Danica’s reaction to the fire cracker (INTEGRA-06-EN)

Danica has fled in 1992 from the Bosnian war, where her husband and three kids were killed in a bomb attack, to Slovenia. Currently, she is unemployed and has to come to regular visits to her labour office. Two days before the new Year, just when she enters the building, a premature Sylvester fire cracker explodes next to her. Danica panics and runs to the staircase which leads also to the cellar which is used as archive and forbidden for visitors. Although some employees call her to stop, she runs down and tries to open several door, before she finally finds one where she enters and barricades the door from within. The labour office people had to call the police to be able to open the door. What should they do?

In this situation, a sensible trauma-informed reaction would involve understanding and empathizing with Danica's traumatic experiences. The labour office staff should assess the situ-ation and ensure that Danica is physically safe inside the barricaded room. They should calmly communicate with her, letting her know that they are there to help and that she is safe. They should speak to Danica in a calm and compassionate manner, acknowledging her fear and panic, and reassure her that she is in a safe space.

From Danica’s records, they can recognize the impact of Danica's past traumatic experiences and the triggering effect the firecracker had on her. Therefore they can validate her emotions and let her know that her reaction is understandable given her history. They should be mindful of the language used and avoid re-traumatizing or triggering Danica further.

While it may be necessary to open the door to ensure Danica's safety and allow her to leave the room, it should be done in a way that respects her autonomy and minimizes any feelings of further distress. The staff should communicate clearly and seek her consent before taking any actions.

Once Danica is in a calmer state, her adviser should offer her information about available support services, such as counselling, therapy, or support groups, that can help her process her traumatic experiences and develop coping strategies, and provide her with contact information for local organizations that specialize in trauma support.

On the labour office level, a trauma-informed environment should be created. This may include staff training on trauma-informed approaches and know how to respond sensitively to individuals who have experienced trauma, implementing safety measures during festive periods, and considering any specific accommodations that can support individuals with trauma histories.

 INTEGRA Institut