What We Learned: Some Generalizations in Dealing with a Traumatic Event at Cokeville.

Cokeville Elementary School in Afton, Wyoming, was taken hostage on May 16, 1986. Two self-styled "revolutionaries" held 135 children, 14 teachers, the principal, and 3 other adults confined in a classroom for just over 2 hours. The siege ended violently when one of the perpetrators accidentally killed herself by unintentionally detonating a bomb. The blast injured several of the hostages as well. A review of the events reveals that the teachers and the principal coped with the situation very effectively, preventing panic both before and after the explosion and helping reduce the psychological trauma associated with the experience. The event also helped clarify how five generalizations about dealing with the aftereffects of trauma can be put into practice in a specific situation in a practical manner. These five generalizations are that: (1) willingness to be receptive to people's feelings about an event must be made clear; (2) professional psychological help must be considered; (3) a sense of order (established before the crisis) must be maintained during and after the event; (4) methods should be found to facilitate a rapid return to normalcy; and (5) traumatic events can and should be transformed into valuable learning experiences. (PGD)