Category Archives: Distractions and Interruptions
Radio Traffic Can Improve or Destroy Situational Awareness
When it comes to first responder radio traffic I am reminded of the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. You may recall that in the story Goldilocks samples three bowls of porridge. One is too hot. One is too … Continue reading
Posted in Attention Management, Auditory exclusion, Communications, Complacency, Decision Making, Distractions and Interruptions, Emotions, Fear, firefighter situational awareness, human factors, Information overload, Neuroscience, Safety, Situational awareness, Stress, Training, Tunneled Senses
Tagged decision making, dispatch, emergency management, EMT, fire, fire command, fire command training, fire training, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, fireground command, fireground command decision making, fireground commander, fireground safety, haz-mat, hazardous materials, officer safety, paramedic, patient care, police officer safety, public safety, radio communications, rescue, responder safety, safety, Situational awareness matters, tactical decision making, technical rescue
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Radio Discipline
A frequent contributing factor in firefighter casualty incidents is too much radio traffic. This can have a significant impact on first responder situational awareness because it becomes near impossible to take in, process, comprehend and remember the volumes of information … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability, Auditory exclusion, Communications, Culture, Distractions and Interruptions, firefighter situational awareness, Human Behavior, Mayday and RIT, Safety, Situational awareness
Tagged communications, decision making, fire chief, firefighter, fireground command, fireground command situational awareness, fireground safety, incident awareness, radio discipline, radio procedures
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Noise Impacts Situational Awareness
This week I had the honor of visiting and receiving a tour of the Hong Kong Fire Department training center. Many of the props used there are similar to what I have seen in the United States. However, there was … Continue reading
Posted in Attention Management, Communications, Decision Making, Distractions and Interruptions, firefighter situational awareness, Information overload, Neuroscience, Safety, Situational awareness, Stress
Tagged decision making, decision making under stress, firefighter safety, firefighter situational awareness, noise
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Distractions and Interruptions… What’s the Difference?
As I talk with first responders in classes about the impact of distractions and interruptions on situational awareness I find myself often being asked: What’s the difference? While there are distinctly different causes for distractions and interruptions, the outcome is … Continue reading
