All personnel involved in a traumatic event shall be referred to a psychological professional within

• A. 24 hours
• B. 48 hours
• C. 72 hours
• D. 96 hours

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is that after a traumatic event, getting a referral to a psychological professional quickly—within a specific, practical window—helps identify and manage acute stress early. A 72-hour timeframe is chosen because it balances the need for timely support with the realities of coordinating referrals after a high-stress incident and across varying shift schedules. Early contact within about three days allows for initial screening, immediate coping strategies, and a plan for further care if symptoms arise. Shorter windows like 24 or 48 hours can be hard to arrange for all personnel, while waiting until 96 hours risks missing the early onset of acute reactions and delaying intervention.