Decision Making

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

The John Vanatta Story. Part 1 – SAM 349

This episode is Part 1 of a 2-part interview with Deputy Chief John Vanatta discussing a training exercise that went wrong and resulted in two firefighter injuries after falling 10 feet  on to concrete. The Denver Drill that John discusses had been performed all week using two ladders and two firefighters at the sill.  But […]

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The Jason Corthell Story. The Next Chapter. Part 2 – SAM 348

On March 27, 2015, Cypress Creek District Chief Jason Corthell was trapped and injured during a fire where a stairwell unexpectedly collapsed at an apartment building fire in Texas.  This is Part 2 of his follow-up story and the road to physical and mental recovery. Back on Episode 55, then Cypress Creek Lieutenant Jason Corthell

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The Jason Corthell Story. The Next Chapter. Part 1 – SAM 347

On March 27, 2015, Cypress Creek District Chief Jason Corthell was trapped and injured during a fire where a stairwell unexpectedly collapsed at an apartment building fire in Texas.  This the follow-up story of his road to physical and mental recovery. Back on Episode 55, then Cypress Creek Lieutenant Jason Corthell shared his close call

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The Myth of Multitasking – SAM 346

This episode explores the challenges workers face while operating in dynamically changing conditions that require sharing attention to multiple, concurrent activities – a.k.a., multitasking.  If you are the type of person who can work on your notebook, listen to music on your iPod, talk on your cell phone and text message at the same time,

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The Dave Martin Story – Flashback to Episode 45 – SAM 343

On August 11, 2007, Captain Martin and his partner were over run by a fast-moving wildland fire. On retreat, his partner became entangled on a barbed wire fence. Captain Martin used a utility knife to cut away his partner’s ensnarled clothing and they both narrowly escaped death.   Description   Dave Martin’s crew was assigned

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Confabulated Realities Impact Situational Awareness – SAM 342

This episode explores how your brain can make up, or confabulate, its own reality.  A confabulated reality is one that we believe to be real but, in actuality, it is made up in our brain.  The problem with this is we rarely are able to distinguish between a confabulated reality and true reality until something

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The Jeff Bowen LODD Story, told by Scott Burnette. Part 2 – SAM 341

This episode is part 2 of a two-part interview with Asheville (NC) Fire Chief Scott Burnette, sharing the details and perspective on the LODD of Captain Jeff Bowen. On July 28, 2011, the Asheville Fire Department was forever changed by the tragic LODD of Captain Jeff Bowen. During this interview, Fire Chief Scott Burnette talks

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The John Glaser LODD Story, told by Ryan Pyle. Part 2 – SAM 339

In this episode I sat down for an interview with Shawnee (KS) Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Pyle to discuss a residential structure incident that resulted in the death of Firefighter John Glaser. Ryan discusses the details of this tragic incident and the lessons his department learned from it. This episode is part 2 of a

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The John Glaser LODD Story, told by Ryan Pyle. – Part 1 – SAM 338

In this episode I sat down for an interview with Shawnee (KS) Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Pyle to discuss a residential structure incident that resulted in the death of Firefighter John Glaser. Ryan discusses the details of this tragic incident and the lessons his department learned from it. This episode is part 1 of a

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Trapped in a basement – The Perry Hall Story – Part 2 – SAM 337

This episode is part two of a two-part interview with Perry Hall, a firefighter who shared his story of a horrific near-miss event and the life-changing impact it has had on him.   Description   On May 5, 2014 Perry Hall was part of an engine crew conducting a search when he got separated from

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