Decision Making

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

Episode 143 | Memory and situational awareness

Leave a Comment / Cognitive Memory, Decision Making, Explicit Knowledge, Gut Feeling, Information overload, Intuition, Long-Term Memory, Overload, SAMatters Radio, Short Term Memory, Tacit Knowledge /

    In this episode, we examine the role that short-term and long-term memory plays in helping first responders develop and maintain situational awareness. Length: 29 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 […]

Episode 143 | Memory and situational awareness Read More »

Episode 141 | Confabulation

Leave a Comment / Cognitive Memory, Confabulation, Confusion, Crew Resource Management, Decision Making, Expectations, Human Factors, Information overload, Miscommunications, Neuroscience, Overload, Perception Of Reality, Progress Reports, SAMatters Radio, Stress /

In this episode, we explore how the brain confabulates – or makes up its own reality. In the absence of facts, the brain can start to invent or create its own reality.  This can be dangerous on emergency scenes. Length: 22 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen       _____________________________________________________ If you are

Episode 141 | Confabulation Read More »

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

Episode 138 | Nine considerations when evaluating incident command software. Read More »

Episode 134 | Assessing resources

Leave a Comment / Accountability, Crew Resource Management, Decision Making, Expectations, Fear, Goals, Mayday and RIT, Mission, Pressure, Risk Assessment, SAMatters Radio, Stress, Teamwork, understaffing /

  In this episode, we discuss the importance of setting operational strategy based on available resources and the impact of understaffing on situational awareness. Length: 25 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

Episode 134 | Assessing resources Read More »

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

Episode 133 | The Devil’s Advocate Read More »

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

Episode 132 | Online Academy Preview Read More »

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

Episode 131 | Best practices for managing mental workload Read More »

Completing the 360-Degree Size-Up

Leave a Comment / Article, Decision Making, Safety, Situational awareness, Size Up, Standard Operating Procedures/Guidelines /

Situational awareness starts with capturing clues and cues in your environment (perception) and then understanding what those clues and cues mean (comprehension). At a structure fire the process of capturing information should involve a complete 360-degree size-up of the scene. Many departments have policies that stipulate the completion of a 360-degree size up. Yet, for

Completing the 360-Degree Size-Up Read More »

© 2025 SAMatters.com. All rights reserved.

Created by: Torrch