These are the first responder situational awareness and decision making articles related to first responder safety.
Every emergency scene operation should begin with determining the mission (sometimes called strategy) and setting task-level goals (sometimes called tactics). Strategy and tactics establish what is to be done and how it is to be done. For example, at a structure fire, arriving responders are trained to conduct search and rescue operations and to extinguish […]
Mission Myopia: A situational awareness barrier Read More »
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All print book and video orders placed will now receive this 2×2″ Situational Awareness Matters helmet/locker/window decal for FREE. (while supplies last). Note: You may also purchase the decal for $2.99 in the SAMatters store and shipping is free. (CLICK HERE to visit the store). All proceeds from all product sales are reinvested into the
Cool New SAMatters Helmet Decal Read More »
While conducting research on how decisions are made during high consequence events I came across a term I’d never heard before – “tacit knowledge.” Once I learned what it was it quickly became evident that I possessed it… and I didn’t know it. In fact, every first responder who has developed expert-level knowledge and skills
Tacit knowledge and situational awareness Read More »
Noise can erode situational awareness in many ways. Loud noises, soft noises, lots of noise, odd noises, familiar noises, annoying noises… all noise can present challenges. In this article, I want to explore some of the challenges first responders face in a noisy environment and I’d like to share my personal example of how noise
Station Alerting Noise Can Impact Situational Awareness Read More »
It is my great honor to announce Dr. Steven Gillespie, Chief of the Wheat Ridge (CO) Fire Department, successfully defended his doctoral dissertation today, the final requirement in his long doctoral journey at Grand Canyon University.
Congratulations Dr. Gillespie Read More »
The mission of Situational Awareness Matters! is “Helping responders see the bad things coming… in time to change the outcome.” That is often easier said than done. In fact, the lessons that sharpen our situational awareness often comes after the fact. It is very easy to see the bad things that were coming when we
Seeing the bad things coming in time to change the outcome Read More »
Congratulations to Ryan Pierson, Chief of the Pitman (NJ) Fire Department for being selected the recipient of the 2012 Emerging Leaders Scholarship. The scholarship is sponsored by the Gasaway Consulting Group and is designed to provide an all-expenses paid opportunity for a future fire service leader to attend the Volunteer and Combination Officer’s Section Symposium
Emerging Leader Scholarship Recipient Named Read More »
I seem to be getting asked a lot lately about what the first arriving company officer should do at a working structure fire. Specifically, the debate revolves around two basic premise. Should the first arriving company officer assume a fixed command position outside the structure and coordinate the activities of incoming units? Or, should the
Working Command and Situational Awareness Read More »
Last month I wrote a piece on the traits of high reliability organizations (HROs) and received a lot of very positive feedback. Thank you! This article will focus on the processes used by HROs. These processes definitely provide some valuable lessons for public safety agencies. Compare your organization and see if you may find some
High Reliability Organizations – Processes Read More »
