"PFA is an alternative to "psychological debriefing" which has been found to be ineffective. In contrast, PFA involves factors that seem to be most helpful to people's long-term recovery..... These include:

• feeling safe, connected to others, calm and hopeful;
• having access to social, physical and emotional support; and
• feeling able to help themselves, as individuals and communities."

Reference: World Health Organization, War Trauma Foundation and World Vision International (2011). Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers. WHO: Geneva.

Webpage: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241548205_eng.pdf