These are the first responder situational awareness and decision making issues and opportunities related to decision making.
Anyone who’s been frustrated knows it can consume a lot of your mental energy and thinking space. This can significantly impact your situational awareness. In fact, depending on the level of frustration, your brain can be hijacked by all-consuming thoughts about what is causing the angst. While operating at an emergency scene, frustration may draw […]
Seven Ways Frustration Can Impact Situational Awareness Read More »
During a recent Flawed Situational Awareness program I conducted an exercise to show just how stubborn our brains can be. Without going into too much detail here, the exercise is designed to demonstrate the consequences of relationship biases. The results of the exercise are quite predictable and consistent. Whether we like it or not, our
Relationship Bias – A Barrier to Situational Awareness Read More »
In this interview, Matt Marlow shares how his late arrival on a structure fire led to a complacent mindset and caused him to fall through the floor at a residential structure fire. Length: 78 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the full VIDEO __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding
Firefighter Through the Floor – The Matt Marlow Story (Episode 266) Read More »
There are an untold number of incidents in which responders have been struck by vehicles while working on roadway incidents. The roadway is one of the more dangerous work environments for emergency responders to operate in because conditions can go from being totally benign to total chaos in just a matter of seconds.
Situational Awareness on the Roadway Read More »
During this interview, Paul Speight from the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service in the United Kingdom shares how his department is developing virtual reality simulations to train first responders. Length: 72 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the full VIDEO __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness
Virtual Reality Simulations – The Paul Speight Interview. (Episode 263) Read More »
I recently read an investigation report where a firefighter died and it made me sad. First, as we see so often in after action reviews, it appears as though the tragedy may have been preventable. The second thing that made me sad about this investigation report was the inaccurate and incomplete recommendations about situational awareness.
Room for Improvement Read More »
If you have the ambition to host a program on situational awareness for your department or region, this is a must-watch episode. We will share the secret sauce for how you can host a one or two-day event that costs your department nothing. Length: 62 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the full
No Cost Hosting: How to Host a Program for Free. (SAM 262) Read More »
The pre-arrival lens is a neurological phenomenon that can both help and hinder situational awareness. The “lens” is your mental view of the incident you are responding to, developed prior to your arrival, and based on the triangulation of three primary data sources – dispatch information (shared via radio), past experience and imagination. This article
Pre Arrival Lens and Situational Awareness Read More »
Listen in as firefighter Tom Ehlers and fire chief Wesley Cole share their story about a fire incident where Tom was struck by a falling 14k volt power line on the scene of a fire. This is part 2 of the 2 part series. Length: 62 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the
Electrocuted by a downed power line – The Tom Ehlers Story – Part 2 (Episode 261) Read More »
In one of my recent Mental Management of Emergencies classes a participant was describing an incident that resulted in several first responder casualties. As he shared the details, he described the unfolding of events as “The Perfect Storm.” This article will discuss the origins of that phrase and share why we should consider changing our
