Attention Management

These are the first responder situational awareness and decision making issues and opportunities related to the management of attention.

Distractions and Interruptions…What’s the Difference?

Leave a Comment / Article, Attention Management, Communications, Distractions and Interruptions, Personnel location, Situational awareness /

As I talk with first responders in classes about the impact of distractions and interruptions on situational awareness, I find myself often being asked: “What’s the difference?” While there are distinctly different causes for distractions and interruptions, the outcome is often very similar…a reduction in situational awareness and the potential for a catastrophic outcome. [tweet […]

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Meta Awareness & Situational Awareness

2 Comments / Article, Attention Management, Decision Making, Meta Awareness, Situational awareness /

  Meta awareness means being consciously aware of your own awareness. I know that sounds redundant, so let me explain. One of the things responders need to understand is that situational awareness is fragile. Situational awareness can be lost in ways that are so subtle that it may erode before a responder even realizes it

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Episode 138 | Nine considerations when evaluating incident command software.

Leave a Comment / Attention Management, Auditory exclusion, Automation, Command Support, Communications, Decision Making, Equipment, Information overload, Miscommunications, Overload, Preoccupation, SAMatters Radio, Selective Listening, Shared Mental Models, Task Fixation, Workload Management /

  In this episode, we discuss 9 things you should consider when evaluating your purchase of incident command software. Length: 31 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to a higher level, check out the Situational Awareness Matters

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Episode 133 | The Devil’s Advocate

Leave a Comment / Attention Management, Auditory exclusion, Cognitive Memory, Confusion, Decision Making, Disoriented, Distractions and Interruptions, Human Factors, Information overload, Multitasking, Neuroscience, Overload, Overwhelm, Perception Of Reality, Prediction, Pressure, SAMatters Radio, Selective Listening, Short Term Memory, Stress, Task Saturation, Workload Management /

In this episode, we discuss the role of the devil’s advocate on emergency scenes and how the advocate can help when there is a flawed perception of reality. Length: 27 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen       _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making

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safety training

Episode 132 | Online Academy Preview

Leave a Comment / Attention Management, Communications, Decision Making, Firefighter Situational Awareness, Goals, Human Factors, Mission, Neuroscience, Risk Assessment, SAMatters Radio, Shared Mental Models, Situational awareness, Staffing, Teamwork, Workload Management /

  I am super excited to be able to share with you the features and enrollment options for the newly released Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy. Length: 22 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to a higher

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Episode 131 | Best practices for managing mental workload

Leave a Comment / Attention Management, Auditory exclusion, Cognitive Memory, Communications, Confusion, Decision Making, Disoriented, Distractions and Interruptions, Human Factors, Information overload, Multitasking, Neuroscience, Overload, Overwhelm, Perception Of Reality, Prediction, Pressure, SAMatters Radio, Selective Listening, Short Term Memory, Stress, Task Saturation, Workload Management /

    In this episode, we discuss five best practices for managing mental workload under stressful working conditions. Length: 26 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen       _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to a higher level, check out the Situational Awareness Matters Online

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Episode 115 | Vehicle Fire Situational Awareness

Leave a Comment / Attention Management, Close Call, Complacency, Culture, Decision Making, Expectations, Habits, Human Error, Judgment, Near Miss, Over Confident, Personal Protective Equipment, Personnel location, Prediction, Safety, SAMatters Radio, Standard Operating Procedures/Guidelines, Task Fixation /

In this episode we explore the importance of developing and maintain situational awareness while operating on the scenes of vehicle fires. Length: 34 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to a higher level, check out the Situational

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Episode 114 | Noise Can Impact Situational Awareness

Leave a Comment / Attention Management, Auditory exclusion, Communications, Confusion, Disoriented, Distractions and Interruptions, Lost Focus, SAMatters Radio, Selective Listening /

         In this episode, we explore how noise can impact situational awareness of first responders. Length: 30 minutes Click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to a higher level, check out the Situational Awareness Matters Online

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Episode 110 | Live Events Q&A

1 Comment / Assumptions, Attention Management, Building Construction, Cognitive Memory, Expectations, Experience, Gut Feeling, Information overload, Intuition, Long-Term Memory, Mindfulness, Overload, Pattern Matching, Perception, Perception Of Reality, Prediction, SAMatters Radio, Size Up, Tacit Knowledge /

            In this episode I share some of the more commonly asked questions that come up during live Situational Awareness events. Length: 51 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to a higher level,

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You Can’t Handle the Truth!

4 Comments / Article, Attention Management, Auditory exclusion, Cognitive Memory, Confabulation, Confusion, Decision Making, Emotions, Human Behavior, Long-Term Memory, Multitasking, Sensory Conflict, Short Term Memory /

If you have attended one of my new Mental Management of Emergencies programs you have learned how stress is a game-changer when it comes to firefighter situational awareness and decision making quality. Most basic training programs focus on developing cognitive knowledge and physical skills. Far less address the impact of stress on situational awareness and

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