The Acute Traumatic Response is the response that occurs during or immediately following the traumatic event. The reactions are often noted by trauma responders--firefighters, police, emergency personnel and by emergency room staff. There are a variety of "normal responses and symptoms"--physiological, emotional, cognitive and behavioral responses that can be experienced either during or shortly after a traumatic event. The following physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral reactions are commonly observed during traumatic exposure. It is important to remember that these responses are not unhealthy or maladaptive responses. Rather they are normal responses to an abnormal event.

Note: Not every response is evidenced by every person.

Resources
Foa EB, Hembree EA, Riggs D, Rauch S, Franklin M. Common Reactions to Trauma. At: http://www.ncptsd.org/facts/disasters/fs_foa_handout.html 
Dyer KA. The Potential Impact of CODES on Team Members: Examining Medical Education Training. Trauma Journal. Available at: http://www.aaets.org/arts/art95.htm 
Lerner MD, Shelton RD. Acute Traumatic Stress Management. Commack, N.Y.: The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, 2001. Available from: http://www.aaets.org 
American Red Cross. When Bad Things Happen. Available at: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/badthings.html 
American Red Cross. Why Do I Feel Like This? Avialable at: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/terror.html 
Acute and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders. Mental Health Report of the Surgeon General, Chapter 4 - Anxiety Disorders. Available at: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter4/sec2.html 
Khouzam HR. A simple mnemonic for the diagnostic criteria for post traumatic stress disorder. WJM 2001;174:424 Available at: http://www.ewjm.com/cgi/content/full/174/6/424 
National Institute of Mental Health. Facts about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/ptsdfacts.cfm 
National Institute of Mental Health. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, A Real Illness - Signs and Symptoms, Ways of improving. June 14, 2000. Available at:  http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/ptsdri1.cfm  
National Institute of Mental Health. Reliving Trauma - PTSD. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/reliving.cfm  
National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Screening for PTSD In a Primary Care Setting Avialable at: http://www.ncptsd.org/screen_disaster.html