CO Health, Safety & Stress Management Flashcards
6 cards from real CO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CO Health, Safety & Stress Management flashcards as text
Correctional officers are considered to be in a high-stress occupation primarily because of:
Answer: Constant exposure to dangerous environments, trauma, and unpredictable inmate behavior
Corrections officers experience chronic stress due to working in dangerous environments with hostile individuals, exposure to violence and trauma, shift work, and constant vigilance demands.
Which condition is commonly associated with correctional officers who experience prolonged occupational stress?
Answer: Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion and reduced sense of accomplishment
Burnout is a well-documented outcome of chronic occupational stress in corrections, marked by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal efficacy.
An officer who witnesses a traumatic critical incident at work (such as an inmate death) should most appropriately:
Answer: Seek a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) or EAP support
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Employee Assistance Programs provide structured psychological support that helps officers process trauma and prevent PTSD.
Which practice best supports a correctional officer's physical health given the demands of shift work?
Answer: Maintaining consistent sleep schedules, regular exercise, and a balanced diet
Consistent sleep hygiene, regular physical exercise, and proper nutrition help counteract the physiological disruption caused by rotating shifts and high-stress environments.
What is the purpose of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in a correctional facility?
Answer: To provide confidential counseling, mental health, and referral services to staff
EAPs offer confidential professional counseling, mental health referrals, and support services to help staff manage personal and work-related problems.
Secondary traumatic stress in corrections officers most often develops from:
Answer: Exposure to trauma experienced by inmates and colleagues over time
Secondary traumatic stress, also called vicarious trauma, develops from indirect exposure to others' trauma — a common occupational hazard in corrections due to frequent contact with victimization and violence.