This paper considers the immediate post‐traumatic reactions of rescue personnel who were exposed to the Hilton Hotel bombing in Sinai. The entire rescue personnel (n = 26) were assessed and separated into two groups on the basis of previous exposure to the same type of trauma. The results suggest that among rescue personnel, those with previous exposure had a lower level of post‐traumatic symptoms than those who were being exposed for the first time. This supports the hypothesis that previous exposure to the same type of trauma has an immunizing effect for subsequent same type of traumatic event among rescue personnel. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The immediate impact of exposure to dead and mutilated bodies was assessed among rescue personnel 36 to 48 hr after a collapsed building disaster in Tel Aviv. Twenty-five rescue personnel, 9 men and 16 women, completed a battery of questionnaires including the Dissociative Experience Scale and the Impact of Event Scale designed to detect acute stress reactions. The authors compared gender differences in the severity of the acute stress reactions. These comparisons revealed no difference between male and female rescue personnel. The implications of these results for acute stress reactions and gender differences among rescue personnel are discussed.

The Pre-Traumatic Vaccination Intervention (PTV) has been developed in an attempt to help rescue personnel cope with anticipated and non-anticipated disasters, and to prevent trauma-related mental disorders during and after a traumatogenic exposure. Contrary to the generally accepted approach of treating trauma after it has occurred, the PTV has been designed to be administered prior to the potentially traumatic event. Based on empirical findings, the PTV training techniques were designed to prepare the participants for distressful situations. Trainees were gradually exposed to increasingly severe sights using cognitive-behavioral techniques along with foreseen situations relating to their profession. Various interventions were aimed at normalizing using personal resources and implementing relaxation techniques. The PTV was administrated as part of the Israeli Defense Forces rescue personnel's and military police training courses. The results of an uncontrolled, preliminary study suggest that the intervention reduced the level of dissociation leading to more awareness to the traumatic event's details, less suffering, lower probability of making mistakes, and increased likelihood of returning to normal functioning. Lower dissociation may suggest a lower probability to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder among rescue personnel.

There are only a few studies that check rescue personnel before and after exposure to trauma. Peritraumatic dissociation and post‐traumatic reactions were examined among rescue personnel in a rescue course and 36–48h after exposure to a gas pipe explosion in Tel Aviv. The entire rescue personnel were examined for peritraumatic dissociation and post‐traumatic reactions. Only those with prior measurements of peritraumatic dissociation and post‐traumatic reactions were eligible for analysis. The results showed that the only significant increase among rescue personnel was in peritraumatic dissociation between before in comparison to after exposure to trauma. No significant change was found in avoidance, intrusion, and post‐traumatic symptoms. These results correspond with previous studies that found increased peritraumatic dissociation among rescue personnel as a function of exposure severity. Explanations for these results are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The association between peritraumatic dissociation and acute stress reactions were examined among rescue personnel 36–48h after exposure to a gas pipe explosion resulting in a collapsed building in Tel Aviv. The entire rescue personnel were examined for peritraumatic dissociation and acute stress reactions. The results showed that among men there was a negative association between peritraumatic dissociation and acute stress reactions. Among women, there was a positive association between peritraumatic dissociation and acute stress reactions. These results correspond with previous studies that found an association between peritraumatic dissociation and acute stress reactions. Explanations to these results are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.