Which statement indicates a lifeguard may be experiencing critical incident stress?

The statement “It's our fault. We should have done something more to save the man” reflects an individual who is experiencing critical incident stress because it indicates a profound level of self-blame and emotional turmoil surrounding the incident. This type of thinking often arises after a traumatic event, particularly in a lifeguard's role where the stakes are high, and the potential for loss is emotionally taxing.

When faced with a critical incident, lifeguards may struggle with feelings of guilt or responsibility, questioning their actions and decisions even if the situation was beyond their control. This mindset can lead to heightened stress, anxiety, and a negative emotional state as they grapple with the impact of the incident on victims and themselves.

In contrast, the other statements reflect varying degrees of acceptance or detachment regarding the incident. The statement suggesting that it was just an accident implies a level of resignation and does not indicate deep emotional processing. The assertion that “we did everything we could” demonstrates a professional assessment of actions taken and minimizes emotional stress, while the comment about moving on shows a desire to quickly distance oneself from the emotional burden of the incident. Hence, these other statements do not convey the internal struggle associated with critical incident stress as effectively as the selected response does.