The “Minor” Mayday
Is there such a thing? A “Minor” Mayday. A crew operating in an IDLH environment suddenly find themselves in a tough spot because _____ (you insert the reason). The crew leader’s situational awareness...
View ArticleTracking of personnel
Accountability: A critically important component to emergency scene safety when personnel operate in a hazardous environment. From the perspective of situational awareness, accountability plays several...
View ArticleStaffing for the Mayday/Rapid Intervention
I recently received an inquiry from an SAMatters member asking my thoughts on front loading command personnel in the event of a Mayday. Specifically, the reader wanted to know if I thought it was a...
View ArticleThe irrational obsession with loss
There is a growing body of research revealing that many human’s have an irrational obsession with loss. Or, perhaps more accurately, an irrational obsession with AVOIDING loss. This phenomenon is...
View ArticleRadio 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...
View ArticleHealing and growing from tragedy
I had an opportunity today to present along side Asheville Fire Chief Scott Burnette at the North Carolina Society of Fire Rescue Instructors Conference. This opportunity came as a result of another...
View ArticleMayday Radio Channel
I recently was contacted by a fire officer asking whether their mayday procedure should include a provision for a dedicated mayday channel for the distressed crew to transmit their post-mayday traffic...
View ArticleDispatchers 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...
View ArticleComplex Communications
We have many traits that make us uniquely human. Among them is our ability to engage in complex communications. We can look at black ink squiggled on a piece of bleached paper and derive meaning from...
View ArticleFirefighting: It’s a whole new ballgame
There is little doubt the recent recession has had a significant impact on the nation’s fire service. Hardly a day goes by where there’s not some news about an organization that had downsized,...
View ArticleBuildings are disposable
Buildings are disposable. Firefighters are not! This guest editorial contribution is provided by Chief John Buckman III, Director of the Indiana State Fire Training and Certification System. Chief...
View ArticleThe irrational obsession with loss
There is a growing body of research revealing that many human’s have an irrational obsession with loss. Or, perhaps more accurately, an irrational obsession with AVOIDING loss. This phenomenon is...
View ArticleEpisode 18: Situational Awareness Lessons Learned in Two Minutes
Available on iTunes and Stitcher Radio! (Click the icon below or search SAMatters Radio) __________________________________________________________________ This close call survival story is...
View ArticleEpisode 20: Mayday for Mental Health
This episode chronicles a father’s story of inspiration from tragedy. Listen in as I interview Fire Chief Patrick Kenny from the Village of Western Springs, Illinois Fire Department. Chief...
View ArticleEpisode 25: A firefighter’s situational awareness lessons from a mayday call.
On this episode, I interview Firefighter John Dantuono of the Lakeside (New York) Fire Department. Lakeside is located west of Syracuse. The all-volunteer fire department serves a population of...
View ArticleEpisode 35 – PART 1 Interview with Close Call Survivor Lionel Crowther
This episode is PART 1 of a two-part interview with Winnipeg Firefighter Lionel Crowther. Listen in as Firefighter Crowther recounts his close call survivor story about an incident where he...
View ArticleEpisode 36 – PART 2 Interview with Close Call Survivor Lionel Crowther
This episode is PART 2 of a two-part interview with Winnipeg Firefighter Lionel Crowther. Listen in as Firefighter Crowther recounts his close call survivor story about an incident where he...
View ArticleEpisode 38 – Interview with Dr. Burt Clark
In this episode I interview Dr. Burt Clark, author of the recently released book “I can’t save you but I’ll die trying: The American fire culture” shares his passion for firefighter safety...
View ArticleThe Irrational Obsession With Loss
There is a growing body of research revealing that many human’s have an irrational obsession with loss. Or, perhaps more accurately, an irrational obsession with AVOIDING loss. This phenomenon is...
View ArticleRadio 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...
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