Its not easy... Mostly-- you cant think about the after effects until afterwards. While you are there, you have to concentrate on doing your job. Then, when you get back to the station, you sit through a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)...Not fun.

One of the things we learn is humor and accusation. Not that either are good, but it helps to prevent you going crazy or depressed. For instance, Crime scene investigators routinely make fun of the bodies. Why? They woul otherwise go loco. Accusation: Accuse someobody of being irresposible (when you are back at the station of course), and it doesnt seem so bad somehow...

Theres never a happy ending to these stories. Sorry.