These are the first responder situational awareness and decision making articles related to first responder safety.
There are probably few things I say in a classroom that raises the ire of instructors more than “You’re training your members to fail.” I understand why they wouldn’t want to hear that. No instructor wants a member to fail. Even more so, no instructor wants to be implicated for being the one responsible for […]
I recently received an inquiry from an SAMatters member asking my thoughts on front loading command personnel in the event of a Mayday. Specifically, the reader wanted to know if I thought it was a good idea. I could answer the question in one word: Yes. However, I like to help my readers build deep
Staffing for the Mayday/Rapid Intervention Read More »
Accountability: A critically important component to emergency scene safety when personnel operate in a hazardous environment. From the perspective of situational awareness, accountability plays several roles. The obvious role is personnel accountability facilitates the rapid deployment of rescue teams if something goes awry. Command knows the crew sizes and where they are operating at and
Tracking of personnel Read More »
In 2011 I had the opportunity to deliver a Mental Management of Emergencies class for the Stowe Fire Department. The program focused on how to improve first responder situational awareness and decision making processes under stress. I have been afforded the wonderful opportunity to share this message with many fire departments over the years. This
Thank you Stowe Fire Department Read More »
On June 2, 2011, the San Francisco Fire Department suffered the tragic loss of 2 firefighters at 133 Berkeley Way. The department conducted an internal review of the incident and issued a 156-page report on their findings. Many of the lessons relate to situational awareness and it is from that perspective that I would like
Five Situational Awareness Lessons from SFFD LODD Read More »
The med unit is responding to a report of a person down in a hotel room. While in route, dispatch notifies them that CPR is in progress. As they arrive a police officer meets them outside and tells them there now two victims and CPR is in progress on both. The officer further advises the
When The Puzzle Pieces Don’t Fit Read More »
During the week of January 23-27 the Indiana Department of Homeland Security sponsored the Company Officer Development Institute in South Bend, Indiana. I had the pleasure of co-facilitating the program along with Patrick Harper from the Indianapolis Fire Department. We had 41 exceptional leaders in the program from South Bend, Elkhart, Valpariso, Notre Dame, Mishawaka,
Leadership Development Program in South Bend, Indiana Read More »
Utah Winter Fire School: 117 more first responders are now “in the loop!” On January 13 I presented two sessions of Fireground Safety: Mistakes and Best Practices at the 2012 Utah Winter Fire School. There were 117 attendees in the two programs. The programs focused on 10 common mistakes and 10 best practices to fix
Fireground Safety: Mistakes and Best Practices Read More »
I am blessed to present at dozens of state, national and international conferences and fire schools each year. These opportunities are essential to my mission of improving first responder situational awareness. I have just returned from the 2012 Utah Winter Fire School. This is the second consecutive year I was invited to present. I was
Utah Winter Fire School Read More »
Thank you to Battalion Chief Rick Davis from the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority for sharing this article he wrote for Situational Awareness Matters. I had an opportunity to deliver a situational awareness program in Loveland for the North Range fire departments. When it comes to understanding the importance of firefighter situational awareness, Loveland Fire Rescue
SA Matters to the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Read More »
