Search
Close this search box.

Decision Making

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

Situational Awareness Matters!

Administrative chiefs and emergency responses

I recently received an email from a firefighter asking for my opinion as to whether or not the administrative chief officers in his department should respond to reported structure fires. My initial response was: “Well, Duh! Yes!” But then I got to thinking about it more. How and when administrative chief officers respond to fires […]

Administrative chiefs and emergency responses Read More »

Episode 166 | Situational Awareness Insanity – Part 2

Albert Einstein is credited with saying “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.” This is Part 2 of a 5-part series that explores situational awareness insanity. Length: 25 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness

Episode 166 | Situational Awareness Insanity – Part 2 Read More »

Episode 165 | Situational Awareness Insanity – Part 1

Albert Einstein is credited with saying “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.” This is Part 1 of a 5-part series that explores situational awareness insanity. Length: 26 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk

Episode 165 | Situational Awareness Insanity – Part 1 Read More »

A situational awareness paradigm shift

Paradigm: A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitute a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them . Recent research conducted by Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have revealed a flaw in a long standing paradigm about fire attack. As this blog does not

A situational awareness paradigm shift Read More »

Episode 164 | Predicting the future

One of the most challenging parts of situational awareness development is making an accurate prediction about what is going to happen in the future.  This is one of the most often overlooked components of situational awareness development and the outcome can be catastrophic. Length: 30 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________

Episode 164 | Predicting the future Read More »

A Must-See Safety Video

I would like to recommend that you all watch this video created by the Chicago Fire Department, depicting the [clickandtweet handle=”richgasaway” hashtag=”samatters” related=”samatters” layout=”” position=””]powerful life stories of firefighters who have been injured or killed.[/clickandtweet]

A Must-See Safety Video Read More »

Episode 163 | Lynchburg FD House Fire Near Miss – Part 2

Captain Bob Mayes, Captain John Ripley, and Deputy Chief Greg Wormser were on the first-alarm assignment to a report of a residential dwelling fire. As the incident progressed conditions changed which resulted in a significant near-miss event. This is part 2 of a two-part interview. Length: 47 minutes Click the YouTube icon to listen  

Episode 163 | Lynchburg FD House Fire Near Miss – Part 2 Read More »

Situational Awareness Matters!

5 Tips For Improving Situational Awareness Through Training

The overall number of structure fires are down nationwide. For the sake of the citizens we protect, this is a good thing. But for the sake of firefighters who need to gain valuable experience through the proverbial baptism by fire, this isn’t such a good thing. I often get asked by company officers and trainers

5 Tips For Improving Situational Awareness Through Training Read More »

Episode 162 | Lynchburg FD House Fire Near Miss – Part 1

Captain Bob Mayes, Captain John Ripley and Deputy Chief Greg Wormser were on the first-alarm assignment to a report of a residential dwelling fire. As the incident progressed, conditions changed, which resulted in a significant near-miss event. This is part 1 of a two-part interview. Length: 39 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen    

Episode 162 | Lynchburg FD House Fire Near Miss – Part 1 Read More »

Situational Awareness Matters!

360° Size Up

Situational awareness starts with capturing clues and cues in your environment[/clickandtweet]  It’s really quite a simple premise. To capture clues and cues requires seeing or hearing them. At a structure fire, the visual clues and cues occupy a finite environment- the building and the space around the building. I am nothing short of astounded by the

360° Size Up Read More »