These are the first responder situational awareness and decision making issues and opportunities related to how responders are trained.
I was invited to be an observer at a regional police tactical training exercise. The program was a multi-day event, starting with some classroom training and culminating in a series of simulations using mock weapons, flash-bangs and actors. The one thing that readily stood out to me was the tactical teams were not using radios […]
Radio Communications is Essential to Situational Awareness Read More »
Promotional video created for Situational Awareness Matters. (Click on the crest to watch the video) CLICK HERE for more information about Academy content and how to sign up.
Tour Stops are listed alphabetically.
2013 Situational Awareness Matters Tour – Thank you! Read More »
I am very excited to announce the release of two powerful new DVDs and a special offer.
The Fire Engineering/International Society of Fire Service Instructors George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award recognizes individuals for extraordinary accomplishments in fire service training.
George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award Nominations Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
There’s a lot being talked about these days about the concept of high reliability organizations. The concept is being embraced by many hospitals throughout the United States and, arguably, for good reason. The principles of highly reliable organizations have direct application to first responders. This contribution focuses on helping you understand the overarching concept of
High Reliability Organizations – Traits Read More »
A free Situational Awareness conference call was held on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 (during International Fire/EMS Safety & Health Week). Thank you to Tiger Schmittendorf (Erie County, New York), Ryan Pennington (Charleston, West Virginia) and Will Ball (Williamsport, Maryland) for being my guests panelists as we took caller questions and discussed topics that included:
Situational Awareness Conference Call Read More »
