When someone experiences a traumatic event it can take hours, days, weeks or even months before stress reactions begin to appear.  Different people are affected in different ways, for different lengths of time depending upon the severity of the event. 

Reactions caused by a traumatic event or incident can take the form of physical, emotional, spiritual, behavioural, and cognitive symptoms, and it’s important that the person engage in self care.

Health Emergency Management B.C. has  provided some information about common reactions or signals of traumatic event stress, how a person can help alleviate the stress, and what family and friends can do to support someone who is experiencing a stress reaction. 

Click to download HEM BC resources: