Which characteristic is NOT associated with a critical incident?

The characteristic connected with a critical incident that is not typically included is routine planning. Critical incidents are defined by their unexpected and often traumatic nature, which often leads to a significant disruption in an individual's ability to cope. This disruption brings about intense emotional and psychological responses, such as the loss of sense of control, the activation of the fight or flight response, and heightened feelings of terror and fear.

Routine planning, on the other hand, implies an organized approach to events that can generally be anticipated and managed, contrasting sharply with the chaotic and unpredictable nature of critical incidents. Being prepared and having a plan does not align with the spontaneous and often overwhelming characteristics of a critical incident. Thus, routine planning is not a trait that would be associated with the intense and erratic conditions stemming from a critical incident.