incident command

working command

Episode 108 | Working Command and Situational Awareness

            This episode explores how situational awareness may be impacted when the first arriving officer establishes a “working command.” Length: 32 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to a higher level, check out […]

Episode 108 | Working Command and Situational Awareness Read More »

multitasking

Multitasking Impacts Situational Awareness

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a live demonstration may be worth ten thousand words. In a recent situational awareness and decision making class, I was explaining to the participants the science behind why humans are such poor multitaskers. Of course, when I do this there is always someone in the class who,

Multitasking Impacts Situational Awareness Read More »

Episode 107 | Interview with Hagerstown Fire Chief Steve Lohr

            In this episode I interview Hagerstown Fire Chief Steve Lohr. After serving 30 years with Montgomery County Fire Department, Chief Lohr accepted a position with the Hagerstown Fire Department – a department much smaller than his previous department and with far fewer resources. We discuss the safety and the improvements

Episode 107 | Interview with Hagerstown Fire Chief Steve Lohr Read More »

Expectations are Important to Situational Awareness

Situational Awareness is developed, maintained and erodes on three levels. The highest level of situational awareness is developed by being able to make realistic and accurate projections of the future events. The projections are sometimes called “mental models.” Projecting the future facilitates being able to see bad things coming… in time to change the outcome. If

Expectations are Important to Situational Awareness Read More »

Episode 106 | Sensory conflict can impact situational awareness

         In this episode, we will discuss what can happen when a person is experiencing sensory conflict and how this neurological phenomenon can impact situational awareness. Length:31 minutes Click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision making to

Episode 106 | Sensory conflict can impact situational awareness Read More »

Episode 105 | Realistic Live Fire Training Challenges and Opportunities

         In this episode, Firefighter Chris Crawford from the Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Fire Department. Chris is a Public Administration major at Point Park University and is writing a paper on firefighter training for his Applications of Fire Research Class. During this episode, Chris interviews Dr. Gasaway about how to ensure firefighters are

Episode 105 | Realistic Live Fire Training Challenges and Opportunities Read More »

Dreiman Cover Part 2

Episode 104 | Eric Dreiman – Flashover Survival Story – Part 2

            This is Part 2 of an interview with Captain Eric Dreiman, Indianapolis Fire Department about his survival of a flashover event that resulted in multiple burns.     Length: 47 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness

Episode 104 | Eric Dreiman – Flashover Survival Story – Part 2 Read More »

Projection

Time to Task Completion is Critical

Your highest level of situational awareness is formed when you are able to make accurate predictions about future events. In science we call this projection and it simply means you are able to predict, or project, the future events. This is accomplished through mental models you develop that are founded in your training and experience.

Time to Task Completion is Critical Read More »

Dreiman Cover

Episode 103 | Eric Dreiman – Flashover Survival Story – Part 1

          In part-1 of this 2-part interview, I talk with Captain Eric Dreiman, Indianapolis Fire Department about his survival of a flashover event that resulted in multiple burns.   Length: 44 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen     _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and

Episode 103 | Eric Dreiman – Flashover Survival Story – Part 1 Read More »

Blindfolded

Mission-induced Blindness

When I talk with first responders about situational awareness and what it takes to develop and maintain it, the program participants often use terms such as: “It’s important to pay attention.” Or, “You have to keep your head on a swivel.” Or, “It helps to look up, down and all around.” All of this is

Mission-induced Blindness Read More »