During the Mental Management of Emergencies program we talk about the process of how to develop and maintain situational awareness. And then, we talk about how to use situational awareness as the foundation for decision making. Length: 32 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in
Episode 68: Teaching Decision Making Read More »
Lieutenant Todd Budd, at the time of his close call event was serving as the acting officer on Brownsburg ladder company 131. They were dispatched to assist a neighboring community for a working building fire. The call came in after midnight and their on-duty crew of four responded along with a battalion chief. Length: 72
Episode 67: Lieutenant Todd Budd Close Call Survivor Story Read More »
In this episode I sit down with Dave Dodson, the creator of the Art of Reading Smoke Program and co-author of the Art of Reading Buildings book to discuss his passion for helping firefighter read smoke and buildings. Length: 45 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your
Episode 66: Dave Dodson Interview Read More »
One of the foundations of situational awareness development is being able to make accurate predictions of future events. Making (accurate) predictions is a fairly complex neurological process that relies heavily on gathering information, comprehending the meaning of the information, tapping into your stored knowledge of past experiences, trusting your intuition and using your imagination to
Unexpected information can be a barrier to situational awareness Read More »
Situational awareness starts with capturing clues and cues in your environment (perception) and then understanding what those clues and cues mean (comprehension). At a structure fire, the process of capturing information should involve a complete 360-degree size-up of the scene. Many departments have policies that stipulate the completion of a 360-degree size up. Yet,
Episode 65: Conducting the 360 size-up Read More »
For those who have been along for the journey from the launch of the Situational Awareness Matters mission, thank you so much for your dedication and support. I really appreciate it! For those who may be newer, welcome and thank you for joining the community of learners. During SAMatters Tour stops I get asked a
A Tour of SAMatters Read More »
On Christmas Day in 2010 the Valley Fire & Rescue Department responded to a residential dwelling fire that resulted in two close call survivor events. Length: 55 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
Episode 64: Interview with Close Call Survivor Nick Miller Read More »
During SAMatters Tour events there are lots of discussion happening among attendees and some great questions being asked. This episode addresses some of the questions fielded during live events. Length: 27 minutes click the YouTube icon to listen _____________________________________________________ If you are interested in taking your understanding of situational awareness and high-risk decision
Episode 63: SA Q &A Session Read More »
The process of developing situational awareness starts with capturing information using the five senses. Then, the information must be understood. And finally, once the information is understood, a prediction is made about future outcomes. This process can be challenged when staffing is unpredictable.
Unpredictable staffing: A barrier to situational awareness Read More »
What can you learn from someone who has survived a close call? The answer is… A LOT. When I launched this show in April 2014, the purpose was, as it remains, to help first responders improve situational awareness and decision making while operating in high stress, high consequence environments. This mission has been supplemented
Episode 62: Review of the most popular close call interviews Read More »
