Risk

These are the first responder situational awareness and decision making issues and opportunities related to risk, assumed risk, created risk and risk taking.

What first responders need to know about explosives: The Jarred Alden Interview. Part 1 – SAM 381

This episode is part 1 of a 2-part interview Akron (OH) Fire Lieutenant Jarred Alden shares what we need to know about homemade explosive devices, blast effect, treating blast injury victims, and more. Lieutenant Alden is a paramedic and operations officer for the Akron (OH) Fire Department. He has 17+ years of experience as a […]

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Improving Responder Safety on the Roadway: The John Gonzalez Interview -SAM 380

This episode is an interview with John Gonzalez from Florian Re Appratus, a company focused on improving responder safety on roadway incidents. John Gonzalez is a past District Chief of Toms River Fire District 1 in Ocean County, NJ and has been an active volunteer firefighter for over 30 years.  Chief Gonzalez served as a

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Preventing a Mass Shooter Event: The Darin Wall Story SAM 379

This episode interviews a man whose situational awareness and intuition helped him prevent a mass shooting event in Boise, Idaho. On September 4, Grayhawk bass player, Darin Wall, stopped a potential mass shooting by preventing a man from gaining entry into a private party at an event where the band had played earlier in the

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When Training Goes Wrong: The Stan Mettinger Story – SAM 378

This episode shares the story of a firefighter who was burned during a vehicle fire training scenario.  Stan Mettinger was setting up a training scenario that involved setting vehicles on fire.  He was using diesel fuel to ignite hay inside the vehicle when the vapors flashed and set Stan on fire resulting in first, second

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Simulations Improve Situational Awareness – SAM 371

In this episode, we discuss how simulations can improve situational awareness. Your highest level of situational awareness is formed when you are able to make accurate predictions about future events. In neuroscience, this is called projection and it simply means you are able to predict, or project, the future events. This is accomplished through mental

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How Expectations Influence Situational Awareness – SAM 370

In this episode, we discuss how the role expectations play in helping developing situational awareness and influencing decision making.    Your highest level of situational awareness is formed when you are able to make accurate predictions about future events. In neuroscience, this is called projection and it simply means you are able to predict, or

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Complacency – SAM 369

In this episode, we preview the complacency chapter from the book, How Smart Workers Use Situational Awareness to Improve Safety. Complacency is a dangerous affliction and a very challenging barrier to situational awareness for workers in high-risk environments. When a worker becomes complacent they let their guard down. What does that mean? It’s a cliché

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Distractions and Interruptions – SAM 368

In this episode, we preview the distractions and interruptions chapter from the book, How Smart Workers Use Situational Awareness to Improve Safety. Along a worker’s journey toward envisioning, developing, and implementing their plan to guide their (hopefully) successful outcome, they are likely to encounter two situational awareness barriers that can quickly derail their focus. Distractions

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Short-Term Memory – SAM 367

In this episode, we preview the short-term memory chapter from the book, How Smart Workers Use Situational Awareness to Improve Safety. Short-term memory can create a formidable challenge to situational awareness. Long-term memory is huge, some might argue it’s limitless. Short-term memory, not so much. The capacity of the average person’s short-term memory is about

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Firefighter Wellness: Leading a balanced life. Dr. Donnie Hutchinson Part 2 – SAM 366

In this episode, we continue our discussion with Dr. Donnie, talking about the health and wellness qualities that make for successful first responders at work and at home.   Description         Dr. Donnie explores the health and wellness qualities that make for successful firefighters and other first responders at work and home.  He teaches how

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