Standard Operating Procedures/Guidelines

These are the first responder situational awareness and decision making issues and opportunities related to standard operating procedures and standard operating guidelines.

Episode 228 | Perry Hall Interview – Part 2

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.   Length: 61 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the full VIDEO         __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking […]

Episode 228 | Perry Hall Interview – Part 2 Read More »

Episode 227 | Perry Hall Interview – Part 1

    This episode is part one 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.   Length: 72 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the full VIDEO         __________________________________________________ If you are

Episode 227 | Perry Hall Interview – Part 1 Read More »

Episode 222 | Doug Abernathy Interview – Part 2

This episode revisits Part 2 of an interview with Indianapolis Health & Safety Chief Doug Abernathy discussing his near-miss at the Athletic Club Hotel fire on February 5, 1992  Length: 53 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the full VIDEO         __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational

Episode 222 | Doug Abernathy Interview – Part 2 Read More »

Episode 221 | Doug Abernathy Interview – Part 1

This episode revisits Part 1 of an interview with Indianapolis Health & Safety Chief Doug Abernathy discussing his near-miss at the Athletic Club Hotel fire on February 5, 1992  Length: 54 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the full VIDEO         __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational

Episode 221 | Doug Abernathy Interview – Part 1 Read More »

Episode 220 | John Lightly Interview – Part 2

This episode revisits Part 2 of an interview conducted September 15, 2014 with Captain John Lightly from the Youngstown (Ohio) Fire Department about his near-miss event.  Length: 76 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the full VIDEO         __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk

Episode 220 | John Lightly Interview – Part 2 Read More »

Independent Actions Can Impact Team Situational Awareness

For some public safety agencies it is standard practice for the first arriving personnel (or crews of personnel) to deploy independently. Oftentimes these responders are highly trained, highly motivated and action oriented. What they are lacking is coordination of their efforts. The potential problem with this independent action is it may be unrealistic to think

Independent Actions Can Impact Team Situational Awareness Read More »

Episode 219 | John Lightly Interview – Part 1

This episode revisits Part 1 of an interview conducted September 15, 2014 with Captain John Lightly from the Youngstown (Ohio) Fire Department about his near-miss event.  Length: 55 minutes Click the YouTube icon to watch the full VIDEO         __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk

Episode 219 | John Lightly Interview – Part 1 Read More »

Firefighting: It’s a whole new ballgame

There is little doubt the economic recession of 2008-2009 had a significant impact on the nation’s fire service. Hardly a day went by where there wasn’t some news about an organization that downsized, rightsized or capsized. There are all kinds of explanations and terms being attached to what happened. One I heard at the time

Firefighting: It’s a whole new ballgame Read More »

Dispatchers Role in Situational Awareness

One of the situational awareness best practices discussed during the Fifty Ways to Kill a First Responder program is the role played by the dispatcher during an emergency incident. As I have discussed this many times with first responders throughout the United States I have come to the conclusion that in some jurisdictions the dispatcher

Dispatchers Role in Situational Awareness Read More »

Episode 192 | Amtrak Train Derailment Interview with Larry Creekmore

This episode is an interview with DuPont Fire Chief Larry Creekmore. Chief Creekmore was the third-in unit to the December 18, 2017 Amtrak train derailment in Washington state.   Length: 56 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen           __________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and

Episode 192 | Amtrak Train Derailment Interview with Larry Creekmore Read More »