotional overwhelm. During these early moments, what survivors need most is not advice, solutions, or explanations. They need compassionate human presence.

Emotional First Aid (EFA) was developed by Wayne Fortin, Founder of Trauma Intervention Programs, Inc., as a structured yet deeply human approach to supporting people in crisis.

EFA is grounded in five core tenets that guide how we show up for survivors.

The Five Tenets of Emotional First Aid

1. Reaching Out

The first step in Emotional First Aid is making contact.

Reaching out means:

• Introducing yourself

• Establishing a human connection

• Ensuring no one is overlooked

• Offering presence without pressure

In the midst of chaos, simple human connection reduces isolation and begins restoring a sense of safety.

2. Acknowledging the Survivor’s Plight

Acknowledgment means validating the survivor’s experience without minimizing, correcting, or attempting to fix it.

This includes:

• Listening without interruption

• Reflecting what you hear

• Allowing emotion without judgment

• Avoiding platitudes or “at least” statements

Survivors need their reality recognized, not reinterpreted.

3. Normalizing

Trauma produces powerful emotional and physical reactions. Survivors often fear that their responses mean something is wrong.

Normalizing means:

• Explaining that intense reactions are common

• Reducing fear about emotional responses

• Helping survivors understand they are not “losing control”

Normalization does not diminish the pain — it reduces shame and self-doubt.

4. Expanding the Survivor’s Story

After tragedy, survivors may focus narrowly on a single detail — especially guilt, blame, or “what if” thinking.

Expanding the story means:

• Gently helping the survivor see the full picture

• Highlighting actions taken, efforts made, and care shown

• Offering perspective without arguing

This is not about correcting emotion — it is about widening understanding.

5. Redirecting

In moments of acute distress, survivors may feel compelled toward impulsive or unsafe actions.

Redirecting means:

• Acknowledging the survivor’s desire or impulse

• Offering a compassionate alternative

• Guiding without commanding

Redirecting preserves dignity while promoting safety.

The Spirit Behind Emotional First Aid

Emotional First Aid is not about technique alone. It is grounded in:

• Humility

• Presence

• Respect

• Patience

• Awareness of self

The goal of EFA is not to eliminate pain. It is to ensure that survivors are not alone in it.

Explore Emotional First Aid

The following pages explore the core tenets and philosophy of Emotional First Aid.
They may be read in any order. Choose what feels most helpful right now.

• The Horrible Hours

• Trauma Responses

• What to Say (and What Not to Say)

• Guiding Principles of Emotional First Aid

• Emotional First Aid Is Powerful

• Get Yourself Out of the Way

• The Self-Aware Helper

You may also find helpful support in our Printable Guides, designed to provide clear, practical information during difficult moments.