Human Factors

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

Episode 203 | Normalization of Deviance

When we are operating under conditions of stress and consequence, coupled with changing conditions and time compression, we can feel a sense of urgency and this can cause us to want to take a shortcut from safety best practices.  Length: 29 minutes       click the YouTube icon to listen       __________________________________________________ […]

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Episode 202 | Relationship Bias

The episode explores how relationship bias can impact situational awareness.  Length: 29 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen

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Fear can be a barrier to situational awareness

Everyone has fears and fear can certainly impact a person’s situational awareness. Some people are better at controlling their fears while others are controlled by their fears. Some people mask their fears well while others wear their fear on their sleeves. Some people live in denial of their fears and others face their fears and

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Episode 201 | When Unexpected Things Happen

In this episode, we explore what happens when faced with unexpected situations and your brain tries to make sense of the unexpected.  Length: 33 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen

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Explaining Resistance to Change

Imagine for a moment that you’re part of a 4-person first-due crew responding on to an apartment fire. On the way to the call the dispatcher announces over the radio that a caller is reporting the fire to be on the first floor of a three-story apartment building. Your company officer tells you that on

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Episode197 | Interview with Jason Bonney – Part 2

This episode is part two of a two-part interview with Assistant Chief Jason Bonney from the Central Jackson Fire Protection District.  Length: 53 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

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Episode 196 | Interview with Jason Bonney – Part 1

This episode is part one of a two-part interview with Assistant Chief Jason Bonney from the Central Jackson Fire Protection District.  Length: 53 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

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Episode 195 | Crisis Response Journal Interview – Part 2

This episode is part two of an interview with Christo Motz, a board member for the Crisis Response Journal.  Length: 61 minutes Click the YouTube icon to listen to the full episode       __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to a higher level, check

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Episode 194 | Crisis Response Journal Interview – Part 1

This episode is part one of a two-part interview with Christo Motz, a board member for the Crisis Response Journal.  Length: 59 minutes Click the YouTube icon to listen to the full episode   __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to a higher level, check out

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Divided Attention Test

In a recent Mental Management of Emergencies program, we were talking about multitasking. During the discussion I explained what happens when a person attempts to multitask the act of paying of attention – which is neurologically impossible by the way. This turned the discussion to a sobriety test administered by police officers called the Divided

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