SAMatters Radio
The mission of the Situational Awareness Matters! Radio Show is to help you see the bad things coming... in time to avoid bad outcomes by improving your understanding of human factors, situational awareness and decision making under stress. Listen and learn from hundreds of incredible interviews with first responders who survived near-miss events.
Tue, March 26, 2024
Forging Your Team – The Johnny Torgeson Story – 408
The fire service is struggling with recruiting and retention. It’s also challenged by a mental health crisis and a growing apathy within the profession. The good news is, we have the power to fix it. Working in a team environment provides job satisfaction, psychological safety, and a feeling of community. Fire service leaders have the responsibility of developing teams; so, Dr. JT wrote a book on how to Forge Your Team . Dr. JT started his career in 2000 as a U.S. Army Firefighter. He's worked for several fire departments around the world. Currently, he works at MCLB Barstow Fire & Emergency Service as an Assistant Chief of Operations. He's led as an Army Sergeant, CEO and Fire Officer. At the age of 25, he opened a 24-hour health club and became a top 100 grossing franchisee. He obtained a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing, a master's degree in leadership and a doctorate in strategic leadership. Dr. JT is credentialed through CPSE and works as an instructor for two colleges. He has achieved multiple life-saving awards and service distinctions throughout his career. Moreover, he has authored a book titled, Forging Your Team: Demystifying Team Development in the Fire Service and writes for multiple publications. He's also a mentor for transitioning veterans through American Corporate Partners. Dr. JT has a passion for serving people and developing teams. Throughout his career he has developed award winning teams and transformed organizations through his distinct strategies. About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtube : SAMattersTV itunes : SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio : SAMatters Radio Google
Tue, March 19, 2024
Accelerating Leadership Growth and Impact – The Sean Glaze Interview – 407
In this episode, Dr. Gasaway discusses how to accelerating leadership growth and impact with Sean Glaze, author of Rapid Teamwork, The 10 Commandments of Winning Teammates, and Staying Coachable. Sean Glaze is a leadership speaker, teambuilding facilitator, and author who delivers engaging experiences that ignite your team’s performance. Sean has worked with clients like Cisco, John Deere, the CDC, and Emory University to increase collaboration, boost productivity, and build more positive and workplace cultures. As a successful basketball coach, Sean gained valuable insights on turning talent into teamwork – and now he travels around the country to share those lessons. Sean’s conference keynotes and custom team building events deliver laugh-out-loud moments and memorable take-aways that transform your people into winning teammates and more effective leaders. Sean’s books, Rapid Teamwork , The 10 Commandments of Winning Teammates , and Staying Coachable are entertaining parables that help accelerate the growth of leaders and their teams! About the Host Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) <p class
Tue, February 13, 2024
The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance – 406
In this interview, Dr. Gasaway talks with Jeff Dill about the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance and their work to reduce firefighter suicides. In 2010, Jeff Dill founded Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA). And since 2021, Jeff has served full time as the Behavioral Health Administrator for Las Vegas Fire & Rescue in Nevada. Jeff travels the United States & Canada holding workshops to educate firefighters, dispatchers & EMS about behavioral health awareness, moral injury and suicide prevention. In 2010, FBHA began tracking and validating data on all FF, EMS and dispatcher suicides across the United States. In addition, FBHA offers ten workshops for first responders, counselors/chaplains, family members and preparing for retirement. Jeff Dill holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling, is a retired Fire Captain at Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois. FBHA has been tracking and validating FF, EMS and Dispatcher suicides since 2010, We can discuss the data, how it is obtained, who uses it, what it shows us. Jeff has travelled over a million miles presenting educational workshops on behavioral health and suicide. As most non profits today it is a struggle to keep a float but FBHA is grateful for everyone's support including numerous times from Rich Gasaway! About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtube : SAMattersTV itunes : SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio : SAMatters Radio Google Play : SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio : SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting Sy
Tue, February 06, 2024
The Minnesota Hometown Heroes Assistance Program - 405
In this interview, Dr. Gasaway talks with George Esbensen, President of the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) about the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program. During his 32 years in the fire service, George Esbensen served in many roles, from firefighter to chief. Today, he volunteers as Board President of the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE), an advocacy nonprofit he co-founded in 2016 dedicated to providing Minnesota's firefighters with the tools they need to prioritize and protect their health. Chief Esbensen has been an advocate for firefighter wellness for his entire career, leading efforts to ban cancer-causing flame retardants, establish the Hometown Heroes Survivor Act, and, in 2021, pass the most comprehensive firefighter well-being legislation in the nation. Hometown Heroes Assistance Program The summer of 2023 marked the two-year anniversary of the Minnesota legislature’s passing of the Hometown Heroes Act. This win for the state’s fire service has since ensured that every Minnesota firefighter has access to a MnFIRE Assistance Program with expanded emotional trauma resources, including free visits to mental health professionals and ongoing peer support, an up-to-$20,000 critical illness policy that they’re automatically enrolled in, and ongoing health and wellness training, all at no cost to them or their department. Firefighters across the country – and across Minnesota – are affected by serious health concerns including cardiac disease, emotional trauma and cancer at rates nearly twice as high as the general public. But since the legislation went into effect, the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program (HHAP), administered by the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE), has changed thousands of lives through an array of confidential resources available to all active volunteer, paid-on-call, part-time and full-time Minnesota firefighters. In just over two years, the program has provided: · Nearly 1,000 firefighter-focused mental health providers across the state to offer up to five no-cost counseling sessions per issue per year to firefighters and their families. To date the MnFIRE Assistance Program has facilitated nearly 1,600 visits with mental health providers. · An expanded network of trained MnFIRE peer supporters, which has responded to more than 675 calls. · 149 paid Critical Illness claims, totaling $1.9 million. Illnesses have included full-benefit cancer, COVID-19, post-traumatic stress disorder, skin cancer, other cancer, ALS, heart attack, sudden cardiac arrest, heart disease, kidney failure, coronary artery disease needing surgery and more. <p class="MsoNormal
Tue, January 30, 2024
PFAS, Firefighter Cancer and The Foam Exposure Committee - 404
In this interview, Dr. Gasaway talks with Vicki Quint and Rick Nickerson about PFAS, foam exposure and the risk to firefighters. The Foam Exposure Committee Mission Statement - - To reduce firefighter / first responder exposures to perfluorinated chemicals used in firefighting foams in order to protect their health and lives. We will recommend a list of firefighting products for fire departments based on testing data and Committee review. First responders should have immediate access to safer fluorine-free firefighting foams. About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtube : SAMattersTV itunes : SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio : SAMatters Radio Google Play : SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio : SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, January 23, 2024
The NIOSH 5 and Leadership – The Jeff Snider Interview – 403
In this interview, Dr. Gasaway talks with Jeff Snider about the NIOSH 5 – or the five most often cited contributing factors in Line of Duty death investigations and lessons for leaders. Jeff Snider has served with the Canadian military as a Special Forces Operator (3 CDO), a Correctional Officer at a maximum-security facility, and 28 years in the Fire Service, serving in the positions of Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, K9 Handler, Acting Training Officer and Assistant Chief, in both the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, and the Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service. Jeff has been involved as an instructor in the Fire Service since 1997. Outside of the departments that he has worked for as a firefighter, he has been fortunate enough to have travelled all over BC, across Canada, and as far south as Mexico and Peru, in his role as an instructor/evaluator. Jeff’s role now, as the Chief Instructor for the Practical N Tactical Training Group, allows him to work with like-minded, dedicated instructors, who understand that teaching is an outstanding opportunity to “pour back into” the community that has provided so much to them. He sees this as both a privilege and a pleasure. When Jeff’s not at work, he is spending time with his “Much Better Half”, his “mutts”, his family and friends. Exercising brain and body is a priority so he will often be lifting something, rolling with his Jiujitsu buddies or reading something. Otherwise, you may find him hiking the woods, building unusual playhouses for his grandchildren or carving things with a chainsaw! The NIOSH five are: 1. Improper Risk Assessment 2. Lack of Incident Command 3. Lack of Accountability 4. Inadequate Communications 5. Lack of SOPs or Failure to Follow Established SOPs These are the top 5 causal factors that contribute to the ultimate outcomes in the investigated LODD reports. And while we are on the topic, please tell me you are reviewing, personally and with your crew, each and every NIOSH Line of Duty Death report. This is an invaluable resource, made available to all of us. When tragedy strikes our Fire Service family, it is imperative that we don’t lose the lessons that others have paid the highest price. These five leading causes can also be attributed to the most common leadership failures, in the Fire Service, and many other organizations as well. Here is an outline of what we’ll be talking about today: 1 - Inadequate communications <p class="MsoListParagraphCx
Tue, January 16, 2024
Conducting a LODD After Action Review: Part 2 – 402
On January 06, 2018, Lt. Matthew LeTourneau, a 42-year-old male and 11-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD), died after becoming trapped from an interior structural collapse while engaged in interior firefighting operations. Two additional firefighters were injured during the collapse and one civilian occupant of the dwelling, who was removed during initial operations, also died. An After-Action Review (AAR) was conducted by the PFDs Health and Safety Office, at the direction of Fire Commissioner Adam K. Thiel, to provide insight into the event and PFD operations from the time of dispatch to the time the fire was placed under control, a time span of approximately 1 hour and 57 minutes. A fire box assignment was dispatched at 08:51:43 for a reported dwelling fire on the 2200 block of N. Colorado Street. Responding units were forced to overcome significant impediments including: a snow and ice-covered street, temperatures of approximately 9°F with a wind chill of -10°F (NOAA, 2018) and limited apparatus access to the front of the fire dwelling. Engine 45, a crew of three firefighters supervised by Lt. LeTourneau, was the first-due engine company and the first unit to arrive on location. At approximately 08:55:05, Lt. LeTourneau reported a two story, fifteen feet by thirty-five feet, middle of the row dwelling with fire showing on the first floor. Lt. Letourneau placed two engine companies and two ladder companies in service to begin the initial fire suppression efforts. Fire companies on scene had a difficult time obtaining a steady water supply and the fire dwelling was extremely cluttered with debris, which posed an extreme hazard and complicated interior operations. While working to overcome difficult conditions, firefighters gained access to the first floor, removed one civilian victim, and eventually accessed the second floor of the dwelling to attack the fire and complete a search for occupants. At approximately 09:33, almost 42 minutes after Engine 45’s dispatch, an interior “V” shaped collapse occurred trapping several firefighters, including Lt. LeTourneau. Vince Mulray Bio: VINCENT P. MULRAY is a 35-year veteran of the fire service and a retired (July 2023) Fire Deputy Chief with the Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department. He was last assigned to Division 02 and was responsible for all operations in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. He began his career in 1988 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1993. He held the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain and Battalion Chief before his promotion to Fire Deputy Chief in January of 2017. He served as the department’s Health and Safety Officer from 2017 to 2019, and also served in multiple staff units at all ranks during his career. Before joining the fire department,
Tue, January 09, 2024
Conducting a LODD After Action Review: Part 1 – 401
This episode is part 1 of a 2-part interview where Dr. Gasaway talks with retired Philadelphia Deputy Chief Vince Mulray and Battalion Chief Bobby Kennedy about conducting a Line-of-Duty After Action Review following the death of Lieutenant Matthew LeTourneau on January 6, 2018. After Action Review-Line of Duty Death On January 06, 2018, Lt. Matthew LeTourneau, (LeTurnO) a 42-year-old male and 11-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD), died after becoming trapped from an interior structural collapse while engaged in interior firefighting operations. Two additional firefighters were injured during the collapse and one civilian occupant of the dwelling, who was removed during initial operations, also died. An After-Action Review (AAR) was conducted by the PFDs Health and Safety Office, at the direction of Fire Commissioner Adam K. Thiel, to provide insight into the event and PFD operations from the time of dispatch to the time the fire was placed under control, a time span of approximately 1 hour and 57 minutes. A fire box assignment was dispatched at 08:51:43 for a reported dwelling fire on the 2200 block of N. Colorado Street. Responding units were forced to overcome significant impediments including: a snow and ice-covered street, temperatures of approximately 9°F with a wind chill of -10°F (NOAA, 2018) and limited apparatus access to the front of the fire dwelling. Engine 45, a crew of three firefighters supervised by Lt. LeTourneau, was the first-due engine company and the first unit to arrive on location. At approximately 08:55:05, Lt. LeTourneau reported a two story, fifteen feet by thirty-five feet, middle of the row dwelling with fire showing on the first floor. Lt. Letourneau placed two engine companies and two ladder companies in service to begin the initial fire suppression efforts. Fire companies on scene had a difficult time obtaining a steady water supply and the fire dwelling was extremely cluttered with debris, which posed an extreme hazard and complicated interior operations. While working to overcome difficult conditions, firefighters gained access to the first floor, removed one civilian victim, and eventually accessed the second floor of the dwelling to attack the fire and complete a search for occupants. At approximately 09:33, almost 42 minutes after Engine 45’s dispatch, an interior “V” shaped collapse occurred trapping several firefighters, including Lt. LeTourneau. Vince Mulray Bio: VINCENT P. MULRAY is a 35-year veteran of the fire service and a retired (July 2023) Fire Deputy Chief with the Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department. He was last assigned to Division 02 and was responsible for all operations in the Northeast section
Tue, January 02, 2024
The 400th Episode Anniversary of the SAMatters Show - 400
Dr. Gasaway, along with some special guests, celebrates the milestone of reaching our 400 th episode. Description The Situational Awareness Matters Show debuted on May 12, 2014. This episode highlights the journey Dr. Gasaway has taken to educate first responders about situational awareness and high-risk decision making. About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtube : SAMattersTV itunes : SAMatters Radio Google Play : SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio : SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, December 19, 2023
2015 Amtrak Passenger Train Derailment in Philadelphia - 399
In this episode, Dr. Gasaway interviews Vince Mulray, retired Philadelphia Deputy Chief, discussing the 2015 derailment of Amtrak Train #188 traveling from Washington DC to New York City. On May 12, 2015, at approximately 9:20pm, Amtrak Train #188 traveling from Washington D.C. to New York City derailed and crashed on the Frankford Junction curve on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. All seven cars and the electric locomotive left the tracks. The derailment and crash resulted in 8 deaths and over 200 passengers injured. This incident required the rescue, extrication, treatment and transportation of over 200 passengers. The derailment and crash involved 7 passenger cars and one electric engine (#601) on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor at the Frankford Junction curve. Amtrak estimated that this accident would cost taxpayers approximately 9.2 million dollars. Initial responding companies remained on scene for one operational period. Fire Department assistance was required for approximately 5 days until service was fully restored. One accomplishment that should be noted was that no Fire Department injuries were reported for this response. Frankford Junction is a former railroad station with an active rail yard approximately three miles from Amtrak’s North Philadelphia Station. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line travels through this area on four tracks that form an S curve with a 50-mile-per-hour speed limit for all trains, the slowest track speed limit between Washington D.C. and New York City, the train’s final destination. The junction was well known to first responders and local residents because of a previous accident. On September 6, 1943, the Congressional Limited , traveling nonstop from Washington D.C. to New York City, derailed in the same general area, killing 79 of the 541 passengers. Amtrak train records indicated that on Train 188, an emergency application of its brakes occurred at approximately 9:20 p.m. The fire department’s 911 call center received its first notification at 9:27 p.m. and dispatched a full box assignment (4-engines, 2-ladders, 2-battalion chiefs and a medic unit) at 9:28 p.m. for a derailed train, which would be elevated to a four-alarm response before being placed under control. Approximately 180 firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics were summoned. The Philadelphia Police Department sent approximately 200 working district officers, who provided scene control and acted as stretcher bearers. About the Host Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factor
Tue, December 12, 2023
Tactical Decision Games – An Interview with Phil Jose - 398
In this episode, Dr. Gasaway talks with Phil Jose about tactical decision games. Phil Jose, Deputy Chief, (Ret.), 30 years in Seattle Fire Department. He chaired the SOG and PIA committees. Chief of the Year 2013. FDIC Instructor 19 years with the highest attended class in 2023: The Art of Reading Smoke. FDIC 2008 Tom Brennan Training Achievement Award and author of Instructor 1 for Fire and Emergency Services (Clarion, 2022), Air Management for the Fire Service (PennWell, 2008) and Train the Trainer (2015), FE Handbook for FF 1 and 2 (2010); FE “Bread and Butter” video for SCBA (2012). In Addition to The Art of Reading Smoke Phil teaches In the Hot Seat: Tactical Decision Making on the Fireground. Tactical Decision Games (TDG’s) are a low-tech, low-cost method of wargaming adapted to tactical decision training. Wargaming has been used to improve the strategic and tactical thinking of armies since at least the 1700’s and likely even before. The Prussian army instituted focused wargames using the colors red and blue for the opponents. The use of wargames spread among professional soldiers quickly as it demonstrated the ability to improve outcomes of war. Wartime leaders can use TDG’s as simple, cost-effective, and repeatable simulated battles to win wars and save lives. This class adapts those same wargaming techniques and introduces fire service trainers to their use. Modern tactical decision gaming was re-introduced to the Marine Corps using monthly exercises called Tactical Decision Games (TDG’s) printed in the Marine Gazette. The articles laid out a battle scenario with information including maps, mission objectives, and information about the enemy and then posed the problem for readers to submit their response. Anyone, regardless of rank, could develop and submit their battle plan to the Gazette. A selection of responses is then published in the following issue. The format for these TDG’s was done in writing and around the world. This format is also used in person at the squad, company, and battalion level. In the modern learning environment fire TDG’s can be done across extended learning platforms. This does not mean they must be expensive and complicated. Simple exercises using low-cost, or no-cost development techniques allows the fire service trainer to begin using a Fire Gaming philosophy, through Tactical Decision Gaming in person or across the web. About the Host Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence
Tue, December 05, 2023
From Firefighter to Fire Chief – The Tom DeSorcy Story - 397
In this episode, Dr. Gasaway talks with Retired Fire Chief Tom DeSorcy about how he quickly went from being a volunteer firefighter to career fire chief. Tom DeSorcy joined the fire service in 1983 and became the first paid firefighter in his hometown of Hope, B.C., when he became fire chief in 2000. This followed a career in broadcasting in local radio and his talk show eventually was heard across Canada, via satellite from Vancouver in the early ‘90s. Now retired, his voice can be heard on the Firefighting in Canada - The Podcast and he lends his voice in narrating online training. Tom is married with 2 children, and 2 grandchildren. He is equally at home at a bonspiel (which for us lay people, is a curling tournament), on the golf course or in the kitchen, and he continues to enjoy his connections to the fire service. Tom’s story may be unique as he quickly went from serving as a volunteer fire fighter to becoming the fire chief almost. The town of Hope was surrounded by two regional district electoral areas and each had their own fire department. When all of these areas were amalgamated into a District Municipality, 3 fire departments existed. It became apparent that a single fire department needed to be created and thus a contract fire chief position was offered which Tom accepted the position. Originally this was supposed to be a 10 month contract however, Tom realized that it could be extended to a permanent position and began to seek out training opportunities to “put himself in a position to accept a job should it be offered”. That was in 1999. In 2000 the contract ran out and a permanent position was not being considered. This is when the existing volunteer chiefs put their pagers on the council table in a mass protest resignation until Tom was hired. Tom then set out on the journey to create a “modern” fire department from the current social club that existed, all the while battling resistance to change not only from within, but from the community. This was a struggle to say the least. It was through various associations and the networking it brought to connect Tom the outside world of firefighting. He adopted a “Moss and Grass” approach to leadership where he supported positive growth and ignored naysayers that stood in his way. Today, he’s come full circle in creating a succession plan where they now have a Fire Chief and Deputy in a progressive and busy department of professional volunteers. During this episode we discuss: The unique demographic of the community of Hope, British Columbia and the challenges it creates for the fire department. <p class="MsoNor
Thu, November 30, 2023
Dyslexia in the Fire Service: The Burt Clark Story - 396
In this episode, Dr. Gasaway talks with Dr. Burton Clark on the topic of Dyslexia in the fire service. Dr. Burton A. Clark, EFO has been in the fire service for 53 years. He’s known he was a Dyslexic since early childhood and is passionate about reducing the stigma around firefighters with Dyslexia. Dr. Clark was the Management Science Chair at the National Fire Academy. His degrees are in business and education. He served on 20 dissertation committees. He was a Visiting Scholar at Johns Hopkins University Center for Fire Safety Research and Policy. He is a board member of the Fire Service Psychology Association and Expert Technical Reviewer for National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. In 2021 he was inducted into the National Fire Heritage Center’s Hall of Legends. His book is: “I Can’t Save You and Don’t Want Die Trying: American Fire Culture.” About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtube : SAMattersTV itunes : SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio : SAMatters Radio Google Play : SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio : SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Burt Clark contact and link to his book: www.AmericanFireCulture.com drb
Tue, November 21, 2023
The SAMatters Online Academy – An interview with Ed Mann - 395
In this episode, Dr. Gasaway is interviewed by Ed Mann, Director of Training and Education for Provident Insurance about the SAMatters Online Academy and why this training is so important for first responders. Description Ed Mann, Director of Training and Education for Provident Insurance interviewed Dr. Gasaway on the Provident Podcast. This episode is a shared recording of that show. During this episode, Dr. Gasaway addresses the following topics: Why is there such a lack of understanding in the fire service about what situational awareness is? What is a working definition of situational awareness for first responders? Why can’t a judging mind be a learning mind? What role does staffing play in challenging situational awareness? What is the traditional decision making process and why does it not work well for first responders? How can fire departments be better prepared for high-risk, low-frequency events? How do human factors impact situational awareness? What are the five different situational awarenesses responders must develop? About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtube : SAMattersTV itunes : SAMatters Radio<br
Tue, August 22, 2023
Interview with Tablet Command Co-Founder Andrew Bozzo
In this eposide, Dr. Gasaway sits down with Andrew Bozzo, Co-Founder of the Tablet Command Incident Management software. Tablet Command is a mobile incident command and response solution that increases situational awareness, speeds incident response, streamlines incident management and improves firefighter accountability. With Tablet Command, an incident commander can tap and drag responding apparatus onto an emergency scene, track progress against critical checklists, and time-stamp every maneuver and benchmark throughout an incident. Tablet Command is also a complete Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) replacement with features tailored to the needs of the Fire Service.
Tue, April 25, 2023
EMDR Treatment for First Responders:: Interview with Dr. Deborah Korn - 393
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is proven, effective treatment to help first responders suffering from Post-Traumatic Event Brain Injuries. This episode is provides first responders a look into a treatment option for Post Traumatic Event Brain Injuries called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Dr. Deborah Korn, PsyD, an internationally renowned pioneer and expert in EMDR Therapy and author of the book Every Memory Deserves Respect: EMDR the Proven Trauma Therapy with the Power to Heal explains the EMDR process in detail. Joining Dr. Korn is Dr. Richard Kamin, MD, FACEP, FAEMS. Dr. Kamin will share his first-hand experience as a patient who received EMDR following his response to the Sandy Hook school shooting. Dr. Kamin credits EMDR therapy for helping him deal with the aftereffects of that traumatic experience. He found EMDR to be extremely useful and effective personally and he promotes it as an excellent option in helping first responders and victims recover from acute/recent trauma. As someone who has completed doctoral-level research focused on cognitive neuroscience, I found Dr. Korn’s book to be a fascinating and easy to understand. Many of the lessons of brain science she writes about in her book and spoke to us on the show about are the same topics I studied during my quest to understand how first responders make decisions under stress. Dr. Korn’s focus is helping responders deal with traumatic events that are not properly processed by the brain, be that from a difficult emergency response, or from some other traumatic event in life. To Learn more about Dr. Korn’s work and EMDR, visit: https://www.everymemorydeservesrespect.com About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtub
Wed, March 29, 2023
Burned while searching for a fire victim. The Jeremy Saul Story - 392
Captain Saul burned while searching for a trapped child in a row home fire in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Captain Jeremy Saul, a Situational Awareness Matters Certified Master Instructor shared a harrowing story about being burned while searching for a three-year old child trapped in a row home fire in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The interview includes a discussion about lessons learned and some of his favorite topics to teach during situational awareness classes. About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtube : SAMattersTV itunes : SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio : SAMatters Radio Google Play : SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio : SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Wed, March 22, 2023
Unmanned and Remote Emergency Services – The Ron Warren Interview - 391
Chief Ron Warren shares the valuable information about drone services provided by the North Central Pennsylvania Unmanned Emergency Services Department While presenting a situational awareness program for the Fireman’s Association of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, one of the participants was Ron Warren. Ron is the founder and Department Chief of North Central PA Unmanned Emergency Services. He is a full-time state law enforcement officer and a veteran of the US Army, where he served two combat tours in Afghanistan. Prior to becoming a police officer in 2015, he was a civilian and military flight paramedic. He has been involved in emergency services since 1994. The use of unmanned and remote technology in support of public safety is quickly gaining traction as a situational awareness enhancer. Incident commanders can gain a comprehensive on-scene perspective that has not been readily available in the past, leading to more informed decision-making and ultimately, enhanced safety and effectiveness of personnel and operations. During this interview we discuss: How unmanned technology is being integrated into public safety agencies and operations. How Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones) are regulated for emergency services and public safety organizations. Why a department, such as North Central PA Unmanned Emergency Services, would form as a stand-alone department instead of just integrating into a well-established fire or rescue department. The behind the scenes operations that are required for a safe and effective drone response. How unmanned technology can be used as a recruiting and retention tool for the next generation of emergency responders. About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) <p class="MsoNormal"
Tue, June 07, 2022
Complacency: A Lesson Worth Sharing – The Eric Wappel Story - 390
Captain Eric Wappel shares a tale of complacency and how he faced it head-on with his department. On January 3, 2022, the North Judson – Wayne Township Fire Department was dispatched for the second time to the same residence for a “furnace smoking.” Captain Eric Wappel wasn’t available for the first response, but responded to the second call. He recalls thinking to himself, from the get go, this was another “BS” call since the department was just at this address two hours earlier. Eric says he was complacent, which led him to leaving his radio strap and his Nomex hood at the station because we are just going to tell the occupants (again) that everything is OK. Only this time, they found a fire in the crawlspace under the house near the furnace. Eric ended up going into the crawlspace without his radio strap and without his Nomex hood on. This episode shares his story of complacency and how he faced his department and shared his lessons with them. Eric Wappel is a firefighter/EMR at North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department in North Judson, Indiana. He has 15 years in the fire service, and is currently serving his 6th year as Captain at North Judson. North Judson-Wayne Township covers 72 square miles, and runs about 325 calls each year. He takes pride in being able to cover any role proficiently from the jump seat to incident commander. Eric is married to Laura, and has three daughters. He also is a managing partner at Wappel Grain and Herb, a farm in the nearby community. About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtube : SAMattersTV itunes : SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio : SAMatters Radio<br /
Tue, March 08, 2022
The Violence Project: How to stop a mass shooting epidemic - 389
Dr. James Densley is Professor and Department Chair of Criminal Justice at Metro State University, part of the Minnesota State system. He is also co-founder of The Violence Project Research Center, best known for its mass shooter database. Dr. Densley is the author or co-author of seven books, including the acclaimed, The Violence Project: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic , 50 peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals, and over 90 book chapters, essays, and other works in outlets such as CNN , The Los Angeles Times , USA Today , The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Densley earned his doctorate in sociology from the University of Oxford. Links: https://www.jamesdensley.com https://www.theviolenceproject.org Book: https://bookshop.org/books/the-violence-project-how-to-stop-a-mass-shooting-epidemic/9781419752957 or https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419752952 About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook : SAMatters LinkedIn : Rich Gasaway LinkedIn : Situational Awareness Matters Twitter : Rich Gasaway Youtube : SAMattersTV itunes : SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio :
Tue, March 01, 2022
Sirencide: The Impact of Acute Stress in Emergency Vehicle Crashes - 388
Emergency services provide an invaluable service to communities and cities around the world. Research has shown these professionals encounter significant acute psychological stress throughout their work shifts. Acute stress has been shown to impact human performance in various realms, from increased risk-taking to cognitive decline. While the actual work varies between firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency medical services, a shared commonality is the operation of emergency vehicles. Emergency vehicle crashes are recognized as a serious issue by FEMA. The current work aimed to measure the impact of acute stress on emergency responders as measured by fatal emergency vehicle crashes in the United States using a new variable: the type of call to which they were responding. Utilizing data maintained by the United States Fire Administration, the study reviewed fatality data of firefighters who died in the line of duty from 2000 to 2019. Deaths from vehicle crashes while responding to emergency incidents were coded using details from the fatality narratives. Crashes that led to multiple firefighter fatalities were coded as a single case, yielding 144 cases. These were then weighted using nationwide response statistics to create an exposure variable for each type of incident. The exposure was calculated based on the estimated number of responses to each incident type, as well as the typical number of vehicles that respond to each type of incident. The results showed a considerably higher ratio of cases occurring while responding to fires compared to all other types of emergencies. Firefighters encounter over nine times the likelihood of being involved in a fatal crash while responding to a fire. Specifically, structure-fire responses were determined to pose the highest risk of encountering a fatal crash during response. When compared to emergency medical incidents, which are the most common type of calls to which fire departments answer, structure-fire responses posed nearly 20 times the risk of a fatal crash occurring. These results indicate that attempts to reduce motor vehicle crashes among emergency services should focus on human factors, specifically creating and implementing tools to reduce the acute stress and urgency produced by responses to certain incident types. About the Host Richard B. Gasaway , PhD, CSP is widely considered a trusted authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision making processes used in high-stress, high consequence work environments. He served 33 years on the front lines as a firefighter, EMT-Paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. His doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and impact high-risk decision making.</
Tue, February 08, 2022
Trooper Down on the Roadway. The Bob Bemis Story (SAM 387)
This interview is with Bob Bemis, a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper who was struck and severely injured while attending to a vehicle fire on I-81 in eastern Pennsylvania.
Tue, January 25, 2022
Hit on the roadway. The Magnum Bower Story (SAM 386)
This interview is with Magnum Bower, a heavy duty tow truck operator who survived being struck on a roadway incident, resulting in him becoming a quadriplegic.
Tue, December 21, 2021
First-in engine under gunfire: The Chris Paskett Interview – Part 2 (SAM 385)
Eugene-Springfield crews were dispatched to a report of a residential fire with multiple callers confirming a residential dwelling fire. As the officer on the first-in engine was conducting his primary size-up from the front seat of the engine, a gunman opened fire on the engine, striking it several times. Firefighters were already advancing lines on the fire. They were also shot. This story is told from the perspective of the first-responding battalion chief. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, December 21, 2021
First-in engine under gunfire: The Chris Paskett Interview – Part 1 (SAM 384)
Eugene-Springfield crews were dispatched to a report of a residential fire with multiple callers confirming a residential dwelling fire. As the officer on the first-in engine was conducting his primary size-up from the front seat of the engine, a gunman opened fire on the engine, striking it several times. Firefighters were already advancing lines on the fire. They were also shot. This story is told from the perspective of the first-responding battalion chief. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Jared Alden contact information: jalden77@yahoo.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, December 14, 2021
Twelve tips to improve situational awareness (SAM 383)
Merry Christmas everyone! I know everyone’s feeling particularly festive this time of year and ole Santa is feeling the situational awareness love. Surely, you’ve heard of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” – You know – Partridge in a Pear Tree and all that other stuff that no one really needs or wants, perhaps with the exception of five golden rings, of course. (Whisper) Just don’t wear them all at once. And you know that Santa has good situational awareness. He’s ALWAYS capturing clues and cues about good little girls and boys. And in the spirit of Christmas, ole Santa would like to share with you his list for how to develop and maintain strong situational awareness. Of course, like any child at Christmas, this list could be much longer than 12 items. So I encourage you to go back through the archives and read some of the more than 400 articles on the Situational Awareness Matters! And… they’re all FREE… that’s Santa’s gift to you! Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Jared Alden contact information: jalden77@yahoo.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, December 07, 2021
What first responders need to know about explosives: The Jarred Alden Interview – Part 2 (SAM 381)
Lieutenant Alden is a paramedic and operations officer for the Akron (OH) Fire Department. He has 17+ years of experience as a firefighter and 15 + years as a paramedic. He is also a member of the SWAT Tactical Medic program. Alden has a master of arts degree in applied behavioral sciences from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a baccalaureate degree in sociology/criminology from Urbana University in Ohio. He served as an instructor in sociology at the University of Akron for six years. In this interview, Lieutenant Alden helps us to understand how easy it is for homemade explosives to be made. He shares important information about blast effects and helps us understand how blast Injuries occur, how to identify assess and treat them. He also shares information about the Lethal Triad of Trauma and discusses the role law enforcement plays in assisting with patient treatments. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Jared Alden contact information: jalden77@yahoo.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, November 30, 2021
What first responders need to know about explosives: The Jarred Alden Interview – Part 1 (SAM 381)
Lieutenant Alden is a paramedic and operations officer for the Akron (OH) Fire Department. He has 17+ years of experience as a firefighter and 15 + years as a paramedic. He is also a member of the SWAT Tactical Medic program. Alden has a master of arts degree in applied behavioral sciences from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and a baccalaureate degree in sociology/criminology from Urbana University in Ohio. He served as an instructor in sociology at the University of Akron for six years. In this interview, Lieutenant Alden helps us to understand how easy it is for homemade explosives to be made. He shares important information about blast effects and helps us understand how blast Injuries occur, how to identify assess and treat them. He also shares information about the Lethal Triad of Trauma and discusses the role law enforcement plays in assisting with patient treatments. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Jared Alden contact information: jalden77@yahoo.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Wed, September 29, 2021
Improving Responder Safety on the Roadway – The John Gonzalez Interview (SAM 380)
John Gonzalez is a past District Chief of Toms River Fire District 1 in Ocean County, NJ and has been an active volunteer firefighter for over 30 years. Chief Gonzalez served as a fire officer for 15 years, including 6 at Chief level for one of the largest all volunteer departments in the state of New Jersey. Additionally, Chief Gonzalez served as a Deputy Fire Coordinator in the Toms River Office of Emergency Management for 4 years. Prior to joining Florian ReApparatus, he worked full-time in the insurance industry for nearly 25 years, most recently in the Special Investigation Unit of a Fortune 100 Property & Casualty Insurance carrier. Chief Gonzalez is an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and has successfully completed the Chief Officer Leadership Symposium levels I & II. Currently, Chief Gonzalez holds the National TIM Training Certificate and is working towards attaining the National Traffic Incident Management Technician Certification. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Florian Re-Apparatus www.FlorianReApparatus.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, September 21, 2021
Preventing a Mass Shooter Event – the Darin Wall Story (SAM 379)
On September 4, Grayhawk bass player, Darin Wall, stopped a potential mass shooting by preventing a man from gaining entry into a private party at an event where the band had played earlier in the evening. Wall thought the man was acting strange, so he confronted him. The man pulled a gun and in the scuffle, Wall was shot in the leg. The man was quickly apprehended and, in his back pack, were several other guns and drum clips. Darin has participated in several media interviews, but this was to be his first full-length retelling of the event.
Tue, September 14, 2021
When Training Goes Wrong – The Stan Mettinger Story (SAM 378)
Stan Mettinger was setting up a training scenario that involved setting vehicles on fire. He was using diesel fuel to ignite hay inside the vehicle when the vapors flashed and set Stan on fire resulting in first, second and third degree burns.
Tue, September 07, 2021
A Father’s Tale of Loss – The Nada Fronk Story – Part 2 (SAM 377)
On May 26, 2021, Monte Fronk, native American and Emergency Manager for the Mille Lacs Bank of Ojibwe received the most unimaginable news a father could receive. His daughter had been violently murdered. This episode, dedicated to Monte’s daughter, Nada, chronicles the events surrounding her murder, the fire department’s response and the traditions of our spiritual journey. Monte closes with tips and advice for first responders on how we can reduce the impact of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).
Tue, August 31, 2021
A Father’s Tale of Loss – The Nada Fronk Story – Part 1 (SAM 376)
On May 26, 2021, Monte Fronk, native American and Emergency Manager for the Mille Lacs Bank of Ojibwe received the most unimaginable news a father could receive. His daughter had been violently murdered. This episode, dedicated to Monte’s daughter, Nada, chronicles the events surrounding her murder, the fire department’s response and the traditions of our spiritual journey. Monte closes with tips and advice for first responders on how we can reduce the impact of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).
Tue, June 01, 2021
Traditional Decision Making Process (SAM 375)
In the early days of decision making research, most of the studies were conducted in college classrooms and laboratories. These settings were nothing like the high-risk, high-consequence environments faced by public safety providers. Nonetheless, the traditional decision making process does have its place and we’ll discuss where. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, May 25, 2021
Communications Issues Impact Situational Awareness (SAM 374)
Under the best of conditions there can be miscommunications. When you add stress, uncertainty, changing conditions, and risk, communications can become very challenging. The first level of developing situational awareness is capturing the clues and cues from the environment. This includes capturing verbal clues and cues from dispatchers and responders. To miss radio communications is to miss clues and cues. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, May 18, 2021
Staffing Issues Impact Situational Awareness (SAM 373)
Challenges to a decision maker’s situational awareness from issues related to staffing were among the most significant findings from my research. I can make this bold statement for several reasons. First, from the multiple card sort exercise, forty‑three percent of the cards selected by commanders were for issues that related to staffing. Second, when I evaluated existing studies on the barriers that challenge situational awareness, in no other high-risk, high-consequence decision making environment were decision makers impacted from issues related to staffing. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, May 11, 2021
Think Past, Present and Future (SAM 372)
Flawed situational awareness (SA) is one of the leading contributing factors to first responder near-miss and casualty events. In fact, it is nearly impossible to find a line-of-duty death investigation report that does not implicate flawed SA, or one of the barriers that flaw SA, as contributing to the tragedy. As often as flawed SA is implicated it almost seems tragic how little first responders actually know about how to develop and maintain it, how they lose it, and how they regain it if they do lose it. This episode focuses some aspects of the first two, developing and maintaining SA. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, May 04, 2021
Expectations (SAM 370)
Your highest level of situational awareness is formed when you are able to make accurate predictions about future events. In neuroscience, this is called 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. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, April 27, 2021
Expectations (SAM 370)
Your highest level of situational awareness is formed when you are able to make accurate predictions about future events. In neuroscience, this is called 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. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, April 20, 2021
Complacency Kills (SAM 369)
Complacency is a dangerous affliction and a very challenging barrier to situational awareness for workers in high-risk environments. When a worker becomes complacent they let their guard down. What does that mean? It’s a cliché – to let your guard down. It means the worker is no longer paying attention to the dangerous environment they are in. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, April 13, 2021
Distractions and Interruptions (SAM 368)
Along a worker’s journey toward envisioning, developing, and implementing their plan to guide their (hopefully) successful outcome, they are likely to encounter two situational awareness barriers that can quickly derail their focus. Distractions and interruptions occur for different reasons but have the same result. Both can draw a worker’s attention (and focus) away from goal setting and action planning. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, April 06, 2021
Short-term Memory (367)
Short-term memory can create a formidable challenge to situational awareness. Long-term memory is huge, some might argue it’s limitless. Short-term memory, not so much. The capacity of the average person’s short-term memory is about seven pieces of unrelated information, give or take a few. We’ll discuss this challenge and some tips for how to work around this cognitive shortcoming. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, March 30, 2021
Firefighter Wellness: Leading a balanced life. Dr. Donnie Hutchinson – Part 1 (SAM 365)
Dr. Donnie explores the health and wellness qualities that make for successful firefighters and other first responders at work and home. He teaches how and why firefighters and first responders need to put their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs first. Dr. Donnie educates first responders that the greater they care for themselves, the better they will be able to serve their communities and their families. His education process includes using interactive activities and discussions to identify who and what are important in firefighter lives and how to begin aligning your day-to-day behaviors with your priorities in life. Dr. Donnie Hutchinson is an Army National Guard veteran, author, speaker, University of Dayton professor, Podcaster, and a Work-Life Balance instructor who works with firefighters, law enforcement officers and first responders on self-care and work-life balance strategies to improve their success at home, work, and life. Dr. Donnie has been the work-life balance trainer and presenter for the past four years at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF/ALTS) annual conferences and has delivered numerous workshops and webinars for law enforcement, EMS, local fire districts, state organizations, and the IAFC_ SHS division. Dr. Donnie wrote Lead with Balance: How to Master Work-Life Balance in an Imbalanced Culture and co-authored Diversity and Inclusion in the Global Workplace: Aligning Initiative with Strategic Business Goals. His chapter on work-life balance addresses generational and cultural differences in managing employee work-life balance friendly policies. Dr. Donnie is an active and proud father of four children and resides in Dayton, Ohio with his wife Marlene. His son, a U.S Army combat veteran is studying and training to become a professional firefighter. His website is: www.donniehutchinson.com Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their produ
Tue, March 23, 2021
Firefighter Wellness: Leading a balanced life. Dr. Donnie Hutchinson – Part 1 (SAM 365)
Dr. Donnie explores the health and wellness qualities that make for successful firefighters and other first responders at work and home. He teaches how and why firefighters and first responders need to put their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs first. Dr. Donnie educates first responders that the greater they care for themselves, the better they will be able to serve their communities and their families. His education process includes using interactive activities and discussions to identify who and what are important in firefighter lives and how to begin aligning your day-to-day behaviors with your priorities in life. Dr. Donnie Hutchinson is an Army National Guard veteran, author, speaker, University of Dayton professor, Podcaster, and a Work-Life Balance instructor who works with firefighters, law enforcement officers and first responders on self-care and work-life balance strategies to improve their success at home, work, and life. Dr. Donnie has been the work-life balance trainer and presenter for the past four years at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF/ALTS) annual conferences and has delivered numerous workshops and webinars for law enforcement, EMS, local fire districts, state organizations, and the IAFC_ SHS division. Dr. Donnie wrote Lead with Balance: How to Master Work-Life Balance in an Imbalanced Culture and co-authored Diversity and Inclusion in the Global Workplace: Aligning Initiative with Strategic Business Goals. His chapter on work-life balance addresses generational and cultural differences in managing employee work-life balance friendly policies. Dr. Donnie is an active and proud father of four children and resides in Dayton, Ohio with his wife Marlene. His son, a U.S Army combat veteran is studying and training to become a professional firefighter. His website is: www.donniehutchinson.com Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their produ
Tue, March 16, 2021
My life changed forever in a split second – The John Moore Story Part 2 (SAM 364)
John Moore lives in Southwest Ohio with his wife of nearly 15 years and their two children (ages 7 and 9). He attended Sinclair Community College directly out of high school and earned his firefighter 2, fire inspector, and paramedic certifications. He worked part-time for Clearcreek Fire District before being hired by the City of Kettering Fire Department as a career firefighter-paramedic in October 2007. John worked as a firefighter paramedic until sustaining a paralyzing spinal cord injury caused by an off-duty accident in September 2008. John continues to serve the City of Kettering Fire Department full time in an administrative capacity. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, March 09, 2021
My life changed forever in a split second – The John Moore Story Part 1 (SAM 363)
John Moore lives in Southwest Ohio with his wife of nearly 15 years and their two children (ages 7 and 9). He attended Sinclair Community College directly out of high school and earned his firefighter 2, fire inspector, and paramedic certifications. He worked part-time for Clearcreek Fire District before being hired by the City of Kettering Fire Department as a career firefighter-paramedic in October 2007. John worked as a firefighter paramedic until sustaining a paralyzing spinal cord injury caused by an off-duty accident in September 2008. John continues to serve the City of Kettering Fire Department full time in an administrative capacity. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, March 02, 2021
Live Events Q & A (SAM 362)
This Q&A session addresses questions from recent live situational awareness programs. Much of the inspiration for the blog posts come from participant questions but this may be the first podcast episode dedicated to questions asked during live events. The three questions we address include: What can I do to improve my intuition? What can I do as first responders to combat information overload? How can I tell when my perception of reality is flawed? Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, February 23, 2021
Six Red Flags for Danger (SAM 361)
The red flags discussed in the episode are clues and cues that provide conscious (overt) awareness of what is going on or subconscious (covert) awareness of what may be going on. The red flags are clues and cues that indicate things may not be right for an interior entry. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, February 16, 2021
Working Command (SAM 360)
I get asked a lot of questions about what the first arriving company officer should do at a working structure fire. Specifically, the debate revolves around two basic premise. Should the first arriving company officer assume a fixed command position outside the structure and coordinate the activities of incoming units? Or, should the first arriving company officer assume a "working command" or "mobile command" position and engage in the firefight with their crew? This episode looks to answer that question and more. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, February 09, 2021
19 Ways Communications can Impact SA (SAM 359)
First responders spend a lot of time together, on calls, in the station, and in many cases in social settings outside of work. All of this interaction builds relationships that allow responders to trust their lives to each other. We’ll discuss how peer pressure can be beneficial and detrimental to first responder safety. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, February 02, 2021
Conducting Realistic Fire Training (SAM 358)
In this episode we put the shoe on the other foot… and I am interviewed by Chris Crawford is a firefighter with the Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Fire Department and a Public Administration major at Point Park University. Chris was writing a paper on firefighter training for his Applications of Fire Research Class and asked to interview me about how to ensure firefighters are properly prepared for the job with consideration for what some might refer to non-realistic conditions during controlled burn evolutions. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, January 26, 2021
Contact with a 33kV Electric Line: The Sioux Falls Fire Department Story (SAM 357)
First responders spend a lot of time together, on calls, in the station, and in many cases in social settings outside of work. All of this interaction builds relationships that allow responders to trust their lives to each other. We’ll discuss how peer pressure can be beneficial and detrimental to first responder safety. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, January 19, 2021
Peer Pressure (SAM 356)
First responders spend a lot of time together, on calls, in the station, and in many cases in social settings outside of work. All of this interaction builds relationships that allow responders to trust their lives to each other. We’ll discuss how peer pressure can be beneficial and detrimental to first responder safety. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, January 12, 2021
Information Overload (SAM 355)
The San Francisco Fire Department conducted an internal review of the incident and issued a 156-page report on their findings. Many of the lessons relate to situational awareness and it is from that perspective that I would like to share my assessment on several of their findings. I dedicate this podcast to the lives of Lieutenant Vincent Perez and firefighter/paramedic Anthony M. Valerio and I applaud the San Francisco Fire Department for conducting an internal review and for sharing their findings with the fire service so we may all learn from tragedy. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, January 05, 2021
Five Situational Awareness Lessons from a LODD Incident (SAM 354)
The San Francisco Fire Department conducted an internal review of the incident and issued a 156-page report on their findings. Many of the lessons relate to situational awareness and it is from that perspective that I would like to share my assessment on several of their findings. I dedicate this podcast to the lives of Lieutenant Vincent Perez and firefighter/paramedic Anthony M. Valerio and I applaud the San Francisco Fire Department for conducting an internal review and for sharing their findings with the fire service so we may all learn from tragedy. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, December 29, 2020
Creatures of Habit (SAM 353)
Good or bad, we all have habits. On an emergency scene good habits can save your life and bad habits can result of tragic consequences. So it stands to reason that you would want to form good habits and avoid bad habits, right? But you can form bad habits and not be aware of it. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, December 22, 2020
Intuition (SAM 352)
It is amazing how many articles and videos I have watched lately in which they are talking about decision making based on “gut feel.” It is also disheartening how many first responders I have interviewed who have admitted to me that they have dismissed their gut feelings and proceeded to do things that resulted in bad outcomes. Let’s explore the origins of intuition. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, December 15, 2020
The Overconfident Incompetent (SAM 351)
This discussion includes the four steps in the progression of competency: Step 1: Unconscious incompetence – being unaware of what you do not know. Step 2: Conscious incompetence – being aware of how much you do not know. Step 3: Conscious competence – being aware of how much you know. Step 4: Unconscious competence – being unaware of how much you know. You will also be introduced to the Dunning-Kruger Effect. In 1999, two professors at Cornell University conducted a series of experiments and published their findings in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. What they uncovered is a cognitive bias where unskilled people suffer from the illusion of having superior skills and knowledge. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, December 08, 2020
The John Vanatta Story – Part 2 (SAM 350)
The Denver Drill that John discusses had been performed all week using two ladders and two firefighters at the sill. But the crew on duty on this day was confident that they could perform the drill using one ladder and one firefighter. In the process of removing Chief Vanatta (the victim) from the window, the officer on the ladder had to assist in pulling him through the window, which caused Chief Vanatta to be inverted (face up versus face down). In an effort to correct his positioning, Chief Vanatta rolled off the ladder. The officer grabbed onto Chief Vanatta and both of them fell 10 feet to the concrete. Recovery from their injuries took 2-3 months. Deputy Fire Chief John Vanatta Jr. joined the Siloam Springs Fire Department in January 2017. DC Vanatta is the department training officer, an adjunct instructor for the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, and is currently the President of the Northwest Arkansas Metro Chief’s Training Officers Association. He is also the Captain/Training Officer of the Lincoln, AR Volunteer Fire Department. His credentials include a Masters degree from Eastern Michigan University, the CPSE Chief Fire Officer credential, and NREMT Paramedic. Prior to moving to Siloam Springs, Chief Vanatta retired from Clinton Township Fire-Rescue-EMS in Michigan at the rank of Battalion Chief. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Chief, attaining the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant. In 2008-2009, he deployed to Iraq and served as a military civil affairs liaison to the Iraqi Fire Service. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, December 01, 2020
The John Vanatta Story – Part 1 (SAM 349)
The Denver Drill that John discusses had been performed all week using two ladders and two firefighters at the sill. But the crew on duty on this day was confident that they could perform the drill using one ladder and one firefighter. In the process of removing Chief Vanatta (the victim) from the window, the officer on the ladder had to assist in pulling him through the window, which caused Chief Vanatta to be inverted (face up versus face down). In an effort to correct his positioning, Chief Vanatta rolled off the ladder. The officer grabbed onto Chief Vanatta and both of them fell 10 feet to the concrete. Recovery from their injuries took 2-3 months. Deputy Fire Chief John Vanatta Jr. joined the Siloam Springs Fire Department in January 2017. DC Vanatta is the department training officer, an adjunct instructor for the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, and is currently the President of the Northwest Arkansas Metro Chief’s Training Officers Association. He is also the Captain/Training Officer of the Lincoln, AR Volunteer Fire Department. His credentials include a Masters degree from Eastern Michigan University, the CPSE Chief Fire Officer credential, and NREMT Paramedic. Prior to moving to Siloam Springs, Chief Vanatta retired from Clinton Township Fire-Rescue-EMS in Michigan at the rank of Battalion Chief. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Chief, attaining the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant. In 2008-2009, he deployed to Iraq and served as a military civil affairs liaison to the Iraqi Fire Service. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, November 24, 2020
The Jason Corthell Story – The Next Chapter – Part 2 (SAM 347)
Back on Episode 55, then Cypress Creek Lieutenant Jason Corthell shared his close call survival story where he was operating on the second floor of an exterior stairwell at an apartment building fire. The stairwell, not involved in fire at all, unexpectedly collapsed, trapping Lieutenant Corthell and District Chief Sanchez under tons of steel and concrete. A mayday was called and a rapid intervention crew was able to remove the debris and successful rescue the two firefighters. This episode chronicles Jason’s physical and mental road to recovery and he discusses his efforts to help other firefighters who may be experiencing trauma, on and off the job. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Situational Awareness & Thermal Imaging Program on November 24 with Insight Training https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thermal-imaging-situational-awareness-improving-decision-making-tickets-126653755793?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch&fbclid=IwAR1QQ-LyT5qR2J2OyomeQ1VPcp2G7R8As1GPcpKYiB-IGyuQaTLqxnKtU4Y Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, November 17, 2020
The Jason Corthell Story – The Next Chapter – Part 1 (SAM 347)
Back on Episode 55, then Cypress Creek Lieutenant Jason Corthell shared his close call survival story where he was operating on the second floor of an exterior stairwell at an apartment building fire. The stairwell, not involved in fire at all, unexpectedly collapsed, trapping Lieutenant Corthell and District Chief Sanchez under tons of steel and concrete. A mayday was called and a rapid intervention crew was able to remove the debris and successful rescue the two firefighters. This episode chronicles Jason’s physical and mental road to recovery and he discusses his efforts to help other firefighters who may be experiencing trauma, on and off the job. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Situational Awareness & Thermal Imaging Program on November 24 with Insight Training https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thermal-imaging-situational-awareness-improving-decision-making-tickets-126653755793?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch&fbclid=IwAR1QQ-LyT5qR2J2OyomeQ1VPcp2G7R8As1GPcpKYiB-IGyuQaTLqxnKtU4Y Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, November 10, 2020
The Myth of Multitasking (SAM 346)
If you are the type of person who can work on your notebook, listen to music on your iPod, talk on your cell phone and text message at the same time, (maybe all while driving) this episode is for you. Advances in technology have given us more opportunities to multitask than any other time in the history of humankind. We are bombarded with visual and audible stimulation, most of which is at our fingertips. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Situational Awareness & Thermal Imaging Program on November 24 with Insight Training https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thermal-imaging-situational-awareness-improving-decision-making-tickets-126653755793?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch&fbclid=IwAR1QQ-LyT5qR2J2OyomeQ1VPcp2G7R8As1GPcpKYiB-IGyuQaTLqxnKtU4Y Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, November 03, 2020
Cameron Gasaway Interview (SAM 345)
It’s been 5 years since my last interview with my son, Cameron Gasaway. At that time, he was serving as an apprentice firefighter in Madison, Wisconsin. In this episode, he will share his lessons learned and offer advice to firefighters just getting started in their career. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Guest Contact Information Cameron Gasaway Cameron.Gasaway@yahoo.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, October 27, 2020
The Rick Mehaffey Story – Flashback to Episode 142 (SAM 344)
Rick Mehaffey serves as an engineer for the Waynesville Fire Department, is combination department that runs 2500 calls a year out of two stations. (He has since been promoted to Captain.) At the time of the near miss event the staffing levels was 1 person on-duty at each of two stations, supplemented by roughly 30 volunteers. 0759 the fire department was dispatched to a residential fire at 71 Cornerstone Ridge in Waynesville. Mehaffey was first on-scene of a working fire in a two-story wood frame structure with light smoke coming from the eves and smoke coming out of the chimney. Mehaffey noted the rock chimney stood approximately 8 feet above the gutter line and was 4 foot in width. The size of the chimney led him to position my engine outside of what he would deem to be the collapse zone. Mehaffey established command and completed a 360 degree size up. The second engine arrived and they initiated interior operations. The crew located the fire in the vaulted ceiling cavity around the chimney. Exterior crews set a ladder up to access the porch roof. This ladder was directly under the chimney. Mehaffey exited the structure and was stopped and asked a question by a mutual aid company. At that time they were directly in front of the chimney about 10 feet away from the house. Then someone screamed the chimney was falling. Hearing the scream, Mehaffey and the other firefighters he was talking to began to run. As Mehaffey heard the crash of the chimney he turned to look back to see a few large rocks that, as he described, “almost appeared to be chasing me and where so close that as I turn my head to watch where I was running I was anticipating the pain of the rock taking my legs out from underneath me.” As he reached the engine h stopped running, turned and looked back. The rocks had stopped rolling about 5 feet behind him. An investigation revealed the chimney was a wood frame construction with large rock attached. Improper installation had contributed to the wood frame catching fire and spreading into the ceiling cavity, causing the chimney to fall. As Mehaffey wrote to me: “In my opinion we almost had three LODDs that day due to my inability to remove my blinders and see a potential hazard,” a hazard that by his own admission he was concerned enough on his arrival to ensue he positioned his engine outside the collapse zone. But, as he noted; “Once my boots hit the ground I got tunnel vision and it almost cost four firefighters lives.” Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters L
Tue, October 20, 2020
The Dave Martin Story – Flashback to Episode 45 (SAM 343)
On August 11, 2007, Captain Martin and his partner were over run by a fast-moving wildland fire. On retreat, his partner became entangled on a barbed wire fence. Captain Martin used a utility knife to cut away his partner’s ensnarled clothing and they both narrowly escaped death. Dave Martin’s crew was assigned to the task of keeping the wildland fire from jumping Highway 97. Around 2100, Captain Martin and a member of the tribal fire management team were assigned to conduct a back-burn operation along the highway. Unexpectedly, the fire blew up on them, eventually consuming 1,200 acres. While on a retreat from the fast moving fire, Captain Martin’s partner become entangled on a barbed wire fence. While being over run by hot embers and heavy smoke, Captain Martin used a utility knife to cut away his partner’s ensnarled clothing and they both narrowly escaped death. Listen in as Dave shares his lessons learned that include: The need to trust your intuition – your gut feel when it tells you something is not right. The importance of standing your ground when you feel a mistake is being made by your partner. The consequences of overlooking critical clues and cues that indicate conditions are changing. How task fixation and mission myopia and serve as barriers that impact your situational awareness and flaw your decision making. Contact us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, October 13, 2020
Confabulated Realities Impact Situational Awareness (SAM 342)
A confabulated reality is one that we believe to be real but, in actuality, it is made up in our brain. The problem with this is we rarely are able to distinguish between a confabulated reality and true reality until something bad happens. It will be at that point that we realize we were experiencing a flawed perception of reality. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, October 06, 2020
The Jeff Bowen LODD Story, told by Scott Burnette – Part 2 - (SAM 341)
On July 28, 2011, the Asheville Fire Department was forever changed by the tragic LODD of Captain Jeff Bowen. During this interview, Fire Chief Scott Burnette talks about that fateful day and the significant changes that have occurred in the Asheville Fire Department – changes that every fire department can benefit from. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ NIOSH Investigation report (Hyperlink): http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face201013.pdf KMBC News video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOv27DH8aWk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNAvC7_jbcA The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, September 29, 2020
The Jeff Bowen LODD Story, told by Scott Burnette – Part 1 - (SAM 340)
On July 28, 2011, the Asheville Fire Department was forever changed by the tragic LODD of Captain Jeff Bowen. During this interview, Fire Chief Scott Burnette talks about that fateful day and the significant changes that have occurred in the Asheville Fire Department – changes that every fire department can benefit from. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ NIOSH Investigation report (Hyperlink): http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face201013.pdf KMBC News video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOv27DH8aWk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNAvC7_jbcA The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, September 22, 2020
The John Glaser LODD Story, told by Ryan Pyle. – Part 2 - (SAM 339)
On May 22, 2010, John Glaser, a 33-year-old career fire fighter died while conducting a primary search of a residential house fire. Firefighter Glaser vomited in his SCBA face piece and then removed it, causing him to inhale products of combustion. The fire was reported by automatic alarm at 8:55 p.m. Saturday at 13408 W. 75th Court, according to fire officials. When firefighters arrived, they found the home burning out of control. Neighbors told firefighters they thought two people and a dog were inside. Firefighters began attacking the fire and searching the home. As they were searching the home at 9:12 p.m., a mayday call went out because a firefighter was missing.
Tue, September 15, 2020
The John Glaser LODD Story, told by Ryan Pyle. – Part 1 - (SAM 338)
On May 22, 2010, John Glaser, a 33-year-old career fire fighter died while conducting a primary search of a residential house fire. Firefighter Glaser vomited in his SCBA face piece and then removed it, causing him to inhale products of combustion. The fire was reported by automatic alarm at 8:55 p.m. Saturday at 13408 W. 75th Court, according to fire officials. When firefighters arrived, they found the home burning out of control. Neighbors told firefighters they thought two people and a dog were inside. Firefighters began attacking the fire and searching the home. As they were searching the home at 9:12 p.m., a mayday call went out because a firefighter was missing.
Tue, September 08, 2020
Trapped in a basement – The Perry Hall Story – Part 1 - (SAM 336)
On May 5, 2014 Perry Hall was part of an engine crew conducting a search when he got separated from his crew and accidentally locked in one of the worst places he could be – in a basement stairwell with the fire below him. Perry tells the story of the event and the post-traumatic stress that, literally, changed his life forever.
Wed, September 02, 2020
Trapped in a basement – The Perry Hall Story – Part 1 - (SAM 336)
On May 5, 2014 Perry Hall was part of an engine crew conducting a search when he got separated from his crew and accidentally locked in one of the worst places he could be – in a basement stairwell with the fire below him. Perry tells the story of the event and the post-traumatic stress that, literally, changed his life forever.
Tue, August 25, 2020
Trapped in a Tunnel – The Joe Pronesti Story (SAM 335)
On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, Elyria Fire Captain Joe Pronesti responded to a fire alarm activation call on a college campus. The first arriving engine reported heavy smoke coming from multiple buildings. In search of the source of the smoke, crews would learn the fire was in a tunnel that connected multiple buildings on the campus – A tunnel that Joe would barely make it out of alive.
Tue, August 18, 2020
Mental Health Near-Miss: The Scott Gieselhart Story – Part 2 (SAM 334)
Scott Gieselhart served 24 years as a firefighter in Frazee, Minnesota. Along the way, several incidents contributed to Scott developing a Post Traumatic Stress Injury that resulted in him becoming a meth addict and attempting suicide. Then Scott found help and through a treatment known as EMDR, his PTSI was healed and how he serves as a mental health counsellor. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Scott Gieselhart SeeingInColorAgain.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, August 11, 2020
Mental Health Near-Miss: The Scott Gieselhart Story – Part 1 (SAM 333)
Scott Gieselhart served 24 years as a firefighter in Frazee, Minnesota. Along the way, several incidents contributed to Scott developing a Post Traumatic Stress Injury that resulted in him becoming a meth addict and attempting suicide. Then Scott found help and through a treatment known as EMDR, his PTSI was healed and how he serves as a mental health counsellor. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, August 04, 2020
Sharing multiple near-miss experiences including being held-up at gunpoint. The Jim Arie Story – Part 2 (SAM 332)
Throughout his 43-year career, retired fire chief Jim Arie had experienced multiple near-miss events. He’ll discuss a few of them but none were as sobering as the one that occurred in March 2020, when Jim and his wife were held-up at gunpoint in their driveway and their car was stolen. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, July 28, 2020
Sharing multiple near-miss experiences including being held-up at gunpoint. The Jim Arie Story – Part 1 (SAM 331)
Throughout his 43-year career, retired fire chief Jim Arie had experienced multiple near-miss events. He’ll discuss a few of them but none were as sobering as the one that occurred in March 2020, when Jim and his wife were held-up at gunpoint in their driveway and their car was stolen. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, July 21, 2020
Seven Situational Awareness Thieves (SAM 330)
While there are more than 100 barriers that can flaw situational awareness, this episode focuses on 7 that can be particularly challenging to first responders. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, July 14, 2020
The 360 Degree Size-up (SAM 329)
You might think that by now the importance of completing a 360-degree size-up would be second nature for firefighters. But it’s not. In fact, failing to complete a proper size-up remains one of the most often cited contributing factors in NIOSH Line-of-Duty death reports. There are lots of reasons why proper size-ups are not completed. Here we will explore 10 of them. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, July 07, 2020
The Impact of Understaffing (SAM 328)
The pandemic has been tough on everyone, especially first responders who have stepped up to the task. But for many first response agencies, the worst is yet to come as the economic fallout will likely create budget shortfalls that will, in turn, cause fire departments to reduce staffing and services. This show looks at the impact of reduced staffing on safety. www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, June 30, 2020
Bravado – A barrier to situational awareness (SAM 327)
Bravado is defined as “a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.” A co-worker or boss displaying bravado can be dangerous because their need to impress or intimidate can cause them to miss critical clues and cues and flaw their situational awareness. www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Thu, June 25, 2020
Situational Awareness Best Practices (SAM 326)
There are three component parts to situational awareness – perception, understanding and prediction. There are barriers that can impact awareness on all three levels. The application of best practices can help incident commanders reduce the impact of barriers. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, June 16, 2020
What we fear most Part 2 (SAM 325)
The fear of public speaking consistently ranks near the top of the list in fear surveys. This won’t come as a surprise for many. But the consequences of not speaking up can be catastrophic for organizations and for the individual gripped by this fear. This episode explores the fear of public speaking and offers some solutions. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, June 09, 2020
Deadly Methyl Bromide exposure: The Misty Worrell story – Part 2 (SAM 324)
Misty Worrell and her partner on Cypress Creek EMS responded to a medical call that would result in two fatalities and the EMS crew being exposed to deadly Methyl Bromide. Because there is no cure for Methyl Bromide poisoning, Misty, a mother of five children, was instructed to get her affairs in order as she could be dead within 2 weeks. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Misty Worrell mrw1616@yahoo.com The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, June 02, 2020
Deadly Methyl Bromide exposure: The Misty Worrell story – Part 1 (SAM 323)
Misty Worrell and her partner on Cypress Creek EMS responded to a medical call that would result in two fatalities and the EMS crew being exposed to deadly Methyl Bromide. Because there is no cure for Methyl Bromide poisoning, Misty, a mother of five children, was instructed to get her affairs in order as she could be dead within 2 weeks. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Misty Worrell mrw1616@yahoo.com The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, May 26, 2020
Interview with Jeff Banman from the Operational Mindset Foundation (SAM 322)
The mission of the Operational Mindset Foundation is to mentally, physically and emotionally prepare those who choose to place themselves in harm’s way every day for the benefit of others… and give them the opportunity to experience what safe feels like when they return home. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Jeff Banman https://www.opmindset.org The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, May 19, 2020
Sensory Conflict and Mind Drift – A reading from the Smart Worker’s book (SAM 321)
Situational awareness barriers block a worker’s ability to perceive, understand or predict. I have uncovered and researched more than a hundred barriers to awareness. This episode talks about two of the barriers – sensory conflict and mind drift. We also briefly discuss the process for predicting future events. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ How Smart Workers Use Situational Awareness to Improve Safety can be purchased at: SAMatters.com/store/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, May 12, 2020
Five Fatalities and Lessons Learned from Chesterfield County– Flashback episode – Part 3
In the early morning hours of January 17, 2016, Chesterfield County Fire & EMS responded to a residential fire on Wicklow Lane that would result in fire civilian fire fatalities, including 2 children. This three-part interview chronicles the event, the situational awareness challenges and the lessons learned from the first-in captain and the first arriving battalion chief. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, May 05, 2020
Five Fatalities and Lessons Learned from Chesterfield County– Flashback episode – Part 2
In the early morning hours of January 17, 2016, Chesterfield County Fire & EMS responded to a residential fire on Wicklow Lane that would result in fire civilian fire fatalities, including 2 children. This three-part interview chronicles the event, the situational awareness challenges and the lessons learned from the first-in captain and the first arriving battalion chief. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, April 28, 2020
Five Fatalities and Lessons Learned from Chesterfield County– Flashback episode – Part 1
In the early morning hours of January 17, 2016, Chesterfield County Fire & EMS responded to a residential fire on Wicklow Lane that would result in fire civilian fire fatalities, including 2 children. This three-part interview chronicles the event, the situational awareness challenges and the lessons learned from the first-in captain and the first arriving battalion chief. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, April 21, 2020
Situational Awareness Q & A Session – Part 2
Episode 315 focused on the process for developing and maintaining situational awareness. The program was very engaging and there were over 40 questions asked. This episode is part 2 of a 2-part episode addresses the questions. During this Pandemic, I have heard the term situational awareness spoken more times than I can ever remember. Media pundits, medical experts, emergency managers – they’re all telling us it’s important to maintain situational awareness. In one respect, this warms my heart because situational awareness has been my passion topic for more than 15 years. But in other respects, it causes me to worry because most people have very little understanding about what situational awareness is or how to develop and maintain it. This program takes the mystery out of the concept and explains it all.
Tue, April 14, 2020
Situational Awareness Q & A Session – Part 1
Episode 315 focused on the process for developing and maintaining situational awareness. The program was very engaging and there were over 40 questions asked. This episode is part 1 of a 2-part episode addresses the questions. During this Pandemic, I have heard the term situational awareness spoken more times than I can ever remember. Media pundits, medical experts, emergency managers – they’re all telling us it’s important to maintain situational awareness. In one respect, this warms my heart because situational awareness has been my passion topic for more than 15 years. But in other respects, it causes me to worry because most people have very little understanding about what situational awareness is or how to develop and maintain it. This program takes the mystery out of the concept and explains it all.
Tue, April 07, 2020
Situational Awareness 101
During this Pandemic, I have heard the term situational awareness spoken more times than I can ever remember. Media pundits, medical experts, emergency managers – they’re all telling us it’s important to maintain situational awareness. In one respect, this warms my heart because situational awareness has been my passion topic for more than 15 years. But in other respects, it causes me to worry because most people have very little understanding about what situational awareness is or how to develop and maintain it. This program takes the mystery out of the concept and explains it all.
Tue, March 31, 2020
Three Kinds of Stress You Might Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic
During this Pandemic, you might experience three types of stress: Acute stress, episodic acute stress and chronic stress. This episode explores how stress can impact your situational awareness and, equally concerning, how stress can have devastating long-term impacts on your health and wellness. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) Let’s Get connected Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, March 24, 2020
Situational Awareness Thoughts and Observations About COVID-19
The world made a major shift in March, 2020. Very quickly and unexpectedly, I lost 44 scheduled programs and now have no work scheduled until September. But I am not alone. This new world order, if we can even call it order, is impacting everyone. This episode will address some of my concerns about the situational awareness impact when there is so much worry, anxiety, frustration, confusion and information overload.
Tue, March 17, 2020
A line of duty death perspective – The Jeff Dickey Story – SAM 312
While attending the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute’s National Fire Service Staff & Command School I had an opportunity to interview Washington, D.C. Fire Lieutenant, Jeff Dickey. Jeff was on the second alarm assignment to a structure fire incident where a firefighter fell through the floor and died. Jeff’s crew was able to locate and remove the fallen firefighter.
Tue, March 10, 2020
Mental Health Mayday - The Verne and Chancy Friesen Story - Part 2
Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact: Laverne and Chancy Friesen ldfriesen25@yahoo.ca SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, March 03, 2020
Mental Health Mayday - The Verne and Chancy Friesen Story - Part 1
Laverne Friesen was a guest on Episodes 301 and 302, talking about his mental health near-miss. Upon the completion of the recording, he mentioned to me that his wife has a powerful story to share about how this journey has impacted her and their relationship. This is their joint mental health mayday story. You may want to also go back and listen to his previous interview which contains many additional details not included in this interview. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact: Laverne and Chancy Friesen ldfriesen25@yahoo.ca SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, February 25, 2020
Responders Overcome by Carbon Monoxide - The Mukilteo Fire Story – Part 2
This interview with Battalion Chief Troy Elmore, Firefighter/Acting Captain Brian Oullette, and Firefighter/EMT Jason Shuck shares their powerful story and lessons learned from becoming victims of carbon monoxide poisoning while operating on the scene of an EMS call on September 11, 2019. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact: Troy Elmore TElmore@mukilteowa.gov SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, February 18, 2020
Responders Overcome by Carbon Monoxide - The Mukilteo Fire Story – Part 1
This interview with Battalion Chief Troy Elmore, Firefighter/Acting Captain Brian Oullette, and Firefighter/EMT Jason Shuck, shares their powerful story and lessons learned from becoming victims of carbon monoxide poisoning while operating on the scene of an EMS call on September 11, 2019. www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact: Troy Elmore TElmore@mukilteowa.gov SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, February 11, 2020
Surviving the Fire Service – The Todd LeDuc Interview
The fire service continues to be plagued by occupational health risks that have been directly related to the rigors of firefighting. The author has written about and published on these extensively terming it the three-legged stool. The three legs of the stool are fire service cardiovascular deaths and disability, occupational cancer threats and behavioral health disorders including suicide. Sadly, all three of these occupational risks can be minimized but are often not through annual early detection exams. The notion of situational awareness is key to fire ground survival and that same concept of situational awareness of our health risk status is paramount to assuring survival. We know early detection is a key factor in better survival outcomes. Yet, many firefighters are still not receiving annual wellness exams or ones that are specific to the unique health risks they face as firefighters. ________ Chief LeDuc began his emergency medical services training in Lowell, MA. in 1986 and completed his paramedic training at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He served with the Broward County, FL. Fire Rescue service for the past 29 1/2 years, retiring as the Executive Assistant Fire Chief. He served as Chief of EMS and Operations Chief in Broward County, which is the Nation’s 17th most populated county in America with 1.9 million residents. Broward County is the largest dual accredited fire department in the country. Chief LeDuc recently joined Life Scan Wellness Centers as their Chief Strategy Officer. Life Scan Wellness provides 40,000 annual NFPA public safety physicals annually in 25 states. He has a master’s degree in executive fire service leadership and is credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer and Certified Emergency Manager. He also holds Fellow status in the Institute of Fire Engineers. Chief LeDuc has conducted numerous department evaluations, strategic and master plans, accreditation site visits, consolidation feasibility studies and management efficiency reviews over the last twenty-five years internationally. He is a peer reviewer with the Center for Public Safety Excellence for both professional credentialing and agency accreditation. He has published and lectured frequently on fire-based EMS and firefighter health and safety issues. He has served as the Charter President for the National EMS Management Association and is currently the elected Secretary of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Safety, Health & Survival Section. He is a reviewer and editorial board member for numerous EMS and fire service publications. He is editor of the recently released Penn Well book, Surviving the Fire Service. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518
Tue, February 04, 2020
The Firefighter Near-Miss Reporting System – Part 2
The IAFC’s Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System has been undergoing substantial changes in 2019 to improve functionality and provide better services to its users and stakeholders and 2020 looks to be no different. With a new technology partner, Envisage Technologies that oversees the Acadis Portal and FirstForward Training and Exposure Tracking, new deliverables are in the works to allow a better learning experience from near miss reports. The Near Miss Program also is looking to further promote Human Performance Improvement to help fire departments at the operational level. John Russ is an eighteen-year veteran of the fire service, currently working for the Brentwood (TN) Fire & Rescue Department as a Lieutenant/ Paramedic. He has been the Program Manager for the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System since January 2016. John has worked in various facets of the Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System since its inception in 2005. John also has worked for numerous career and voluntary fire and emergency service providers to include prehospital emergency medical service providers, specialized technical rescue organizations, along with risk management and prevention entities. He has a Master’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Professional Studies and two Bachelor’s Degrees from Eastern Kentucky University; one in Fire & Safety Administration and one in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care. John also is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact: John Russ, Program Director Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System International Association of Fire Chiefs<br /
Tue, January 28, 2020
The Firefighter Near-Miss Reporting System – Part 1
The IAFC’s Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System has been undergoing substantial changes in 2019 to improve functionality and provide better services to its users and stakeholders and 2020 looks to be no different. With a new technology partner, Envisage Technologies that oversees the Acadis Portal and FirstForward Training and Exposure Tracking, new deliverables are in the works to allow a better learning experience from near miss reports. The Near Miss Program also is looking to further promote Human Performance Improvement to help fire departments at the operational level. John Russ is an eighteen-year veteran of the fire service, currently working for the Brentwood (TN) Fire & Rescue Department as a Lieutenant/ Paramedic. He has been the Program Manager for the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System since January 2016. John has worked in various facets of the Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System since its inception in 2005. John also has worked for numerous career and voluntary fire and emergency service providers to include prehospital emergency medical service providers, specialized technical rescue organizations, along with risk management and prevention entities. He has a Master’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Professional Studies and two Bachelor’s Degrees from Eastern Kentucky University; one in Fire & Safety Administration and one in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care. John also is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact: John Russ, Program Director Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System International Association of Fire Chiefs JRuss@i
Tue, January 21, 2020
: Commercial Building Mayday. The Atascocita Fire Story – Part 2
On July 3, 2019, the Atascocita Fire Department responded to a commercial building fire at Coach’s Sports Bar. First arriving units reported heavy smoke showing. This interview is with incident command staff: Fire Chief Mike Mulligan, Battalion Chief David Roark, and Battalion Chief Brian Mulligan. The interview is supported by dashcam video. The episode is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Jared Snell, the officer on the first-in company. Tragically, Lt. Snell died in a motor vehicle accident three weeks following this fire. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact: Battalion Chief Brian Mulligan: bmulligan@avfd.com Battalion Chief Roark David: droark@avfd.com Fire Chief Mike Mulligan: mmulligan@avfd.com SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, January 14, 2020
Commercial Building Mayday. The Atascocita Fire Story – Part 1
On July 3, 2019, the Atascocita Fire Department responded to a commercial building fire at Coach’s Sports Bar. First arriving units reported heavy smoke showing. This interview is with incident command staff: Fire Chief Mike Mulligan, Battalion Chief David Roark, and Battalion Chief Brian Mulligan. The interview is supported by dash cam video. The episode is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Jared Snell, the officer on the first-in company. Tragically, Lt. Snell died in a motor vehicle accident three weeks following this fire. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact: Battalion Chief Brian Mulligan: bmulligan@avfd.com Battalion Chief Roark David: droark@avfd.com Fire Chief Mike Mulligan: mmulligan@avfd.com SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, January 07, 2020
A Mental Health Mayday. The Laverne Friesen Story – Part 2
Laverne Friesen spent his career in a variety of first responder positions in Alberta, Canada. His experiences include healthcare, volunteer firefighter and a sworn law enforcement officer. This has exposed him to the best and worst of what people do to themselves and to others. After his battle with mental illness, Laverne committed himself to starting conversations to destigmatize mental illness in first responders, which has led to the realization that the issues plaguing the emergency services applies to the public at large. Laverne is trying to raise awareness around mental health in the workplace to encourage others to be observant of possible issues and to speak up. His “human first” approach to his profession and personal life has made him a resource to those who are struggling with their mental health and known as someone who is always available to someone in need. Laverne is happily married with two young children who keep him busy and enhance his situational awareness skills every day. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Information Laverne Friesen ldfriesen25@yahoo.ca William Vavrek Photographer & Freelance Photojournalist E : william@williamvavrek.com F: http://facebook.com/williamvavrekphotography/ T : http://twitter.com/williamvavrek/ W: http://williamvavrek.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fas
Tue, December 31, 2019
A Mental Health Mayday. The Laverne Friesen Story
Laverne Friesen spent his career in a variety of first responder positions in Alberta, Canada. His experiences include healthcare, volunteer firefighter and a sworn law enforcement officer. This has exposed him to the best and worst of what people do to themselves and to others. After his battle with mental illness, Laverne committed himself to starting conversations to destigmatize mental illness in first responders, which has led to the realization that the issues plaguing the emergency services applies to the public at large. Laverne is trying to raise awareness around mental health in the workplace to encourage others to be observant of possible issues and to speak up. His “human first” approach to his profession and personal life has made him a resource to those who are struggling with their mental health and known as someone who is always available to someone in need. Laverne is happily married with two young children who keep him busy and enhance his situational awareness skills every day. www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Information Laverne Friesen ldfriesen25@yahoo.ca William Vavrek Photographer & Freelance Photojournalist E : william@williamvavrek.com F: http://facebook.com/williamvavrekphotography/ T : http://twitter.com/williamvavrek/ W: http://williamvavrek.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be i
Tue, December 24, 2019
Heavy Content Fires – The Ryan Pennington Interview
Ryan Pennington is the Lieutenant-Paramedic currently serving with the Charleston WV. Fire Department. Ryan is assigned to Ladder 456 in the Kanawha City area of Charleston. He has over 22 years of fire-EMS experience serving in various types of departments and has been serving the Charleston WV Fire Department for 11 years. Ryan has lectured and trained thousands of firefighters and fire departments from across the United States and internationally both at their departments and at large conferences like Firehouse Expo,FDIC, Firehouse World, and FDIC Atlantic (Canada). He has been published in FireRescue Magazine, Fire Engineering, Firefighting in Canada Magazine,Firehouse, among others and has been interviewed on the top firefighter training podcasts and radio shows in the country. He is the founder of ChamberofHoarders.com which is the leading Heavy Content Response website for fire departments worldwide. Ryan blogs and podcasts about the views of a street level firefighter at JumpseatTraining.com and hosts a weekly podcast at Jumpseat Radio. To Learn more about Heavy Content Firefighting and options for training your fire department, go to ChamberofHoarders.com or Contact Ryan at jumpseatviews@icloud.com and on twitter at @jumpseatviews Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to
Tue, December 17, 2019
The Midwest Fire Story - Brett Jensen Interview
Midwest Fire has been the Platinum sponsor of our show since 2014 and this episode showcases their company and allows our listeners and viewers to learn more about this amazing fire apparatus builder. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact Information Brett Jensen, Vice President & General Manager Midwest Fire Equipment & Repair Co. Direct: 1-507-690-2981 Office: 1-800-344-2059 Office: 1-507-283-9141 Email: brett@midwestfire.com Web: www.MidwestFire.com SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, December 10, 2019
Surrounded by fire: The Roree Payment Story – Part 2
Roree Payment has just completed his first year as the Chief of the Clearview Fire and Emergency Services. Prior to that he was the Deputy Fire Chief for the department for the previous 5.5yrs. Having a love for the fire service and being blessed with many great opportunities his 20-year career has taken him through 3 different departments including paid-on-call, composite and career. He is strongly supported by his family, all 5 ladies and very thankful for the people who have taken chances on him and given him opportunities. On October 10, 2019, the department responded to a residential fire in a rural location. While the call started out relatively routine, things would quickly take a turn for the worse. While Roree and his partner staffed an attack line on the first floor, conditions rapidly changed, both outside and inside, resulting in flashover, a near-miss and ultimately the loss of the structure. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact Information Fire Chief Roree Payment Clearview Fire & EMS Department rpayment@clearview.ca 705-428-6230 ext. 402 SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, December 03, 2019
Surrounded by fire: The Roree Payment Story – Part 1
Roree Payment has just completed his first year as the Chief of the Clearview Fire and Emergency Services. Prior to that he was the Deputy Fire Chief for the department for the previous 5.5yrs. Having a love for the fire service and being blessed with many great opportunities his 20-year career has taken him through 3 different departments including paid-on-call, composite and career. He is strongly supported by his family, all 5 ladies and very thankful for the people who have taken chances on him and given him opportunities. On October 10, 2019, the department responded to a residential fire in a rural location. While the call started out relatively routine, things would quickly take a turn for the worse. While Roree and his partner staffed an attack line on the first floor, conditions rapidly changed, both outside and inside, resulting in flashover, a near-miss and ultimately the loss of the structure. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Guest Contact Information Fire Chief Roree Payment Clearview Fire & EMS Department rpayment@clearview.ca 705-428-6230 ext. 402 SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, November 26, 2019
Overconfidence – A dangerous minefield
In this episode, we review the Overconfidence chapter of my new book, How Smart Workers Use Situational Awareness to Improve Safety. Really smart and talented workers can drift over into a minefield of overconfidence – a place the organization really doesn’t want them to be. Unfortunately, the worker may not even realize they’ve drifted onto this dangerous minefield. What causes the drift? From my observation of hundreds of casualty events it is this: Shortcutting best practices while being rewarded with successful outcomes. This episode will talk about why this happens and how to combat overconfidence. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, November 19, 2019
The impact of stress on memory and recall – Part 2
Stress can have a significant, and undesirable impact on a worker’s memory and recall. This 2-part episode from a live presentation explains and demonstrates the undesirable impacts of stress
Tue, November 12, 2019
The Impact of Stress on Memory and Recall – Part 1 (SAM 294)
Stress can have a significant, and undesirable impact on a worker’s memory and recall. This 2-part episode from a live presentation explains and demonstrates the undesirable impacts of stress.
Tue, November 05, 2019
Trapped under a roof collapse. The Mike Beutler Story – Part 2
At the time of the call, Mike Beutler responded as a volunteer firefighter with the Happy Valley Fire District (Oregon) to a commercial structure fire in a strip mall in the neighboring community of Damascus. Upon arrival, they found a True Value Hardware store fully involved with flames through the roof and blowing out the front windows. While operating a hand line from the exterior, Mike stepped under the mansard overhang to advance to the front windows of the now fully involved auto parts store. Moments later, a section of the overhang, approximately 30 feet in length (900 to 1,000 lbs per roofing square), collapsed directly on top of him, pinning him to the ground and surrounding him with flames.
Tue, October 29, 2019
Trapped under a roof collapse. The Mike Beutler Story – Part 1
At the time of the call, Mike Beutler responded as a volunteer firefighter with the Happy Valley Fire District (Oregon) to a commercial structure fire in a strip mall in the neighboring community of Damascus. Upon arrival, they found a True Value Hardware store fully involved with flames through the roof and blowing out the front windows. While operating a hand line from the exterior, Mike stepped under the mansard overhang to advance to the front windows of the now fully involved auto parts store. Moments later, a section of the overhang, approximately 30 feet in length (900 to 1,000 lbs per roofing square), collapsed directly on top of him, pinning him to the ground and surrounding him with flames.
Tue, October 22, 2019
Trapped under a ceiling collapse. The Ron Hunter Story (SAM 291)
Ron Hunter is a Lieutenant with the Spartanburg (South Carolina) Fire Department, working out of the Southside station. He has been with the City for 23 years, starting out as a firefighter and advancing to the driver of the Rescue, to shift training coordinator, to the driver of the truck company, to his currently held Lieutenant position. He is the recipient of the department’s life-saving awards in 1998 and 2005 and was named firefighter of the year in 1997. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Contact our guest Lieutenant Ron Hunter Spartanburg Fire Department 864-596-2083 rhunter@cityofspartanburg.org Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, October 15, 2019
view of the AskRail App(SAM 290)
The AskRail mobile app is a safety tool that provides first responders immediate access to accurate, timely data about what type of hazardous materials a railcar is carrying so they can make an informed decision about how to respond to a rail emergency. AskRail® is a backup resource if information from the train conductor or train consist is not available. AskRail® was designed to give first responders immediate information about railcars carrying hazardous materials and be an invaluable tool for helping prepare those on the front line should a rail incident occur. Couple this with emergency training and response planning, AskRail® augments the flow of information and specifics between freight railroads and the emergency first responders in communities along the nation’s 140,000-mile freight rail network.
Tue, October 08, 2019
Preview of the Task Fixation Chapter of my new Smart Workers book (289)
I wrote the book “How Smart Workers Use Situational Awareness to Improve Safety to help front-line workers, supervisors, safety managers, and executives understand how to develop and maintain situational awareness and how to use situational awareness to improve high-risk decision making. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, October 01, 2019
Preview of the Auditory Exclusion Chapter of my new Smart Workers book (288)
I wrote the book “How Smart Workers Use Situational Awareness to Improve Safety" to help front-line workers, supervisors, safety managers and executives understand how to develop and maintain situational awareness and how to use situational awareness to improve high-risk decision making. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, September 24, 2019
Thirty Seconds From Death – The Randy Hanifen Story (SAM 287)
Randy Hanifen serves as a Captain and shift commander with the West Chester Fire Department near Cincinnati, Ohio. At the time of his near-miss event, Randy was a firefighter riding up in the officer position on an engine. While operating on the second floor of a residential dwelling fire, a rapid change of conditions forced Randy and his partner to bail out a second-story window to save their lives. By Randy’s admission, if he would have been in that environment for 30 seconds longer, he probably would have died. Randy explains what happened and shares some valuable situational awareness lessons. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Randy Hanifen West Chester Fire Department Hanifen & Associates randall@hanifen.org Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, September 17, 2019
A near-miss while responding – The Brian Collins Story (SAM 286)
Brian Collins serves as a Battalion Chief with the Brentwood Fire Department in Tennessee. At the time of his near-miss event, he was serving as the company officer on an engine. While responding to a call, and while the apparatus was making a left-hand turn at an intersection, the door opened and, if not for wearing his seatbelt, Brian would have been ejected from the vehicle due to the centrifugal force being generated from the apparatus turning left. Brian explains how it happened and shares some valuable situational awareness lessons. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Brian Collins Brentwood Fire Department Brian.Collins@brentwoodtn.gov Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, September 10, 2019
Coffee Talk with Carl Potter from The Safety Institute (SAM 285)
In this episode, I am interviewed on the Coffee Talk Show with Carl Potter, founder of The Safety Institute. The Safety Institute is a resource for organizations that want to create workplaces where it’s difficult to get hurt. Carl Potter works with organizations that want to put safety first in the minds of their employees so that everyone can go home every day without injuries. After working in the electric utility industry for over 17 years, he started Potter and Associates International in 1992. Through his presentations and consulting, he now spends his time bringing his frontline, hands-on experience of personal responsibility and safety to companies all over the US, Canada, and other countries including Africa, Cuba, and Haiti. He is the founder of The Safety Institute – a resource for organizations that want to create workplaces where it’s difficult to get hurt. In addition, it is a community of independent safety professionals who are committed to preventing every workplace injury. Carl is a certified safety professional and certified management consultant. He is the author of 12 books, including the best-seller Who Is Responsible for Safety, authored hundreds of published articles, and writes a weekly safety blog read by thousands. As a pilot who has owned and flown many different airplanes, he brings different perspectives to workplace safety. Carl is an Aircraft Commander and District Flight Safety Officer in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary – a division of the US Homeland Security He is involved in humanitarian efforts that involve safety and aviation including Angel Flight of Oklahoma and Mission Aviation Fellowship. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPON
Tue, September 03, 2019
Mindset of Aggressiveness – Chris Tobin Interview (SAM 284)
Chris Tobin is a firefighter in St. Louis, Missouri. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, August 27, 2019
Life and death matters – Chris and Sam Adams Interview – Part 2 (SAM 283)
Skills to succeed in a world where there is no gray. IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW QUICKLY a paramedic can insert an IV or intubate a patient or victim in trouble. It's not about being able to recognize a heart attack from a panic attack. Until it is. Medical knowledge is important in responding to life-and-death emergencies for paramedics. But just as important are the qualities of paramedics that allow them to act decisively in the chaos of prehospital emergency medicine. And those qualities include character attributes and interpersonal skills that serve them well under pressure in a world where there is no gray. This book reveals the inside knowledge of what it takes to be the best paramedic: Understand the role of essential attributes such as humility, integrity, compassion, drive, and accountability. Practice the crucial interpersonal skills such as teamwork, assessment, and the ability to act. Put it all together by using principles of decision-making such as the ability to analyze and anticipate, and take a logical approach to every call. In this book, two veteran paramedics explain the skills for success in the field when seconds matter and judgement means everything. One section is devoted to developing the expectations and evaluation skills of the paramedic who trains others. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Chris and Sam Adams Field Medics https://field-medics.com Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewe
Tue, August 20, 2019
Life and death matters – Chris and Sam Adams Interview – Part 1 (SAM 282)
Skills to succeed in a world where there is no gray. IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW QUICKLY a paramedic can insert an IV or intubate a patient or victim in trouble. It's not about being able to recognize a heart attack from a panic attack. Until it is. Medical knowledge is important in responding to life-and-death emergencies for paramedics. But just as important are the qualities of paramedics that allow them to act decisively in the chaos of prehospital emergency medicine. And those qualities include character attributes and interpersonal skills that serve them well under pressure in a world where there is no gray. This book reveals the inside knowledge of what it takes to be the best paramedic: Understand the role of essential attributes such as humility, integrity, compassion, drive, and accountability. Practice the crucial interpersonal skills such as teamwork, assessment, and the ability to act. Put it all together by using principles of decision-making such as the ability to analyze and anticipate, and take a logical approach to every call. In this book, two veteran paramedics explain the skills for success in the field when seconds matter and judgement means everything. One section is devoted to developing the expectations and evaluation skills of the paramedic who trains others. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Chris and Sam Adams Field Medics https://field-medics.com Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at th
Tue, August 13, 2019
Drone responders interview with Charles Werner (SAM 281)
Charles Werner is the retired Charlottesville fire chief and 45-year public safety veteran. After retirement, Charles worked with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management from 2015 - 2017 as senior advisor/acting deputy state coordinator. Charles served in numerous leadership roles at the local, state, national levels on public safety communications, GIS, broadband, information sharing, thermal imaging, enhanced location technology, FirstNet and drones. He chairs the National Council on Public Safety UAS and is a Certified FAA Remote Pilot. Charles also serves as Chief of Public Safety for DroneUp. Charles is an author with 120+ internationally published articles. Charles has received numerous recognitions for his work in the area of public safety technology. In 2008, he was selected as National Career Fire Chief of the Year by Fire Chief Magazine and in 2018, was selected Homeland Security Person of the Year by Homeland Security Today Magazine for work on public safety initiatives. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Charles Werner charleslwerner@gmail.com https://www.droneresponders.org Link to drone presentation https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=E1AAF7F39F55B61E!15837&ithint=file%2cpptx&authkey=!AIe7SARnQfgfSTk Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our l
Tue, August 06, 2019
Interview with Captain Alex Charoni on Near-miss reporting evaluations (SAM 280)
Alex Charoni is a Captain with the South King County Fire & Rescue service in Washington. For more than a decade Alex has been developing his passion for understanding the root causes for firefighter near-miss events. Alex and I met when I was delivering a program for the Washington State Fire Training Officers Association Conference and that led to several follow up conversations and an invitation to be a guest on our show. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Alex Charoni South King County Fire & Rescue Alex.Charoni@southkingfire.org 253-576-6677 Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, July 30, 2019
Interview with Adam Kinakin, host of The Tactical Breakdown Podcast Show – Part 2 (SAM 279)
The Tactical Breakdown podcast is designed to support the men and women who keep our countries and communities safe by delivering real-world, actionable knowledge and experience from the best subject matter experts in the world. Adam is a former infantry officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, he has had the honor to work alongside some of the best military and law enforcement instructors and educators in the world. Now located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Adam spends his time training, coaching and consulting for security agencies across Canada. Adam is an accredited instructor and trainer under both the Justice and Solicitor General for Alberta and Manitoba Department of Justice. He is also an active member of the International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association (LEETA). Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Adam Kinakin The Tactical Breakdown https://www.thebreakdown.ca showhost@thebreakdown.ca Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, July 23, 2019
Interview with Adam Kinakin, host of The Tactical Breakdown Podcast Show – Part 1 (SAM 278)
The Tactical Breakdown podcast is designed to support the men and women who keep our countries and communities safe by delivering real-world, actionable knowledge and experience from the best subject matter experts in the world. Adam is a former infantry officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, he has had the honor to work alongside some of the best military and law enforcement instructors and educators in the world. Now located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Adam spends his time training, coaching and consulting for security agencies across Canada. Adam is an accredited instructor and trainer under both the Justice and Solicitor General for Alberta and Manitoba Department of Justice. He is also an active member of the International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association (LEETA). Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Adam Kinakin The Tactical Breakdown https://www.thebreakdown.ca showhost@thebreakdown.ca Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, July 16, 2019
Comfortably Complacent. (SAM 277)
We all know we have habits. Some of them are good habits. And some of them are...well...not so good. The less often talked about cousin of a habit is a routine. Habits and routines can impact situational awareness in both good and bad ways. But where do habits and routines come from? Does a habit turn into a routine? Or does a routine turn into a habit? Do habits and routines prevent complacency or contribute to it? All good questions. This episode explore our comfort with complacency. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website. Situational Awareness, Decision Making, Firefighter, Police, EMS, Safety, Environmental Health, Aviation, Military, Medical, Medicine, Industry, Industrial Safety, Construction, Situational Awareness Matters, Situational Awareness Training, First Responder, High Risk Decision Making, Preventable, Optimize Human Performance, Human error, Human Factors, Decision Making Under Stress, Near Miss, Close Call, Communications Skills, Vigilance, Judgement, Tactical Decision Making, Resilience, Complacency
Tue, July 09, 2019
High Reliability Organization Processes. (SAM 276)
There's a lot being talked about these days about the concept of high reliability organizations (HROs). 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 episode focuses on helping you understand the processes used by high reliability organizations. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, July 02, 2019
Traits of High Reliability Organizations. (SAM 275)
There's a lot being talked about these days about the concept of high reliability organizations (HROs). 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 episode focuses on helping you understand the traits of high reliability organizations. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, June 25, 2019
Positive & Negative Clues and Cues (SAM 274)
In the formation of situational awareness, you gather information – clues and cues. But there are two types of clues and cues: Positive and negative. We’ll explore their differences and explain why both are important to your understanding. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website
Tue, June 18, 2019
A tale of complacency (SAM 273)
This episode shares three examples of complacency, all happening within a 10-minute span of time. While the outcome was not tragic, the potential for tragedy was tremendous. And I got to witness all of it. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, June 11, 2019
Radio Discipline (SAM 272)
This episode discusses why radio communications is a critical component to situational awareness and some of the challenges that are created when there is a lack of radio discipline. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, June 04, 2019
What is situational awareness and why does it matter? (SAM 271)
This episode discusses why it is so important for workers, supervisors and safety managers to understand what situational awareness is, how it is developed, how it can be impacted and how to recover once it has eroded. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, May 28, 2019
Pre-conception (SAM 270)
The ideas in your mind about problems and situations before you actually face the problem or situation is your pre-conception, or your pre-conceived notions about the problem or situation. There are two fundamental problems with pre-conception. First, it’s completely imaginary. And second, it’s likely to be partially or completely incorrect. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Feature Segment Sponsor Sims-U-Share Simsushare.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website. Situational Awareness, Decision Making, Firefighter, Police, EMS, Safety, Environmental Health, Aviation, Military, Medical, Medicine, Industry, Industrial Safety, Construction, Situational Awareness Matters, Situational Awareness Training, First Responder, High Risk Decision Making, Preventable, Optimize Human Performance, Human error, Human Factors, Decision Making Under Stress, Near Miss, Close Call, Communications Skills, Vigilance, Judgement, Tactical Decision Making, Resilience, Pre-conception
Tue, May 21, 2019
Time Distortion: A barrier to awareness (SAM 269)
Keeping track of how time passes is an important component to situational awareness. If you lose track of time, you are at risk of not comprehending how fast conditions are changing around you. When this occurs, your decision making may be adversely impacted. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Sun, May 19, 2019
Training for Failure (SAM 268)
Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Thu, May 16, 2019
The Perfect Storm (SAM 267)
Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, May 14, 2019
Firefighter through the floor. – The Matt Marlow Story. (SAM 266)
Matthew Marlow is the Chief of the Medway-Grapeville Fire District in New Baltimore, NY. He has been a member of the District for ten years, and has served as the company’s training officer for the past 6 years. He is the father of two children, Abigail, 8, and Joshua, 5. When not volunteering his time with the Medway-Grapeville Fire District, he is the Chief of Operations for the Greenville Rescue Squad, an EMT with the Town of Coxsackie Ambulance. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Sat, May 11, 2019
Pre-Arrival Lens (SAM 265)
Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Thu, May 09, 2019
On Stress (SAM 264)
Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, May 07, 2019
Virtual Reality Simulations – The Paul Speight Interview. (SAM 262)
Paul Speight’s role after 29 years in Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service changed from operational and road safety to virtual reality. He made the first 360 VR road safety film now being used globally in the aim at reducing the number of killed and seriously injured on our roads five further films have followed all covering different road safety dangers. During this interview, he discusses the journey his department has taken to embrace this new technology and how Paul believes it will revolutionize the way firefighters are trained. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, April 30, 2019
How to host a situational awareness program for free. (SAM 262)
Listen in as I interview Evansville, Indiana Fire Chief Mike Connelly as he shares how he hosted not one… but FOUR… situational awareness programs over a two-year period that cost his department nothing. Not a penny. Nada, zip, zilch. In this candid interview, Chief Connelly reveals it all. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, April 23, 2019
Electrocuted by a downed power line – The Tom Ehler’s Story – Part 2. (SAM 261)
Tom Ehlers was working on the scene of fire at a pallet storage facility when a 14k volt line fell and struck him on his helmet and shoulder. The electricity entered through Tom’s left arm and exited his right foot. This story is full of situational awareness lessons for first responders and anyone who works with or near electrical lines. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, April 16, 2019
Electrocuted by a falling power line – The Tom Ehler’s Story – Part 1. (SAM 260)
Tom Ehlers was working on the scene of fire at a pallet storage facility when a 14k volt line fell and struck him on his helmet and shoulder. The electricity entered through Tom’s left arm and exited his right foot. This story is full of situational awareness lessons for first responders and anyone who works with or near electrical lines. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, April 09, 2019
Peek into a live SAMatters event (SAM 259)
Take a peek into a segment of a live classroom presentation. The segment was also broadcasted on Facebook Live. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/
Tue, April 02, 2019
Thornton Fire Mayday Story - Part 3 (SAM 258)
Fire-Medic Roy Lapid was working on Thornton Fire Truck 75 for a single-family residential dwelling fire. Roy entered the first-floor of the structure and started to complete a primary search. However, he quickly found himself falling through the fire-weakened floor into the basement below. This series chronicles Roy’s story, supplemented by observations from Captain Bret Wentworth and Lieutenant Cody Larson. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, March 26, 2019
Thornton Fire Mayday Story - Part 2 (SAM 257)
Fire-Medic Roy Lapid was working on Thornton Fire Truck 75 for a single-family residential dwelling fire. Roy entered the first-floor of the structure and started to complete a primary search. However, he quickly found himself falling through the fire-weakened floor into the basement below. This series chronicles Roy’s story, supplemented by observations from Captain Bret Wentworth and Lieutenant Cody Larson. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, March 19, 2019
Thornton Fire Mayday Story. Part 1 (SAM 256)
Fire-Medic Roy Lapid was working on Thornton Fire Truck 75 for a single-family residential dwelling fire. Roy entered the first-floor of the structure and started to complete a primary search. However, he quickly found himself falling through the fire-weakened floor into the basement below. This series chronicles Roy’s story, supplemented by observations from Captain Bret Wentworth and Lieutenant Cody Larson. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, March 12, 2019
Eagle Scout – First Responder: The Daniel Konzelman Story (SAM 255)
Daniel Konzelman is an Eagle Scout so he was raised to “Be Prepared.” But what he was about to face on the morning of December 18, 2017 some could argue no one could be prepared for. Daniel was on his way to work when an Amtrak commuter train derailed, literally, right in front of him. In this interview, Daniel shares the first-hand perspective of what it is like to be a true first responder (on-scene before any trained personnel). This experience also inspired Daniel to pursue a career as a firefighter and he is now in week 6 of his recruit academy training with the Tacoma, Washington Fire Department. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, March 05, 2019
Fighting Fires on Main Street – Part 2 (SAM 254)
Joe Pronesti has developed a training program to help firefighters understand the special challenges we face when fighting fires in the old structures of the downtown that many communities have. Joe shares tips on tactics and special considerations about what you may face when your downtown is on fire. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, February 26, 2019
Fighting Fires on Main Street – Part 1 (SAM 253)
Joe Pronesti has developed a training program to help firefighters understand the special challenges we face when fighting fires in the old structures of the downtown that many communities have. Joe shares tips on tactics and special considerations about what you may face when your downtown is on fire. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, February 19, 2019
Assumed Risk V. Created Risk (SAM 252)
Dr. Burton A. Clark, EFO has been in the fire service for 49 years from the local to international levels; working in urban, suburban, and rural environments for paid and volunteer organizations in operations, prevention, and education domains. He is the author of: "I Can't Save You But I'll Die Trying. The American Fire Culture." Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Burt Clark Contact Information Cclark4949@aol.com Promotion video for his book https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=s52mFlBnIX8&app=desktop Link to Amazon for his book https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Save-You-But-Trying/dp/1887654577/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=I+can%27t+save+you+but+I%27ll+die+trying&qid=1550446847&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them t
Tue, February 12, 2019
Backdraft and mayday! – Part 3 (SAM 251)
This episode is packed with lessons learned from an interview with German Township IC Deavron Farmer, with contributions from long-time German Fire Chief (ret.) John M. Buckman III. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Premier Sponsor Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Associate Sponsor Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, February 05, 2019
Backdraft and mayday! – Part 2 (SAM 250)
This episode is packed with lessons learned from an interview with German Township IC Deavron Farmer, with contributions from long-time German Fire Chief (ret.) John M. Buckman III. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, January 29, 2019
SAM 249 | Backdraft and mayday! - Part 1
This episode is packed with lessons learned from an interview with German Township IC Deavron Farmer, with contributions from long-time German Fire Chief (ret.) John M. Buckman III. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, January 22, 2019
Top Ten Near-Miss Interviews (SAM 248)
The Situational Awareness Matters Show was launched in 2014 with the primary goal of providing a platform for near-miss survivors to tell their stories and their lessons learned. This episode summarizes the 10 most downloaded interviews. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, January 15, 2019
Mental Rehearsal (SAM 247)
Mental rehearsals allow a worker to pre-load experiences into their memory. This can improve safety and decision making by creating mental scripts the worker can access during periods of high vulnerability. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, January 08, 2019
Pre-arrival lens, task fixation, mission myopia and fear (SAM 246)
Join us for a short visit to a situational awareness live training event at Syncrude Canada in Fort McMurray, Alberta as Dr. Gasaway shared with oil refinery operators how pre-arrival lens, task fixation, mission myopia and fear can impact situational awareness. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, January 01, 2019
How we understand (SAM 245)
Join us for a short visit to a situational awareness live training event at Syncrude Canada in Fort McMurray, Alberta as Dr. Gasaway shared with oil refinery operators how to develop the understanding component of the situational awareness process. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Sun, December 23, 2018
Twelve way to improve situational awareness (SAM 244)
Merry Christmas everyone! I know everyone’s feeling particularly festive this time of year and ole Santa is feeling the situational awareness love. Surely, you’ve heard of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” – You know – Partridge in a Pear Tree and all that other stuff that no one really needs or wants, perhaps with the exception of five golden rings, of course. And you know that Santa has good situational awareness. He’s ALWAYS capturing clues and cues about good little girls and boys. And in the spirit of Christmas, ole Santa would like to share with you his list for how to develop and maintain strong situational awareness. Of course, like any child at Christmas, this list could be much longer than 12 items. So I encourage you to go back through the archives and read some of the more than 400 articles on the Situational Awareness Matters! And… they’re all FREE… that’s Santa’s gift to you! Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, December 18, 2018
7 ways to accelerate learning (SAM 243)
There are two ways you can develop the knowledge needed to improve high-risk decision making. First, you can experience events first-hand. This method can be slow and dangerous. Or, you can experience events second-hand. This can be a much quicker and much safer way to develop knowledge. In this episode, we will discuss how to glean the most experience from: First-hand events Second-hand events Mental rehearsals Near Miss reports Casualty reports Simulations Training Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
S242 Enull · Tue, December 11, 2018
Caught in a flashover: The Eric Dreiman Story – Part 2
On November 14, 2014, Indianapolis Captain (then Lieutenant) Eric Dreiman was assigned on Ladder 19. His station was dispatched at 1159 hours to a reported residential dwelling fire on Holly Avenue, about a half mile from the station. On arrival, the crew had heavy fire showing on the rear of the house and one occupant who had escaped reporting that her son was still inside. Dreiman, along with Firefighter Brian Kincaid made entry to conduct a primary search. Engine 19 was stretching an attack line and would soon follow… or so they thought. The engine experienced a short delay in getting the line charged. Dreiman and Kincaid advanced into the house on the search. There was a sudden change in conditions and Dreiman made the decision to retreat. As the approached the front door, the fire flashed over. Kincaid was exiting on to the front porch. Dreiman was behind Kincaid and was exposed to extreme fire conditions that burned his gear and burned him. Upon exiting, their gear was on fire and they had to be extinguished by the engine crew. Listen to the amazing near-miss story where, if their decision to exit was delayed by only a few seconds, it would have likely resulted in a double line-of-duty death. Observations and lessons learned included: Avoiding the “routine” call mindset. Wear all your gear properly. Train on fire behavior. Learn how to read smoke. Participate in flashover training. Don’t take the engine line advancement for granted. Realize when civilian lives are no longer savable. Understand you can suffer from auditory exclusion while operating in a high-stress environment. Time distortion can impact your awareness. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firef
Tue, December 04, 2018
Caught in a flashover: The Eric Dreiman Story
On November 14, 2014, Indianapolis Captain (then Lieutenant) Eric Dreiman was assigned on Ladder 19. His station was dispatched at 1159 hours to a reported residential dwelling fire on Holly Avenue, about a half mile from the station. On arrival, the crew had heavy fire showing on the rear of the house and one occupant who had escaped reporting that her son was still inside. Dreiman, along with Firefighter Brian Kincaid made entry to conduct a primary search. Engine 19 was stretching an attack line and would soon follow… or so they thought. The engine experienced a short delay in getting the line charged. Dreiman and Kincaid advanced into the house on the search. There was a sudden change in conditions and Dreiman made the decision to retreat. As the approached the front door, the fire flashed over. Kincaid was exiting on to the front porch. Dreiman was behind Kincaid and was exposed to extreme fire conditions that burned his gear and burned him. Upon exiting, their gear was on fire and they had to be extinguished by the engine crew. Listen to the amazing near-miss story where, if their decision to exit was delayed by only a few seconds, it would have likely resulted in a double line-of-duty death. Observations and lessons learned included: Avoiding the “routine” call mindset. Wear all your gear properly. Train on fire behavior. Learn how to read smoke. Participate in flashover training. Don’t take the engine line advancement for granted. Realize when civilian lives are no longer savable. Understand you can suffer from auditory exclusion while operating in a high-stress environment. Time distortion can impact your awareness. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System <a href= "http://www.firefighternearmiss.
Tue, November 27, 2018
Jason Corthell Interview (SAM 240)
A crew of three firefighters, including Cypress Creek Fire Lieutenant Jason Corthell, ascended an exterior stairwell on a fast-moving apartment fire. The fire was inside the apartment and in the attic. The stairs, constructed of steel and concrete, were not involved in fire. The nozzleman was on the third floor landing preparing to attack the fire. Lieutenant Corthell and District Chief Sanchez were on the second floor landing advancing hose to the nozzleman. Suddenly, without warning or provocation, the stairwell collapsed, trapping the two firefighters who were on the landing. The firefighter that was on the third floor landing rode the debris down to the second floor landing and was uninjured. Lieutenant Corthell’s radio was dislodged in the collapse and he could not call a mayday. The C-Sector commanding officer, noticing the collapse, called the mayday and deployed resources to successfully rescue the trapped firefighters. Listen as Jason describes what was going through his mind as he was trapped and could not move. How he felt a sense of calm and came to peace with himself that he was going to die and how he prayed that God would take him quickly. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, November 20, 2018
How could they be so stupid? (SAM 239)
Recently I was having a conversation with a fire commander who shared an experience he had. He stopped by one of the stations for a visit and came upon a group of firefighters huddled around a computer screen watching fire videos and calling the responders in the video “stupid.” This episode discusses how he turned this into a teachable moment. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatter Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters
Tue, November 13, 2018
Complacency at an EMS call almost leads to tragedy. The Ken Prillaman Story.
On Saturday, September 13, 2014, the Brooklyn Park Fire Department was dispatched to a medical call that had the potential to be catastrophic for the members of their department, their EMS transport provider and their police department. The call was for a person having a stroke. As the crew arrived and made entry through the front door of the house there was a man on the floor having a seizure. The two police officers on the scene were attending to the individual. One of the firefighters on the scene, Jeff St. Martin, noticed a mess of exhaust and heard what sounded like a motor running. His quick actions prevented a catastrophic outcome. The levels of carbon monoxide measured in the home exceeded the capacity of the department’s carbon monoxide meter (in excess of 600 ppm). Some takeaways from the interview include: How complacency can creep into our mindset that we are responding to “just another medical call. How strong situational awareness can alert us when the pieces of the puzzle don’t fit… and things don’t make sense. How intuition, when followed, can compel action that that can be lifesaving, even when you may not know why you are taking the action at the moment. How a CO monitor carried by first-arriving medical personnel (and perhaps police officers) can alert responders to the potential of highly lethal CO levels. Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matter Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters
Tue, November 06, 2018
When the puzzle pieces just aren’t fitting together. The Brian Schaeffer Story. (SAM 237)
The first arriving crews attempted to knock down the fire from the exterior but were not success. Subsequently, companies went to the basement, expecting to find fire in the basement. The conditions were warm with very little smoke. The basement design was complex. The BC had the lines charged and started the search for victims and the fire. The crews were cutting holes in the walls and ceilings looking for the source of the fire. Chief Schaeffer arrived and noticed the conditions were getting worse. An order was giving to cut access holes from the exterior. While the BC in the basement was reporting relatively clear conditions there was heavy smoke billowing out of a basement opening viewable from the exterior. Chief Schaeffer became Division 1 (on the first floor). He reported light smoke on the first floor. Companies were doing primary and secondary search on the first floor and look for extension from the basement. Soon, the conditions started changing quickly. Division 1 reported this to the basement Division. The first-floor crews were on their knees. Basement reported no smoke and cold conditions. Exterior reported a dramatic change in conditions. The crew on the first floor was in complete darkness. The first-floor crew exited. However, the crews were still in basement. The conditions continued to change rapidly. An evacuation tone was ordered and Division 1 crews went to the basement, located and assisted the basement crews to safety. Some takeaways from the interview include: You’ll learn how rapidly changing fire conditions can unexpectedly over run the crews. You’ll learn what can happen when the fire does not behave as expected (i.e., when the puzzle pieces don’t fit). You’ll learn how you can become normalized to your environment and may not see the severity of the conditions. You’ll learn how volumes of radio traffic on a single tactical channel can impact scene safety if at-risk crews cannot communicate via radio. You’ll learn how time distortion impacted the perception of speed at this incident. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMat
Tue, October 30, 2018
Saved by his SCBA bottle. The John Dantuono Story (SAM 236)
The house that was on fire was a vacant, dilapidated structure with a fire on the second floor. John was part of a crew that was looking for fire extension on the second floor of this large farm-style house. While on the second floor, John separated from his partner – by his estimates – approximately 20 feet or so, and entered a room where the floor was weakened – not from fire, but from rot. With no warning, John fell through the floor and was caught by his SCBA bottle. This resulted in a Mayday and John’s successful rescue. During this interview, John will share some valuable lessons learned, including: The importance of not being complacent and letting your guard down. Simply because you are in an environment that does not contain a lot of smoke and fire, doesn’t mean you are not in danger. John recalls hearing someone announce the structure was in poor condition and the floors had been compromised – yet he still fell through a weakened spot. At the time, the department did not have a mayday policy and firefighters were not trained to a standardized mayday procedure. Where John is from it is procedure for a Rapid Intervention Team is identified by the dispatcher at the start of the call. John does not recall a specific department or company being names RIT for this incident, even though there were over 40 firefighters on the scene. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, saf
Tue, October 23, 2018
A life changing apparatus accident. The Richard Marcus Story (SAM 235)
On this episode, I interview Firefighter Richard Marcus of the New Hartford Volunteer Fire Department in Connecticut. On May 5, 2006, Firefighter Marcus was in the officer’s seat of New Hartford Engine 1 responding to a report of a fire on the roadside. While in route, they were cancelled and a discussion in the cab caused the driver to become momentarily distracted. For the brief moment that he had his eyes off the roadway, the engine drifted of the right side of the road. While the driver attempted to correct and recover, the engine veered out of control and struck a tree on the officer’s side of the engine. Listen as Richard tells his close call survivor story. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, October 16, 2018
The Dirty Dozen – Killer Situational Awareness Barriers (SAM 234)
Most workers know, intuitively, that having strong situational awareness is important, but very few actually understand the process involved with how to develop and maintain situational awareness while working in high-risk, high-consequence environments. This episode discusses deadly situational awareness barriers and offers tips, tricks and hacks for improve awareness. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, October 09, 2018
Building Situational Awareness is Like Building a House (SAM 233)
Most workers know, intuitively, that having strong situational awareness is important, but very few actually understand the process involved with how to develop and maintain situational awareness while working in high-risk, high-consequence environments. This episode explains the full process and includes tips and hacks for improving situational awareness. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Get connected with SAMatters Facebook: Follow SAMatters LinkedIn: Follow Rich Gasaway Twitter: Follow Rich Gasaway Instagram: Follow SA_Matters Youtube: Subscribe to SAMattersTV Itunes: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Stitcher Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Google Play: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio iHeart Radio: Subscribe to SAMatters Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR THIS SHOW The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us by clicking the “Contact us” tab at the top of the SAMatters.com website.
Tue, October 02, 2018
Lessons from a Mayday – Part 2 (SAM 232)
On June 30, 2015, the Franklin Fire Department was dispatched to a multi-family structure fire. The first-arriving officer reported heavy smoke showing and there was a possibility of people trapped. The crew started an interior operation, climbing a long set of stairs to the second floor. Conditions changed quickly and during the ensuing chaos the captain became separated from his crew. This episode shares their story. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Guest Contact Information Chief Kevin LaChapelle FranklinNH.org 603-512-0852 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters www.linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ https://twitter.com/RichGasaway SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play iHeart Radio Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR REQUEST The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, September 25, 2018
Lessons from a Mayday – Part 1 (SAM 231)
On June 30, 2015, the Franklin Fire Department was dispatched to a multi-family structure fire. The first-arriving officer reported heavy smoke showing and there was a possibility of people trapped. The crew started an interior operation, climbing a long set of stairs to the second floor. Conditions changed quickly and during the ensuing chaos the captain became separated from his crew. This episode shares their story. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) Guest Contact Information Chief Kevin LaChapelle FranklinNH.org 603-512-0852 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters Linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ Twitter.com/RichGasaway Instagram.com/SA_Matters SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR REQUEST The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, September 18, 2018
The nearly tragic consequences of a confabulated reality (SAM 230)
The brain does not like confusion and in the absence of factual information it can make up its own reality, notwithstanding what true reality is. This episode explains how it happens and shares one police officer’s story of how he almost shot an unarmed man. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters www.linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ https://twitter.com/RichGasaway SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR REQUEST The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, September 11, 2018
Left behind alone in a structure fire – The Jonathan Hancock Story (SAM 229)
Firefighter Jonathan Hancock and his partner made entry into a single-family residential dwelling fire. They were advancing a hose line when the face piece on his partner’s breathing apparatus become dislodged. His partner left abruptly. Until the safety officer tugged on this hose line from the doorway, Jonathan had no idea he was inside alone. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters www.linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ https://twitter.com/RichGasaway SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact the guest Jonathan Hancock j.hancock145@hotmail.com SPONSOR REQUEST The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, September 04, 2018
The PTSD impact from a near-miss. The Perry Hall Story – Part 2 (SAM 228)
On May 5, 2014 Perry Hall was part of an engine crew conducting a search when he got separated from his crew and accidentally locked in one of the worst places he could be – in a basement stairwell with the fire below him. Perry tells the story of the event and the post-traumatic stress that, literally, changed his life forever. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters www.linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ https://twitter.com/RichGasaway SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact the guest Perry Hall fphall140@gmail.com SPONSOR REQUEST The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, August 28, 2018
A near-miss and its horrible aftermath – Part 1 (SAM 227)
On May 5, 2014 Perry Hall was part of an engine crew conducting a search when he got separated from his crew and accidentally locked in one of the worst places he could be – in a basement stairwell with the fire below him. Perry tells the story of the event and the post-traumatic stress that, literally, changed his life forever. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters www.linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ https://twitter.com/RichGasaway SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact the guest Perry Hall fphall140@gmail.com Photo Credit Town Police Department SPONSOR REQUEST The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, August 21, 2018
SAM 226 | New Carlisle FD LODD Review
On August 5, 2014 Assistant Fire Chief Jamie Middlebrook of New Carlisle Fire Department (Indiana) died after being trapped under a roof collapse while fighting a fire at a commercial storage building. A defensive fire attack was initiated. The assistant fire chief was one of three fire fighters who had entered Side A of the structure to stretch a 2½-inch hoseline to protect equipment and acetylene cylinders. The crew was operating approximately 50 feet inside the structure and then decided to change the 2½-inch nozzle to a portable ground monitor (deck gun). During the changeover, one fire fighter left the interior to go outside and charge the hoseline. The fire was already in the overhead truss system above the assistant fire chief and the fire fighter, and the fire was likely concealed by the ceiling. As the third fire fighter got to the overhead door, a loud crash occurred. The truss system failed and the ceiling and roof assembly collapsed on the assistant fire chief and fire fighter. The assistant fire chief was killed by the collapsing truss system. The fire fighter, who suffered a broken leg, was able to crawl under some equipment before being rescued by a rapid intervention crew. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters www.linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ https://twitter.com/RichGasaway SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Source: A report from the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face201418.pdf Photo Credit Town Police Department <st
Tue, August 14, 2018
SAM 225 | Chris Baker Interview – Part 2
Disclaimer: The comments shared during this interview are of the individual and do not represent the views of any company, employer or agency. On August 6, 2012, the Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Refinery in Richmond, California, experienced a catastrophic pipe failure in the #4 Crude Unit. The pipe ruptured, releasing flammable, hydrocarbon process fluid which partially vaporized into a large vapor cloud that engulfed nineteen Chevron employees. All of the employees escaped, narrowly avoiding serious injury. The flammable portion of the vapor cloud ignited just over two minutes after the pipe ruptured. The ignition and subsequent continued burning of the hydrocarbon process fluid resulted in a large plume of unknown and unquantified particulates and vapor traveling across the Richmond, California, area. In the weeks following the incident, approximately 15,000 people from the surrounding area sought medical treatment due to the release. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters www.linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ https://twitter.com/RichGasaway SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Photo Credit PhotoTaker(dot)Net Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR REQUEST The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com. Chemical Safety Board Report https://www.csb.gov/chevron-refinery-fire/ Surveillance Video from the August 6 Accident at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, CA https://www.csb.gov/videos/sur
Tue, August 07, 2018
SAM 224 | Chris Baker Interview – Part 1
On August 6, 2012, the Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Refinery in Richmond, California, experienced a catastrophic pipe failure in the #4 Crude Unit. The pipe ruptured, releasing flammable, hydrocarbon process fluid which partially vaporized into a large vapor cloud that engulfed nineteen Chevron employees. All of the employees escaped, narrowly avoiding serious injury. The flammable portion of the vapor cloud ignited just over two minutes after the pipe ruptured. The ignition and subsequent continued burning of the hydrocarbon process fluid resulted in a large plume of unknown and unquantified particulates and vapor traveling across the Richmond, California, area. In the weeks following the incident, approximately 15,000 people from the surrounding area sought medical treatment due to the release. Show Notes Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters www.linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ https://twitter.com/RichGasaway SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play Our Sponsors Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Chief Miller Instagram: @Chief_Miller Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Photo Credit PhotoTaker(dot)Net Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/
Tue, July 31, 2018
SAM 223 | Interruptions impact situational awareness.
Like many of you, I do my best work when I am not interrupted. Whether it’s someone trying to carry on a conversation, a phone ringing or a text message, an interruption disrupts my train of thought. And when the train of thought is disrupted, situational awareness can be adversely impacted. Our Sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Contact Us www.SAMatters.com www.RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424 (office) 651-331-8518 (cell) SAMatters Social Media Facebook.com/SAMatters www.linkedin.com/in/richgasaway/ https://twitter.com/RichGasaway SAMatters TV https://www.youtube.com/SAMattersTV SAMatters Radio iTunes Stitcher Google Play Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ SPONSOR REQUEST The SAMatters Show is the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused weekly program on the Internet. If you know a company that might be interested in advertising their product or service to our listeners and viewers, ask them to contact us at SAMatters.com.
Tue, July 24, 2018
SAM 222 | Doug Abernathy Interview – Part 2
On this episode (Part 2 of 2) I interview with Indianapolis Health & Safety Chief Doug Abernathy. At the time of the fire Doug had served on the Indianapolis Fire Department for four years. While this was a near-miss event for Doug, the incident resulted in the death of two of his comrades, Corporal Ellwood (Woody) Gelenius and Private John Lorenzano. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire www.MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Image Credit Cleaning up after the Athletic Club Fire Indianapolis-Marion County Library Video Credit Bryan Boyd https://www.bryantheboyd.com Link to register for the Evansville event http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=fiqbqa9ab&oeidk=a07efiv4gp542f17fe6 Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 17, 2018
SAM 221 | Doug Abernathy Interview – Part 1
On this episode (Part 1 of 2) I interview with Indianapolis Health & Safety Chief Doug Abernathy. At the time of the fire Doug had served on the Indianapolis Fire Department for four years. While this was a near-miss event for Doug, the incident resulted in the death of two of his comrades, Corporal Ellwood (Woody) Gelenius and Private John Lorenzano. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Image Credit Cleaning up after the Athletic Club Fire Indianapolis-Marion County Library Video Credit Bryan Boyd https://www.bryantheboyd.com Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 10, 2018
SAM 220 | John Lightly Interview – Part 2
On this episode (Part 2 of 2) I interview with Captain John Lightly. At the time of the recording of this episode John had served as a member of the Youngstown, Ohio Fire Department for 13 years. Youngstown FD has 8 stations and a sworn strength of 135 firefighters. John’s married and has twin daughters. So you can imagine how exciting… and hectic John’s life is. I really appreciate him sitting down with me and sharing his close call survivor story where he almost died as a result of being caught in a flashover. For reasons that will become obvious during the interview, I title this episode “3 feet from death” and dedicate to all the firefighters who’ve been caught in a flashover and did not live to tell their story. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 03, 2018
SAM 219 | John Lightly Interview – Part 1
On this episode (Part 1 of 2) I interview with Captain John Lightly. At the time of the recording of this episode John had served as a member of the Youngstown, Ohio Fire Department for 13 years. Youngstown FD has 8 stations and a sworn strength of 135 firefighters. John’s married and has twin daughters. So you can imagine how exciting… and hectic John’s life is. I really appreciate him sitting down with me and sharing his close call survivor story where he almost died as a result of being caught in a flashover. For reasons that will become obvious during the interview, I title this episode “3 feet from death” and dedicate to all the firefighters who’ve been caught in a flashover and did not live to tell their story. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 26, 2018
SAM 218 | Sean Dolan Interview
I titled the original episode (#18) “What I learned in two minutes.” This is an interview with Lieutenant Sean Dolan from the Aurora Fire Department. On January 7, 2013 Sean, then serving as a firefighter on Engine 7 became a near-miss survivor when he entered a structure fire at 16562 East Asbury Place, a single story residential fire with confirmed people trapped. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 19, 2018
SAM 217 | Overstaffing
It’s not something talked about often, especially in high-risk work environments – overstaffing. Far more often the focus is on issues of understaffing which, coincidentally, can be a significant barrier to situational awareness and can have a catastrophic impact on safety. There can be, on occasion, scenarios where a worksite or an emergency scene can end up having too many people and that can cause problems. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 12, 2018
SAM 216 | Task Fixation – A Barrier to Awareness
Some people confuse tunnel vision and task fixation. This episode explains the difference and provides best practices for developing and maintaining situational awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 05, 2018
SAM 215 | Dave Beauregard Interview – Part 2
On May 5, 2015, Chicopee Fire Deputy Chief Dave Beauregard responded to a report of an electrical fire – reported to already be out – at an industrial facility on Meadow Street in Chicopee. Chief Beauregard discusses how his complacency contributed to a near-miss that if circumstances were just slightly different it could have killed him. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Guest Contact Information Dave Beauregard davidbeauregard@chicopeema.gov (413) 594-1635 Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 29, 2018
SAM 214 | Dave Beauregard Interview – Part 1
On May 5, 2015, Chicopee Fire Deputy Chief Dave Beauregard responded to a report of an electrical fire – reported to already be out – at an industrial facility on Meadow Street in Chicopee. Chief Beauregard discusses how his complacency contributed to a near-miss that if circumstances were just slightly different it could have killed him. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Guest Contact Information Dave Beauregard davidbeauregard@chicopeema.gov (413) 594-1635 Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 22, 2018
SAM 213 | Jim Woolf Interview – Part 2
On March 20, 2003, Twinsburg Firefighter-Paramedic Jim Woolf responded on Engine 4 to a reported electrical fire in an apartment building under construction. The fire was reported to have been extinguished by workers on-site. On arrival there was nothing showing and the crews went to the second floor to investigate. What happened next was entirely unexpected and, as Jim stated, could have easily killed him. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Guest Contact Information Jim Woolf Jwoolf82abn@aol.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 15, 2018
SAM 212 | Jim Woolf Interview - Part 1
On March 20, 2003, Twinsburg Firefighter-Paramedic Jim Woolf responded on Engine 4 to a reported electrical fire in an apartment building under construction. The fire was reported to have been extinguished by workers on-site. On arrival there was nothing showing and the crews went to the second floor to investigate. What happened next was entirely unexpected and, as Jim stated, could have easily killed him. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Guest Contact Information Jim Woolf Jwoolf82abn@aol.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 08, 2018
SAM 211 | 4th Anniversary episode
In 2007, Situational Awareness Matters was founded, initially, to help first responder improve high-risk decision making. From a single program delivered at a conference a movement was started that now includes over 100,000 program attendees, newsletter subscribers and social media followers. This episode shares personal reflections from Dr. Gasaway and others who have been impacted by his teachings. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 01, 2018
SAM 210 | Observations and lessons from FDIC
This was my 20th year presenting at the Fire Department Instructors Conference. This is the first time I’ve dedicated an episode of the podcast to observations I made from the classes I attended and the attendees I talked with. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 24, 2018
SAM 209 | Tacit knowledge
Tacit knowledge is that collection of life’s experiences, education and training that resides outside conscious awareness. It’s the knowledge one possesses that helps tap into intuition, a vital component to making high-stress, high-consequence, and rapid decisions. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 17, 2018
SAM 208 | Team Situational Awareness
If we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that not all team members are created equal. It is a situational awareness best practice to know the strengths (and weaknesses) of your team before engaging in high-risk, high-consequence activities. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com
Tue, April 10, 2018
SAM 207 | Selective Listening
Because individuals and teams frequently operate in environments where there are multiple auditory inputs (e.g., radio traffic, face-to-face communications, ambient sounds, etc.) they are often forced to prioritize what they listen to (or don’t listen to). This can cause issues with situational awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 03, 2018
SAM 206 | Competing Goals
Arguably, to accomplish a mission, it would be very beneficial to have a shared set of goals that everyone understands and everyone is working on together in a unified way to accomplish. Shared goals can contribute to shared situational awareness – a common understanding of what is happening and what the plan of action entails – Answering questions like: What is being done and why? What is the strategy and why? What is each person’s role? How are the roles interconnected? It is easier to function as a team when the goals are well established and well communicated. But what happens when they’re not? Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 27, 2018
SAM 205 | Frustration
Anyone who’s been frustrated knows it can consume a lot of your mental energy and thinking space. This can significantly impact your situational awareness. In fact, depending on the level of frustration, your brain can be hijacked by all-consuming thoughts about what is causing your angst. While operating in a high-risk, high-stress environment, frustration may draw your attention away from perceiving or understanding critical inputs that form awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 20, 2018
SAM 204 | Assumptions
We make assumptions every day. Some of them are accurate. Others are not. Assumptions occur when there is an absence of complete information. Such is the case at just about every high-risk, high-consequence event you must deal with. Let’s explore how we make assumptions. An assumption is a mental guess or estimate. In the absence of complete information, you are forced to fill in the missing information with your best guess. This guess is based on your collective knowledge (training, experience and an assessment of the current situation). The more training and experience you have and the better your assessment of the current situation, the more likely your assumptions are to be accurate (or close to accurate). Conversely, the less training and experience you have, the less likely your assumptions are to be accurate. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 13, 2018
SAM 203 | Normalization of Deviance
We rationalize that because we are operating in conditions of stress and consequence, with urgency and a feeling of pressure to perform quickly, we can take shortcuts to our best practices. Some even go as far as to rationalize that we SHOULD shortcut our safety best practices when faced with conditions that are urgent. This episode explores how shortcuts, rewarded with successful outcomes can lead to normalization of deviance. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 06, 2018
SAM 202 | Relationship Bias
The premise behind relationship bias is that we tend to be attracted toward (and like) people whom we know well and to whom we know share similar interests. The stronger our relationship with another person, the more likely we are to believe them when they tell us something. The weaker the relationship, the less likely we are to believe the other person. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 27, 2018
SAM 201 | When unexpected things happen
When everything goes as planned, your expectations are met and situational awareness is easily formed and sustained. However, sometimes your expectations are violated. In other words, your beautifully constructed mental model of the outcomes of an event are flawed. When this happens, your brain can become overwhelmed with confusion. It can also lead to anger and frustration because your brain doesn’t like to be wrong. This, in turn, can impact your situational awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 20, 2018
SAM 200 | Chesterfield County Interview – Part 3
In the early morning hours of January 17, 2016, Chesterfield County Fire & EMS responded to a residential fire on Wicklow Lane that would result in fire civilian fire fatalities, including 2 children. This three-part interview chronicles the event, the situational awareness challenges and the lessons learned from the first-in captain and the first arriving battalion chief. See the FULL interview on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/M0KHehMIQXc Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 13, 2018
SAM 199 | Chesterfield County Interview – Part 2
In the early morning hours of January 17, 2016, Chesterfield County Fire & EMS responded to a residential fire on Wicklow Lane that would result in fire civilian fire fatalities, including 2 children. This three-part interview chronicles the event, the situational awareness challenges and the lessons learned from the first-in captain and the first arriving battalion chief. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 06, 2018
SAM 198 | Chesterfield County Interview – Part 1
In the early morning hours of January 17, 2016, Chesterfield County Fire & EMS responded to a residential fire on Wicklow Lane that would result in fire civilian fire fatalities, including 2 children. This three-part interview chronicles the event, the situational awareness challenges and the lessons learned from the first-in captain and the first arriving battalion chief. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Podcast Guest Jason Bonney jbonney@cjcfpd.org Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 30, 2018
Interview with Jason Bonney – Part 2
Jason Bonney has been with the Central Jackson Fire Protection District in Blue Springs, Missouri for 15 years where he serves as the Assistant Chief of Training. Jason is working on his research paper for the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. During the interview we talk about the connection between training and performing on high-risk events. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Podcast Guest Jason Bonney jbonney@cjcfpd.org Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
S4 E196 · Tue, January 23, 2018
Part 1 of 2 - Interview with Chief Jason Bonney
Jason Bonney has been with the Central Jackson Fire Protection District in Blue Springs, Missouri for 15 years where he serves as the Assistant Chief of Training. Jason is working on his research paper for the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. During the interview we talk about the connection between training and performing on high-risk events. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Podcast Guest Jason Bonney jbonney@cjcfpd.org Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 16, 2018
SAM 195 | Crisis Response Journal Interview – Part 2
Christo Motz is an International Consultant on Survival and Resilience. As a board member he writes articles for the Crisis Response Journal on topics related to self-reliance, survival and community safety during a crisis. In this episode Christo interviews Dr. Gasaway in preparation for an article his is writing for the Journal. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Christo Motz Email: info@fylgjur.com Website: www.fylgjur.com/en Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 09, 2018
SAM 194 | Crisis Response Journal Interview – Part 1
Christo Motz is an International Consultant on Survival and Resilience. As a board member he writes articles for the Crisis Response Journal on topics related to self-reliance, survival and community safety during a crisis. In this episode he interviews Dr. Gasaway in preparation for an article his is writing for the Journal. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Christo Motz Email: info@fylgjur.com Website: www.fylgjur.com/en Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 02, 2018
SAM 193 | Herd Mentality
Herd mentality occurs when individuals group together and follow each other for inexplicable reasons. This is sometimes referred to as the “mob mentality” and is observed during riots. When one-person yells loudly and charges forward, the herd (or mob) follows. This episode discusses how herd mentality might impact situational awareness and decision making at emergency scenes. Notable Near-Miss Episodes 17 – Doug Abernathy – double fatal 18 – Sean Dolan - Flashover 19 – Steven Hough – Shot in the face 21 – Sean Balantic – Struck by a car 22 & 23 – John Lightly – Flashover 33 – Adam Farrar – 2 near misses at one fire 35 & 36 – Lionel Crowther – double fatal 42 – Steven Page – lost & disoriented during an evac order 43 & 44 – Scott Burnette – Death of Captain Jeff Bowen 45 – Dave Martin – Wildfire burn over 53 – Brian Mulligan – Contact with an electric line 55 – Jason Corthell – Structural collapse 57 – Jeff Cheshire – Over run by fire conditions 64 – Nick Miller – Two near-miss events on Christmas Day 67 – Todd Budd – Fell through the roof 80 – Morris Lentz – Trapped by structural collapse 81 – Tim Kohlbeck and Chase Longmiller – Rapid changing conditions. 83 – Tiger Schmittendorf – Water rescue 101 – Sioux Falls – Aerial contacted a 33kv line 103 & 104 – Eric Dreimen – Flashover 116 & 117 – Ryan Pyle – Residential fire that killed a FF 118 & 119 – Dan Phannensteil – Near miss at house fire 126 – Buddy Wilks – Managed a mayday 129 – Alan Mannel – Shootout incident 160 – Virginia, MN – smoke explosion 161 – Soldiers Township, MO – Tornado 162 & 163 – Lynchburg, VA – House fire evacuation 170 – Brad Davidson – Industrial fire 183-185: St. Charles, MO – House fire mayday Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 26, 2017
SAM 192 | Amtrak Train Derailment Interview with Larry Creekmore
On December 18, 2017 an Amtrak train bound for Portland from Seattle derailed on a busy overpass on Interstate 5 in DuPont, Washington. This interview is Chief Creekmore’s first hand perspective of the incident. He discusses the complexity of an incident that resulted in 3 fatalities and nearly 100 victims transported to area hospitals. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 19, 2017
SAM 191 | Interview with Norfolk Assistant Fire Chief John DiBacco – Part 2
In October I was in Chesapeake to deliver two-days of situational awareness training and I caught up with one of my life-long friends, Norfolk Assistant Fire Chief, John DiBacco. John and I served together on our first fire department in Weirton, West Virginia. During the interview we talked about the process of after-action reviews John uses to gather and share lessons with his crews. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 12, 2017
SAM 190 | Interview with Norfolk Assistant Fire Chief John DiBacco – Part 1
In September I was in Chesapeake to deliver two-days of situational awareness training and I caught up with one of my life-long friends, Norfolk Assistant Fire Chief, John DiBacco. John and I served together on our first fire department in Weirton, West Virginia. During the interview we talked about the process of after-action reviews John uses to gather and share lessons with his crews. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 05, 2017
SAM 189 | Communications Overload
In reading casualty reports you will often see issues related to communications as a contributing factor. Miscommunications, lack of communications or too much radio traffic (to include overloaded radio channels) are often cited. It is the last of these issues I want to address. There is an inherent cognitive consequence from too much communications that can impact situational awareness. Essentially, you can stop listening… and it doesn’t happen on purpose. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 05, 2017
SAM 189 | Communications Overload
In reading casualty reports you will often see issues related to communications as a contributing factor. Miscommunications, lack of communications or too much radio traffic (to include overloaded radio channels) are often cited. It is the last of these issues I want to address. There is an inherent cognitive consequence from too much communications that can impact situational awareness. Essentially, you can stop listening… and it doesn’t happen on purpose. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 28, 2017
SAM 188 | When the puzzle pieces don't fit.This episode discusses what happens when the information you gather during size-up do not fit your expectations of what you thought you were going to see or hear.
This episode chronicles an event where responders were managing two cardiac arrest calls in a hotel room. Initial response teams did not consider the possibility of carbon monoxide as the potential cause and the outcome was almost catastrophic for the response teams. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 21, 2017
SAM 187 | Standards May Harm Decision Making
Oftentimes employee training involves scenarios where workers learn how to perform to the scripted standards. On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, the employee training scenarios are often developed to ensure the outcome of the training will be success. And, as many workers know, the complexity of many work issues can often require actions that are not consistent with the Standards. In other words, workers must veer from the written standard and be resilient problem solvers. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 14, 2017
SAM 186 | You can’t handle the truth
If you have attended one of my situational awareness programs you have learned how stress is a game-changer when it comes to situational awareness and decision making quality. Most employee training programs focus on developing cognitive knowledge and physical skills. Far less address the impact of stress on situational awareness and decision making and the seemingly irrational (some might even term it bazaar) behaviors manifested by some workers when they are under stress. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 07, 2017
SAM 185 | St. Charles Fire Department Near Miss – Part 3
On January 3, 2014, the St. Charles Fire Department responded to a single-family residential dwelling fire on Nancy Drive. This podcast chronicles events (told by Captain Chip Ashford and Battalion Chief Dan Casey) as they unfolded. The thermal assault enduring by these firefighters resulted in injuries that included second and third-degree burns and a shoulder injury from bailing out a window. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Overhaul to Fireball Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Overhautofireball/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 31, 2017
SAM 184 | St. Charles Fire Department Near Miss – Part 2
On January 3, 2014, the St. Charles Fire Department responded to a single-family residential dwelling fire on Nancy Drive. This podcast chronicles events (told by Captain Chip Ashford and Battalion Chief Dan Casey) as they unfolded. The thermal assault enduring by these firefighters resulted in injuries that included second and third-degree burns and a shoulder injury from bailing out a window. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Overhaul to Fireball Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Overhautofireball/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 24, 2017
SAM 183 | St. Charles Fire Department Near Miss – Part 1
On January 3, 2014, the St. Charles Fire Department responded to a single-family residential dwelling fire on Nancy Drive. This podcast chronicles events (told by Captain Chip Ashford and Battalion Chief Dan Casey) as they unfolded. The thermal assault enduring by these firefighters resulted in injuries that included second and third-degree burns and a shoulder injury from bailing out a window. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Overhaul to Fireball Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Overhautofireball/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 17, 2017
SAM 182 | Colorado Springs FD Interview – Part 2
On May 31, 2017, I delivered a presentation to the Colorado Springs Fire Department in Situational Awareness. During the program we engaged in a conversation about how they do their training. I was so impressed that I asked them to do an interview with me. This is part 2 of a two-part interview with: Jason Buckingham, Lieutenant, Station 8; Jesse Weddle, Firefighter, Station 8; and, Brian Lynch, Lieutenant, Station 1. Bryan Lynch is a Lieutenant assigned to fire station 1 in downtown Colorado Springs. Bryan has been a lead instructor for his departments annual Truck Academy and developed his departments Ground Ladder and Ventilation programs. He was instrumental in implementing Nozzle Forward in his department. In 2008, Bryan was the Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters Local 5 Firefighter of the Year. He is the co-owner and co-founder of Irons and Ladders LLC. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Irons and Ladders IRONSandLADDERS.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 10, 2017
SAM 181 | Colorado Springs FD Interview – Part 1
On May 31, 2017, I delivered a presentation to the Colorado Springs Fire Department in Situational Awareness. During the program we engaged in a conversation about how they do their training. I was so impressed that I asked them to do an interview with me. This is part 1 of a two-part interview with: Jason Buckingham, Lieutenant, Station 8; Jesse Weddle, Firefighter, Station 8; and, Brian Lynch, Lieutenant, Station 1. Bryan Lynch is a Lieutenant assigned to fire station 1 in downtown Colorado Springs. Bryan has been a lead instructor for his departments annual Truck Academy and developed his departments Ground Ladder and Ventilation programs. He was instrumental in implementing Nozzle Forward in his department. In 2008, Bryan was the Colorado Springs Professional Firefighters Local 5 Firefighter of the Year. He is the co-owner and co-founder of Irons and Ladders LLC.
Tue, October 03, 2017
SAM 180 | Accountability
Accountability is a critically important component to the safety of employees when they are operating in hazardous environments. From the perspective of situational awareness, accountability plays several roles. The obvious role is personnel accountability facilitates the rapid deployment of teams if something goes wrong. The person in-charge knows the team sizes and where the teams are operating at and can send help expeditiously. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 26, 2017
SAM 179 | Coordinated Actions
The potential issue from uncoordinated, independent action is it may be unrealistic to think multiple individuals, or multiple teams can begin work on a problem, at varied times, and make the same assessment of the situation/conditions and know, automatically, what other team members are doing and what goals they are trying to accomplish. This can cause problems with team and big-picture situational awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 19, 2017
SAM 178 | Explaining Tunnel Vision
When it comes to developing and maintaining situational awareness, tunnel vision is a big deal. Situational awareness is developed by having a broad perception of the environment in which you are operating. As your focus narrows, you start to miss things. Those “missed things” are like lost puzzle pieces, leaving holes in your understanding of what is happening. Thus, situational awareness can be impacted. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 12, 2017
SAM 177 | Time to task completion
Your highest level of situational awareness is formed when you are able to make accurate predictions about future events. We call this projection and it simply means you are able to predict, or project, the future. This is accomplished through mental models you develop that are founded in your training and experience. But for supervisors, it requires more than training and experience to make accurate projections of the future. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 05, 2017
SAM 176 | Imagination
In this episode, we discuss how to use your imagination to anticipate outcomes – an important component of developing strong situational awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 29, 2017
SAM 175 | Positive reinforcement of undesired behavior
In this episode, I am taking on a topic often discussed in my leadership programs more often than in my situational awareness programs – motivation. I’m not going to get in to depth on the topic of motivation as it takes me a solid four hours in a classroom session to demystify the topic and reveal the secret sauce for how people are motivated. However, there is one fundamental component of motivation that has a direct implication to firefighter safety – the positive reinforcement of undesired behavior. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 22, 2017
SAM 174 | Complex 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 those symbols. We call that skill reading comprehension. And we can listen to and comprehend the meaning of more than 10,000 words. We call that listening comprehension. Indeed, our ability to communicate is quite complex. But our complex communications system has a downside also – complex miscommunications. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 15, 2017
SAM 173 | Bravado
A person displaying bravado is not concerned with his or her own safety. They are only concerned with looking courageous. This does not make the individual brave. It makes the individual dangerous. Once a person gets into the bravado mindset, the critical first two steps in the formation of situational awareness (purposefully capturing clues and cues and comprehending clues and cues into meaning) can be flawed. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 08, 2017
SAM 172 | Confirmation Bias
The foundation of situational awareness is capturing clues and cues in your environment – what some would call “paying attention” – and then making sense of those clues and cues – what some would call “understanding” – and then making projections of future events – what some would call “prediction.” One of the challenges in the formation of situational awareness that can arise during the “understanding” phase is Confirmation Bias. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 01, 2017
Expectations can impact Situational Awareness
One way to control your reaction to stress is to first understand what causes you to be stressed. There are the obvious stressors – physical demands of the work, time compression to make quick decisions, dangerous and unpredictable work. Then there are the less than obvious stressors – peer pressure and the fear that can result from not meeting citizen expectations and/or elected official expectations. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 25, 2017
SAM 170 | Interview with Brad Davidson
It is so easy to trudge over your intuition and to trust your logical, rational form of thinking. Not only can this be unwise, it can also be deadly. Today’s guest shares an experience where he trusted his intuition and it saved his life. Unfortunately, others working on this job site were not so lucky as there were 13 injuries (3 critical) and one fatality. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Brad Davidson contact information BDavidso@mymts.net Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 18, 2017
SAM 169 | Situational Awareness Insanity – Part 5
If you have spent time reading a large number of firefighter fatality reports you might start to see the real-life manifestation of Einstein’s definition of insanity. In fact, I would go as far as to say we’ve gotten to the point where we are discovering very few new ways to kill firefighters. Rather, we’re taking all the ways we already know how to do it and we’re perfecting it by doing it over and over… and over… and over… again. This is Einstein’s insanity personified. In this series we will examine some potential explanations for this insanity. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 11, 2017
SAM 168 | Situational Awareness Insanity – Part 4
If you have spent time reading a large number of firefighter fatality reports you might start to see the real-life manifestation of Einstein’s definition of insanity. In fact, I would go as far as to say we’ve gotten to the point where we are discovering very few new ways to kill firefighters. Rather, we’re taking all the ways we already know and we’re perfecting it by doing it over and over… and over… and over… again. This is Einstein’s insanity personified. In this series, we will examine some potential explanations for this insanity. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 04, 2017
SAM 167 | Situational Awareness Insanity – Part 3
If you have spent time reading a large number of firefighter fatality reports you might start to see the real-life manifestation of Einstein’s definition of insanity. In fact, I would go as far as to say we’ve gotten to the point where we are discovering very few new ways to kill firefighters. Rather, we’re taking all the ways we already know how to do it and we’re perfecting it by doing it over and over… and over… and over… again. This is Einstein’s insanity personified. In this series, we will examine some potential explanations for this insanity. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 27, 2017
SAM 166 | Situational Awareness Insanity – Part 2
If you have spent time reading a large number of firefighter fatality reports you might start to see the real-life manifestation of Einstein’s definition of insanity. In fact, I would go as far as to say we’ve gotten to the point where we are discovering very few new ways to kill firefighters. Rather, we’re taking all the ways we already know and we’re perfecting it by doing it over and over… and over… and over… again. This is Einstein’s insanity personified. In this series, we will examine some potential explanations for this insanity. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 20, 2017
SAM 165 | Situational Awareness Insanity – Part 1
If you have spent time reading a large number of firefighter fatality reports you might start to see the real-life manifestation of Einstein’s definition of insanity. In fact, I would go as far as to say we’ve gotten to the point where we are discovering very few new ways to kill firefighters. Rather, we’re talking about all the ways we already know how to do it and we’re perfecting it by doing it over and over… and over… and over… again. This is Einstein’s insanity personified. In this series, we will examine some potential explanations for this insanity. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 13, 2017
SAM 164 | Predicting the future
Developing situational awareness is a three-part process that begins with perception, and then understanding, and finally prediction – or forecasting what is going to happen in the future. Many first responders are good at the perception and understanding part, but the prediction part can present some real challenges. This episode discusses the process for predicting future outcomes. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 06, 2017
SAM 163 | Lynchburg FD House Fire Near Miss – Part 2
In this episode, I interview three members of the Lynchburg Fire Department who responded to a structure fire where conditions changed rapidly and caused the crews to leave the structure just short of being over-run by the fire. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 30, 2017
SAM 162 | Lynchburg FD House Fire Near Miss – Part 1
In this episode, I interview three members of the Lynchburg Fire Department who responded to a structure fire where conditions changed rapidly and caused the crews to leave the structure just short of being over-run by the fire. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 23, 2017
SAM 161 | Soldier Township Tornado Near Miss
This episode is an interview Karl McNorton, Dusty Nichols and Joe Hawkins who were involved in a brush fire incident that was complicated when a tornado was reported in their vicinity, casing the crews to take cover in nearby homes. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 16, 2017
SAM 160 | Smoke explosion in Virginia, Minnesota
On Dec. 19, 2016 at 1:05pm, the Virginia Fire Department responded to a report of an apartment building fire in the 700 block of 5th Avenue South. Noting a change in smoke conditions, the incident commander ordered an evacuation just moments before a smoke explosion rocked the building and it was all caught on video (link to the video below). Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Virginia Fire Department Smoke Explosion Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxUxnpQ0rSY Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 09, 2017
SAM 159 | Dangerous Mindsets – The Synergist
In this episode, we discuss the Synergist - the person who seeks others who are like-minded and tends to side with their compatriots point of view regardless of the presence of mounting evidence that refutes the position of those who are like-minded. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Report on Space Shuttle Challenger Investigation: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CRPT-99hrpt1016/pdf/GPO-CRPT-99hrpt1016.pdf Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 02, 2017
SAM 158 | Dangerous Mindsets – The Slacker
In this episode, we discuss the Slacker: A person who avoids work or effort. I think we all knew that already. The slacker does the least amount of work possible to remain employed. They are a minimal contributor and seem to be content in their mediocrity. Getting them to get enthusiastic about work is like trying to get a lazy dog to fetch a stick. Or, less generously, it is like trying to teach a pig to sing. You are not going to succeed and you are only going to annoy the pig. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 25, 2017
SAM 157 | Dangerous Mindsets – The Super Hero
In this episode, we discuss the super hero dangerous mindset. You might think of this as the person who sees him or herself as unstoppable, bullet proof, invulnerable or invincible. The super hero can leap tall buildings in a single bound, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to run faster than a speeding bullet. In other words, they think they have super powers and super abilities. The only problem is, simply because they think they can, does not mean they actually can. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 18, 2017
SAM 156 | Third Anniversary Celebration
This episode discusses the history of SAMatters and Dr. Gasaway shares his background and the work he has done to improve first responder situational awareness and high-risk decision making. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 11, 2017
SAM 155 | Dangerous Mindsets – The Silent
The silent individual members, for whatever reason, may not speak up even if something is going horribly wrong. This can have devastating consequences on first responder safety because the Silent member may see something very important for the safety of personnel operating at the scene, and yet, never say a word. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 04, 2017
SAM 154 | Dangerous Mindsets – The Stubborn
In this episode, we discuss the stubborn – an individual that is set in their ways, closed minded and perhaps even defiant. Their narrowed view can impact relationships and, more importantly, their situational awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 28, 2017
SAM 153 | Dangerous Mindsets – The Superior
This episode discusses the boss who lets his or her authority get the best of their judgment or that boss who suffers from feelings of inadequacy (inferiority) that results in a dangerous mindset that can harm the safety of first responders. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 21, 2017
SAM 152 | Dangerous Mindsets – The Specialist
This episode is part three of a nine-part serious on dangerous mindsets that first responders can develop and I offer some advice for dealing with each. This week we talk about the Specialist, (a.k.a. The Know-it-all). A specialist is someone who takes the effort to acquire a higher level of training on a specialty topic. A specialist can be a tremendous asset, especially when an incident occurs that requires their specialized knowledge, skills and abilities. However, a specialist can also present special challenges for department personnel. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 14, 2017
SAM 151 | Dangerous Mindsets – The Subordinate
This episode is part two of a nine-part serious on dangerous mindsets that first responders can develop and I offer some advice for dealing with each. Last week we started off the series by talking about the starter mindset… the mindset of the brand-new responder. This week we talk about the Subordinate. __________________________________________________________________ Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Licensed by BMI Music Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 07, 2017
SAM 150 | Dangerous Mindsets – The Starter
Everyone of us should be able to relate to this mindset. We have all been there, albeit some more recently than others. Being the new responder can be a scary ordeal. I recall how intimidated I was just learning how to properly don my turnout gear. In fact, when I first joined I did not know what I did not know. And that’s what this episode explores – the mindset of the starter. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 28, 2017
SAM 149 | Mind Drift
Have you ever driven your vehicle somewhere, arrived at your destination and wondered to yourself “How did I get here?” If so, you have experienced mind drift. This can happen when you’re driving your car, sitting in a classroom, or performing a high-risk activity. And when it happens, it can have a catastrophic impact on your situational awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 21, 2017
SAM 148 | James Johnson Interview on Building Construction
James Johnson is a Firefighter for Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is currently assigned to Firehouse 1 and is part of the Special Operations Technical Rescue Team, as well as Canada Task Force One USAR Team. James is a certified Fire Service Instructor II and teaches at the Justice Institute of British Columbia in the Fire and Safety Division. Before becoming a career firefighter, James spent a number of years in the construction industry and completed an apprenticeship and the technical training to become a Red Seal Journeyman Carpenter. James serves as a Technical Committee member for NFPA 220, 221, and 5000, and is a FDIC presenter. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com James Johnson Contact Information Email: JamesTylerJohnson@live.com Twitter: @James_John_son James Johnson’s upcoming FDIC Class What’s hiding behind the walls? Thursday, April 27, 2017 1530-1715 Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 14, 2017
SAM 147 | The need for skill rehearsal
First responder training is often conducted in topical segments. One week it might be fire attack. The next week the training might focus on search and rescue and the next week on forcible entry. There is a reason a football team conducts a scrimmage, or why actors in a play conduct a full-dress rehearsal. This episode discusses the value of putting all the training segments together into one comprehensive practiced event. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 07, 2017
SAM 146 | Fear and situational awareness
Fear is one of two emotions that drive all human behavior. The other is desire. Whatever a first responder chooses to do, or not do, is based on one of these two emotional drives. This episode discuses how fear can compel responders to do undesirable, and sometimes dangerous, things at emergency scenes. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 31, 2017
SAM 145 | Task Saturation
There’s no doubt that in dynamically changing, high-risk, high-consequence environments someone could be called upon to perform many varied tasks, some at the same time. When staffing levels are low, the likelihood of this situation can increase significantly. The problem this creates is the brain does not perform well when task saturated, especially in stressful situations. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 24, 2017
SAM 144 | Pre-Arrival Lens
We see with our brains, not with our eyes. The eyes are simply a tool to gather photons of light. The processing of images happens in the visual cortex (in the back of your brain). There is also an interesting thing that happens as we listen to information. We also draw pictures in our brain. This is what I call the pre-arrival lens and it can set a responder up for success or it can cause some significant challenges. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 17, 2017
SAM 143 | Memory and situational awareness
There are two types of memory we will discuss in this episode, short-term and long-term. Both play important roles in helping first responders develop and maintain situational awareness. Here, we will explain how. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy www.SAMatters.com/academy Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 10, 2017
SAM 142 | Interview with Near Miss Survivor Rick Mehaffey
At the time of the fire, Rick Mehaffey served as an engineer for the Waynesville Fire Department, a combination department that runs 2500 calls a year out of two stations. (He has since been promoted to Captain.) At the time of the near miss event the staffing levels was 1 person on-duty at each of two stations, supplemented by roughly 30 volunteers. At 0759 the fire department was dispatched to a residential fire at 71 Cornerstone Ridge in Waynesville. Mehaffey was first on-scene of a working fire in a two-story wood frame structure with light smoke coming from the eves and smoke coming out of the chimney. Mehaffey noted the rock chimney stood approximately 8 feet above the gutter line and was 4 foot in width. The size of the chimney led him to position his engine outside of what he would deem to be the collapse zone. Mehaffey established command and completed a 360 degree size up. The second engine arrived and they initiated interior operations. The crew located the fire in the vaulted ceiling cavity around the chimney. Exterior crews set a ladder up to access the porch roof. This ladder was directly under the chimney. Mehaffey exited the structure and was stopped and asked a question by a mutual aid company. At that time they were directly in front of the chimney about 10 feet away from the house. Then someone screamed the chimney was falling. Hearing the scream, Mehaffey and the other firefighters he was talking to began to run. As Mehaffey heard the crash of the chimney he turned to look back to see a few large rocks that, as he described, “almost appeared to be chasing me and were so close that as I turned my head to watch where I was running I was anticipating the pain of the rock taking my legs out from underneath me.” As he reached the engine he stopped running, turned and looked back. The rocks had stopped rolling about 5 feet behind him. An investigation revealed the chimney was a wood frame construction with large rock attached. Improper installation had contributed to the wood frame catching fire and spreading into the ceiling cavity, causing the chimney to fall. As Mehaffey wrote to me: “In my opinion we almost had three LODDs that day due to my inability to remove my blinders and see a potential hazard,” a hazard that, by his own admission, he was concerned enough about on his arrival to ensue he positioned his engine outside the collapse zone. But, as he noted; “Once my boots hit the ground I got tunnel vision and it almost cost four firefighters lives.” Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy www.SAMatters.com/academy Firefighter Near Miss Repo
Tue, January 03, 2017
SAM 141 | Confabulation
Confabulation is a fascinating phenomenon where a person’s brain can make up its own reality and the individual it happens to will not realize that what they believe to be fact is, indeed, a figment of their imagination. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy www.SAMatters.com/academy Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 27, 2016
SAM 140 | Speaking up
In this episode, Madison Firefighter Cameron Gasaway shares his observations about why it is so hard for a new firefighter to speak up when they think something is going wrong. We also share a real-life experience Cameron had when he was presented with an opportunity to speak up. In his words, it was one of the worst feelings he’d ever had. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy www.SAMatters.com/academy Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 20, 2016
SAM 139 | Building expert knowledge
The researchers who study expertise have concluded it can take roughly 10,000 hours of training and practice to achieve expert-level knowledge and performance skills. The bad news is, that could take responders over a decade to acquire. The good news is, the process of expertise development can be accelerated. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy www.SAMatters.com/academy Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 13, 2016
SAM 138 | Nine considerations when evaluating incident command software.
As you attend conferences that have vendor display areas, pay attention to how many incident management software vendors claim to have programs that can “develop situational awareness” in first responders. This claim is often founded on the belief that as the software is able to capture, assemble and display layers and layers of data that, somehow, situational awareness will be improved. Be careful, as you may be sold a product that does not do what it claims to do. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy www.SAMatters.com/academy Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 06, 2016
SAM 137 | Radio Traffic and 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 cold. And the third is just right. This lesson applies directly to first responder situational awareness and the role radio communications plays in helping to develop and maintain SA. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 29, 2016
SAM 136 | Online Academy Q&A
The Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy officially opens its doors in January. SAMatters Radio podcast episode #132 was dedicated to explaining the features of the Academy. This episode is dedicated to questions and answers I’ve fielded over the past couple of weeks. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! www.SAMatters.com Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy www.SAMatters.com/academy Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 22, 2016
SAM 135 | Meta-awareness
One of the ways to improve your situational awareness is to develop a conscious awareness about your awareness. Developing and maintaining situational awareness can be challenging while operating in high stress conditions. Being aware of this and using techniques to ensure you remain in the moment can improve safety. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 15, 2016
SAM 134 | Assessing resources
It is important for a commander to have situational awareness about the resources available and to use that knowledge to drive decisions. Setting strategy without consideration to the quantity and quality of resources can be very risky. This episode explores how to develop situational awareness about resource availability. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 08, 2016
SAM 133 | The Devil’s Advocate
One of the problems that can happen while working in high stress, time compressed environments is a person can develop a flawed perception of reality. When this happens, they will not realize it until something happens that allows them to see their perception was flawed. This is where the devil’s advocate can help. This episode explains how. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 01, 2016
SAM 132 | Online Academy Preview
One of the most common pieces of feedback received from live events is “Everyone in my department needed to hear this message.” I could not agree more. I realized with this feedback came a challenge to create a convenient, affordable way for every department to train every member. From that inspiration came the Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website SAMatters.com Online Academy SAMatters.com/academy/ SAMatters Testimonials www.richgasaway.com/testimonials/ Contact Rich Gasaway SAMatters.com/contact/ 612-548-4424
Tue, October 25, 2016
SAM 131 | Best practices for managing mental workload
The research I have conducted on the neuroscience of situational awareness and high-risk decision making has been fascinating and extremely enlightening to me. Over the past 9 years, it has been very rewarding to take the lessons of research and apply them for the benefit of first responders. For those who have attended one of my programs, you know these lessons are always shared in friendly ways (i.e., avoiding all the heady terminology of brain science). One of the findings of my research led me to the conclusion that once a commander becomes overloaded and overwhelmed, managing the mental workload can become extremely difficult and meltdowns are predictable. And, much to my dismay, it is quite easy to overload and overwhelm someone who is under stress (e.g., the incident commander). Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 18, 2016
SAM 130 | Auditory Exclusion – Going deaf under stress
A person suffering from auditory exclusion will experience temporary hearing loss. While it is most often identified and associated with individuals who are working in high stress environments, the truth is it can happen to any of us at any time. We will discuss how it happens and how it impacts situational awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 11, 2016
SAM 129 | Interview with Beaver Dam Fire & Rescue Chief Alan Mannel
Beaver Dam (WI) Fire Chief, Alan Mannel, was working as a police officer in Crete, Illinois where a suspect opened fire on officers while they were attempting to apprehend him following a shooting incident in a neighboring Park Forest. Then-patrolman Mannel, ended up discharging his weapon three times, though he only remembered shooting twice. He also described experiencing a mild form of auditory exclusion where sounds – including not hearing the multiple shots fired by officers and by the assailant. Officer Mannel also was not, at the time of the shootout, wearing his department-issued ballistic vest. After the assailant fired a shot that Officer Mannel heard whiz by his ear, he shot the suspect in the head, ending the shootout. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Guest contact information: Alan Mannel Beaver Dam Fire & Rescue amannel@cityofbeaverdam.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 04, 2016
SAM 128 | Sleep inertia: An interview with Norfolk Fire Lieutenant Jarrod Sergi
Lieutenant Jarrod Sergi attended one of my situational awareness programs in Virginia earlier this year and during the program we discussed, among many other topics, the impact of sleep inertia on awareness and decision making. A few months after the class Lieutenant Sergi and his crew were responding to a late-night residential dwelling fire and he experienced the impact of sleep inertia. This compelled him to contact me and to share his experience. He agreed to come on to the podcast and to tell his story so that others might learn from the experience of his crew and how they were impacted. Jerrod Sergi biography Jarrod Sergi is a Lieutenant and a proud member of Norfolk Fire Rescue in Norfolk VA. He has served in one of the city’s busiest Engine Companies and has also served a tour in the Training Division as a Fire Academy Coordinator. He currently is assigned to a Ladder Company in the city’s 1st Battalion. Jarrod has been a part of, and assisted in the development of several department wide training programs that included both Engine and Ladder company operations and Fire Dynamics Jarrod also serves as an adjunct State Instructor for both the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and the National Fire Academy focusing on MAYDAY and Strategy/Tactics. Prior to working for the City of Norfolk, Jarrod served 6 years in the United States Navy as a Damage Controlman (shipboard firefighter) and a Search and Rescue Swimmer. Jarrod is currently enrolled in the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science, is a contributor to Fire Engineering Magazine and he is the founder of Trial by Fire. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Guest contact information: Jarrod Sengi Jarrod.Sergi@Norfolk.gov Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 27, 2016
SAM 127 | Teaching responders how to speak up
It is not uncommon for responders to be told: “If you see something that is causing you a concern, speak up.” And everyone nods their heads in the affirmative. But when it comes right down to it… will they? From the discussions I’ve had with first responders I don’t think the answer is as cut and dried as you might think. In this episode we will explore why and I’ll offer some suggestions for how to get them to speak up. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 20, 2016
SAM 126 | Interview with Birmingham Assistant Fire Chief Floyd (Buddy) Wilks, Jr.
On February 14, 2014 the Birmingham Fire Department was dispatched to a residential dwelling fire at 0130. On arrival the first-in company reported heavy fire conditions on the CD corner of the house. There were two vehicles on the property, one of the vehicles had three car seats in it. This gave the IC a strong indication there were people still in the house, including children. Despite the challenging conditions, crews entered with the mission of fire containment and search and rescue. As conditions rapidly changed, Engine 14 called a mayday. This interview details the event, outcome and lessons learned. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information Floyd (Buddy) Wilks, Jr. Birmingham Fire Department 1808 7th Sttreet North Birmingham, AL 35203 floyde.wilksjr@birminghamal.gov 205-254-2510 office Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 13, 2016
SAM 125 | The top 12 reasons why first responders won’t discuss their near-miss events
One of the best ways we can learn how to be safer is to learn from our mistakes. Truly, haven’t we all said “I’ve learned more from the mistakes I’ve made in life than the things I’ve done right.” The same thing can be said about our service as first responders. There is a lot to learn from mistakes – ours and others. That’s assuming the mistakes that resulted in near-miss events and lessons learned are shared with others. Unfortunately, many times they are not. I will discuss why they are not shared and offer some advice that might inspire you to step up and share your lessons learned from YOUR near-miss event. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 06, 2016
SAM 124 | Facilitated Debriefings
Your chances of getting killed in a commercial airline accident while traveling with one of the top 20 U.S. carriers is roughly 1:87 million. As a researcher and practitioner of first responder safety this incredible safety statistic causes me to contemplate how the airlines have been able to create such an impeccable safety record. In this episode we explore how a facilitated debriefing can help first responder agencies improve safety. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 30, 2016
SAM 123 | Positive and Negative Clues and Cues
As we train first responders to improve situational awareness it is important the lessons include a list of both positive and negative clues and cues. Clues and cues are another way of saying “information”… the information you gather and process that forms your situational awareness. In the context of developing situational awareness, positive and negative clues and cues does not mean good and bad information… Rather, positive and negative means present and absent. The positive clues and cues are those you can see and hear. The negative clues and cues are those you cannot see and hear… not because you’re NOT paying attention… but because they are absent… NON EXISTENT clues… NOT EXISTENT information. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Photo Credit: Bedford Hills Fire Department Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 23, 2016
SAM 122 | Locus of Control
Locus of control is a psychological principal that refers to the extent to which a person feels they are in control of the events that can affect their life, well-being or success. It is often associated with how a person views what happens to them in life and who is responsible for their successes and failures. I recently came across some research on the topic of locus of control that got me wondering about the correlation it may have to first responder safety and risk taking. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 16, 2016
SAM 121 | Three types of stress
First responders can experience three types of stress: Acute stress, episodic acute stress and chronic stress. This episode explores how stress can impact a first responder’s situational awareness and, equally concerning, how stress can have devastating long-term impacts on a responder’s health and wellness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 09, 2016
SAM 120 | Interview with Instructor John Dixon
Instructor John Dixon discusses the normalization of deviance, complacency, groupthink and more. He offers ideas about how to recognize the problem and recommends best practices for individuals and organizations for how to overcome this challenging – and potentially deadly – phenomenon. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Information John Dixon InstructorJohnDixon.com Twitter: @InstructorDixon Facebook: Instructor John Dixon Website: InstructorJohnDixon.com LinkedIn: Instructor John Dixon Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, August 02, 2016
SAM 119 | Interview with West Metro Division Chief Dan Pfannenstiel – Part 2
On January 19, 2009 the West Metro Fire Department responded to a well-involved, wind-driven residential dwelling fire. This multiple alarm fire was their second for the evening. Previously, the same companies had worked a multiple alarm garden-style apartment building fire. During this interview, Division Chief Dan Phannenstiel discusses what happened at both fires and the near-miss event that gave rise to him completing a lessons learned evaluation. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Information Division Chief Dan Pfannenstiel West Metro Fire Rescue DPfannenstiel@westmetrofire.org Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 26, 2016
SAM 118 | Interview with West Metro Division Chief Dan Pfannenstiel – Part 1
On January 19, 2009 the West Metro Fire Department responded to a well-involved, wind-driven residential dwelling fire. This multiple alarm fire was their second for the evening. Previously, the same companies had worked a multiple alarm garden-style apartment building fire. During this interview, Division Chief Dan Phannenstiel discusses what happened at both fires and the near-miss event that gave rise to him completing a lessons learned evaluation. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Information Division Chief Dan Pfannenstiel West Metro Fire Rescue DPfannenstiel@westmetrofire.org Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 19, 2016
SAM 117 | Interview with Shawnee Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Pyle – Part 2
On May 22, 2010, John Glaser, a 33-year-old career fire fighter died while conducting a primary search of a residential house fire. Firefighter Glaser vomited in his SCBA face piece and then removed it, causing him to inhale products of combustion. The fire was reported by automatic alarm at 8:55 p.m. Saturday at 13408 W. 75th Court, according to fire officials. When firefighters arrived, they found the home burning out of control. Neighbors told firefighters they thought two people and a dog were inside. Firefighters began attacking the fire and searching the home. As they were searching the home at 9:12 p.m., a mayday call went out because a firefighter was missing. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Information Battalion Chief Ryan Pyle Shawnee Fire Department RPyle@cityofshawnee.org Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 12, 2016
SAM 116 | Interview with Shawnee Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Pyle – Part 1
On May 22, 2010, John Glaser, a 33-year-old career fire fighter died while conducting a primary search of a residential house fire. Firefighter Glaser vomited in his SCBA face piece and then removed it, causing him to inhale products of combustion. The fire was reported by automatic alarm at 8:55 p.m. Saturday at 13408 W. 75th Court, according to fire officials. When firefighters arrived, they found the home burning out of control. Neighbors told firefighters they thought two people and a dog were inside. Firefighters began attacking the fire and searching the home. As they were searching the home at 9:12 p.m., a mayday call went out because a firefighter was missing. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Information Battalion Chief Ryan Pyle Shawnee Fire Department RPyle@cityofshawnee.org Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, July 05, 2016
SAM 115 | Vehicle Fire Situational Awareness
This episode explores two near-miss events involving vehicle fires. The first comes from a Situational Awareness Matters member and the second from the National Near-Miss reporting system. In both cases if circumstances were just slightly different there could have been a significant catastrophic outcome. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Photo Credit: Bedford Hills Fire Department Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 28, 2016
SAM 114 | Noise can impact situational awareness
A few years ago I had the honor of presenting at a conference called Fire Asia. It was hosted in Hong Kong and brought together fire professionals from Asia, Europe and Australia. While there, I received a tour of the Hong Kong Fire Department training center. One of the things that stood out to me is how they use noise to impact awareness while training responders. This episode shares my observations from the Hong Kong Fire Service and what we can learn from their use of noise during training. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 21, 2016
SAM 113 | Six red flags for danger
The red flags discussed in the episode are clues and cues that provide conscious (overt) awareness of what is going on or subconscious (covert) awareness of what may be going on. The red flags are clues and cues that indicate things may not be right for an interior entry. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 14, 2016
SAM 112 | Predicting Outcomes
There is a three stage process to develop and maintain situational awareness that starts with perception and then advances to understanding and, finally, culminates with prediction – the ability to anticipate future events before they happen. In this episode, I provide a framework for how to predict outcomes. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, June 07, 2016
SAM 111 | 19 Ways Communications can Impact Situational Awareness
If you are a student of near-miss and casualty reports then you know, without a doubt, that flawed communications is a major contributing factor when things go wrong and flawed communications is often a factor when the quality of situational awareness erodes. In fact, flawed communications was the second most frequently cited barrier to flawed situational awareness in my research, second only to staffing issues. But how does communications get so messed up at emergency scenes? This episode explores some of the barriers to effective communications. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 31, 2016
SAM 110 | Live Events Q&A
This Q&A session addresses three questions from recent live situational awareness programs. Much of the inspiration for the blog posts come from participant questions but this may be the first podcast episode dedicated to questions asked during live events. The three questions we address include: What can I do to improve my intuition? What can I do as first responders to combat information overload? How can I tell when my perception of reality is flawed? Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 24, 2016
SAM 109 | The Perfect Storm
The phrase “Perfect Storm” is used to describe a combination of unpredictable circumstances that cause drastic outcomes. The term is also used to describe circumstances that occur so infrequently that they are thought to be unpredictable and thus, perhaps, unpreventable. The term can also sometimes be used to describe the worst-case scenario of a potential, not yet experienced, event. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 17, 2016
SAM 108 | Working Command and Situational Awareness
I get asked a lot of questions about what the first arriving company officer should do at a working structure fire. Specifically, the debate revolves around two basic premise. Should the first arriving company officer assume a fixed command position outside the structure and coordinate the activities of incoming units? Or, should the first arriving company officer assume a "working command" or "mobile command" position and engage in the firefight with their crew? This episode looks to answer that question and more. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Photo Credit John M. Buckman III Wildfire Studios Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 10, 2016
SAM 107 | Interview with Hagerstown Fire Chief Steve Lohr
In this interview with Chief Lohr, we discuss how he is working to change a culture and to improve safety for the members of the Hagerstown Fire Department. Listen in as he shares important messages about safety complacency, culture, situational awareness, politics and succession planning. This episode will also be available a video on the SAMattersTV YouTube. Youtube.com/SAMattersTV Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Our Guest Chief Steve Lohr Hagerstown Fire Department SLohr@hagerstownmd.org 301-790-2476 Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, May 03, 2016
SAM 106 | Sensory conflict can impact situational awareness
The process by which situational awareness is formed begins withusing your five senses (seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting andsmelling) to gather information from your environment. That mayarguably be the easiest part of the situational awarenessdevelopmental process so long as you are “paying attention” to yourenvironment. Once the senses gather information, it converts itinto an electrical code that crackles its way down neural pathwaysto various destinations. At some point, the inputs from the senses must be combined,compared and contrasted to help achieve a coherent understanding ofwhat is happening. This “understanding” is the second step alongthe way to developing situational awareness. But it’s not alwayseasy to understand the meaning of information, especially whenthere is conflict among the inputs. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 26, 2016
SAM 105 | Realistic live fire training challenges and opportunities
Interview questions discussed included: While conducting live burn evolutions fire instructors are bound by NFPA 1403 for safety reasons. And while fire instructors do not want to jeopardize the safety of the students (or fellow instructors), how can we incorporate fire dynamics demonstrations to show students what to expect, versus just lecturing students about dynamics? How can fire dynamics be taught beyond the classroom? Are lectures on fire dynamics enough to prepare firefighters? During live burns firefighters are taught how to fight fires that consist of a few wooden pallets and some straw. Then, once the class is over these firefighters are expected to respond to fires that react very different than what they saw during training burns. Do you feel that instructors may be setting students up for failure on real firegrounds if they are not able to demonstrate the behaviors of real fires. How can tactics be taught when training fires are not the same a real fires? Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 19, 2016
SAM 104 | Eric Dreiman – Flashover Survival Story – Part 2
On November 14, 2014, Indianapolis Captain (then Lieutenant) Eric Dreiman was assigned on Ladder 19. His station was dispatched at 1159 hours to a reported residential dwelling fire on Holly Avenue, about a half mile from the station. On arrival the crew had heavy fire showing on the rear of the house and one occupant who had escaped reporting that her son was still inside. Dreiman, along with Firefighter Brian Kincaid made entry to conduct a primary search. Engine 19 was stretching an attack line and would soon follow… or so they thought. The engine experienced a short delay in getting the line charged. Dreiman and Kincaid advanced into the house on the search. There was a sudden change in conditions and Dreiman made the decision to retreat. As the approached the front door, the fire flashed over. Kincaid was exiting on to the front porch. Dreiman was behind Kincaid and was exposed to extreme fire conditions that burned his gear and burned him. Upon exiting, their gear was on fire and they had to be extinguished by the engine crew. Listen to the amazing near-miss story where, if their decision to exit was delayed by only a few seconds, it would have likely resulted in a double line-of-duty death. Observations and lessons learned included: Avoiding the “routine” call mindset. Wear all your gear properly. Train on fire behavior. Learn how to read smoke. Participate in flashover training. Don’t take the engine line advancement for granted. Realize when civilian lives are no longer savable. Understand you can suffer from auditory exclusion while operating in a high-stress environment. Time distortion can impact your awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information e_dreiman@yahoo.com Cell: 317-793-1838 Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 12, 2016
SAM 103 | Eric Dreiman – Flashover Survival Story – Part 1
On November 14, 2014, Indianapolis Captain (then Lieutenant) Eric Dreiman was assigned on Ladder 19. His station was dispatched at 1159 hours to a reported residential dwelling fire on Holly Avenue, about a half mile from the station. On arrival the crew had heavy fire showing on the rear of the house and one occupant who had escaped reporting that her son was still inside. Dreiman, along with Firefighter Brian Kincaid made entry to conduct a primary search. Engine 19 was stretching an attack line and would soon follow… or so they thought. The engine experienced a short delay in getting the line charged. Dreiman and Kincaid advanced into the house on the search. There was a sudden change in conditions and Dreiman made the decision to retreat. As the approached the front door, the fire flashed over. Kincaid was exiting on to the front porch. Dreiman was behind Kincaid and was exposed to extreme fire conditions that burned his gear and burned him. Upon exiting, their gear was on fire and they had to be extinguished by the engine crew. Listen to the amazing near-miss story where, if their decision to exit was delayed by only a few seconds, it would have likely resulted in a double line-of-duty death. Observations and lessons learned included: Avoiding the “routine” call mindset. Wear all your gear properly. Train on fire behavior. Learn how to read smoke. Participate in flashover training. Don’t take the engine line advancement for granted. Realize when civilian lives are no longer savable. Understand you can suffer from auditory exclusion while operating in a high-stress environment. Time distortion can impact your awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information e_dreiman@yahoo.com Cell: 317-793-1838 Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, April 05, 2016
SAM 102 | Staffing can impact situational awareness
In my efforts to research and share what causes issues with situational awareness I have uncovered over 100… what I call… Barriers. These barriers impact a person’s ability to develop and maintain situational awareness. In this episode I am going to explore the challenges of staffing as a barrier to situational awareness by sharing excerpts of interviews I conducted with expert-level fireground commanders during my doctoral research. If you are interested in reading the complete research study, the book (Fireground Command Decision Making: Understanding the barriers challenging command situation awareness) is available through the SAMatters.com store. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 29, 2016
SAM 101 | Interview with Near Miss Survivors from Sioux Falls Fire Department
Captain Ryan Cox, Fire Apparatus Operator Tom Reel, Firefighter Jay McManigal and Firefighter John Alvey share the details of a close call during a routine truck check when Ladder 7 came into contact with a 33 kV transmission line on January 2, 2016. If circumstances were just slightly different, this incident could have resulted in multiple firefighter fatalities. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information Tom Reel, Fire Apparatus Operator Sioux Falls Fire Department treel@siouxfalls.org Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 22, 2016
SAM 100 | Anniversary Episode
Very few podcasters make it this far… to their 100th episode. When you consider that each episode takes 2-3 hours of script writing, recording, editing, arranging and interviewing guests, that’s quite an investment of time. The mission of Situational Awareness Matters is to help you see the bad things coming… in time to avoid bad outcomes. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 15, 2016
SAM 099 | Distracted Driving: Interview with Greg Yost
Greg Yost has served as a firefighter in Hancock, Maryland for more than 30 years. He has been an advocate for improving responder safety on highways incidents for many years. On June 21, 2014 Greg’s daughter, Daniele, was involved in a vehicle accident where the investigation determined that she was distracted while driving. As a result, her vehicle drifted left of center and struck another vehicle head-on, killing both drivers. Greg has since dedicated himself to teaching classes for teens and adults on the challenges of distracted driving. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information Greg Yost Gyost73@hotmail.com ResponderSafety.com Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 08, 2016
SAM 098 | The role of emotions in decision making
It is a widely held belief that the best decisions are made without the interference of emotions. Economists and statisticians alike stand fast to this belief – the best decisions are made with using pure logic. Facts and formulas lead to the most rational decisions. But do they? Image for a moment if the emotional control center of a person’s brain were removed. Would that person then make better decisions? We’ll review a medical case that answers this question. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, March 01, 2016
SAM 097 | Situational Readiness
The precursor to situational awareness is situational readiness, which I define as: Having the ability to anticipate what things need to be in place to be well-prepared for an emergency response; and then, taking the steps necessary to ensure the right things are done, in advance of the actual response, to be properly prepared. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 23, 2016
SAM 096 | Administrative Workload Can Impact Situational Awareness
This episode was inspired by an email from a listener wanted to know if an officer’s administrative duties, assignments, tasks and workload can impact on situational awareness. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 16, 2016
SAM 095 | Peer Pressure Can Impact Situational Awareness
First responders spend a lot of time together, on calls, in the station, and in many cases in social settings outside of work. All of this interaction builds relationships that allow responders to trust their lives to each other. We’ll discuss how peer pressure can be beneficial and detrimental to first responder safety. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 09, 2016
SAM 094 | Information Overload
Your brain is awesome at capturing, processing, storing and recalling information. But it has limitations, especially when it comes to memory under stress. There are four steps in the process of developing a memory: Encoding, storage, retrieval and forgetting. The process is quite complex. Perhaps I'll dedicate a future chapter to walking readers through the complete process of memory formation. But for now, I am going to focus on the first step, encoding. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 02, 2016
SAM 093 | On being aggressive
To think being safe and being aggressive cannot coexist is to believe that responders must sacrifice safety if/when they choose to be aggressive. Or, when responders choose to do things safely, they can no longer be aggressive. In truth, safety and aggressiveness can be accomplished simultaneously. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 26, 2016
SAM 092 | Five situational awareness lessons from a LODD report
The San Francisco Fire Department conducted an internal review of the incident and issued a 156-page report on their findings. Many of the lessons relate to situational awareness and it is from that perspective that I would like to share my assessment on several of their findings. I dedicate this podcast to the lives of Lieutenant Vincent Perez and firefighter/paramedic Anthony M. Valerio and I applaud the San Francisco Fire Department for conducting an internal review and for sharing their findings with the fire service so we may all learn from tragedy. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 19, 2016
SAM 091 | Creatures of habit
Good or bad, we all have habits. On an emergency scene good habits can save your life and bad habits can result of tragic consequences. So it stands to reason that you would want to form good habits and avoid bad habits, right? But you can form bad habits and not be aware of it. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 12, 2016
SAM 090 | The myth of multitasking
If you are the type of person who can work on your notebook, listen to music on your iPod, talk on your cell phone and text message at the same time, (maybe all while driving) this episode is for you. Advances in technology have given us more opportunities to multitask than any other time in the history of humankind. We are bombarded with visual and audible stimulation, most of which is at our fingertips. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, January 05, 2016
SAM 089 | Understaffing can impact situational awareness
While attempting to command an understaffed incident scene, the attention of the company officer or the incident commander can be narrowly focused on what is causing him or her the greatest stress. In the case of understaffing, the safety of personnel operating in the hazardous conditions can be a huge stressor. If this happens, it may cause a responder to narrow their attention and cause him or her to miss seeing, or hearing, important clues and cues. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 29, 2015
SAM 088 | Commanders in Turnout Gear
I recently read with great interest a very long thread on Facebook about whether or not an incident commander should wear turnout gear at a fire scene. As my focus and passion is improving first responder situational awareness, I would like to address this issue from that perspective. The feedback on Facebook was, as expected, all over the place with some participants saying the commander should be in turnout gear. Some said the commander should not be in turnout gear. And some displayed the typical (and expected) distain for management and saying the chiefs should just stay in their offices. Editorial comments lacking maturity aside, the question of whether an incident commander should wear turnout gear is one I field often during my Fifty Ways to Kill a First Responder program so I thought I'd take the matter up here. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Cover Photo: John Buckman Chief Photographer WildFire Studios Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 22, 2015
SAM 087 | The Role of Imagination
If I were to tell you that on an emergency scene it is possible for you to use X-Ray vision, you'd probably think I've been watching too many Superman movies. But it is possible for you to look right through a solid object on an emergency scene and see what's beyond it. Seriously! This episode will explain how that is possible and why this skill is so vitally important to your safety. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 15, 2015
SAM 086 | High reliability organizations
This episode defines high reliability organizations and looks at the common threads that have emerged in organizations that embrace HRO philosophies. We will look at: Organizational complexity Teamwork How knowledge supersedes rank Communications Accountability Feedback Compressed time constraints Sensitivity to operations Reluctance to simplify Preoccupation with failure Deference to expertise Resilience Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com References for this episode Baker, D.P., Day, R., & Salas, E. (2006). Teamwork as an essential component of high-reliability organizations. Health Serv Res. Aug;41(4 Pt 2):1576-98. McKeon, L.M., Oswaks, J.D., & Cunningham P.D. (2006). Safeguarding patients: complexity science, high reliability organizations, and implications for team training in healthcare. Clin Nurse Spec. Nov-Dec;20(6):298-304; quiz 305-6. Roberts, K.H. & Rousseau, D,M. (1989). Research in nearly failure-free, high-reliability organizations: having the bubble. IEEE Trans Engin Manage. May 36(2):132-9. Weick, K.E., & Sutcliffe, K.M.(2001). Managing the unexpected: assuring high performance in an age of complexity. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 08, 2015
SAM 085 | What is situational awareness?
In this episode we provide a working definition of situational awareness and take the mystery out of how it is developed and maintained by individuals working in high risk, high consequence environments. Specifically, we will discuss: Perception Understanding Prediction Intuition Pattern Matching Tacit Knowledge And we will address some of the reasons why situational awareness can be so challenging to develop and maintain. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, December 01, 2015
SAM 084 | Interview with County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service Captain Jason Nesbitt and Crew
In this episode we discussed some really important and valuable topics that all firefighters can face, including: How to maintain control of you own personal situation when you show up on scene of a house fire and find out that it is owned and or occupied by either a family member, loved one, ex partner, friend, etc. The impact that helmet cameras can have on situational awareness, decision making and behavior. How to keep from getting caught off-guard when you arrive at a working incident How a firefighter (non-officer) can develop and maintain situational awareness. County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service Recruitment Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-NsafQaRPA . The County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service is comprised of several different stations at different levels. We have 2 full time staffed stations which cover the regions of the County of Grande Prairie which immediately surround the City of Grande Prairie. These 2 stations are composite (combination staffing) and typically are comprised of 2 full time staff, supplemented by 2 part time (paid on call staff) for a total of four crew members in each of the 2 stations. Overall, staffing consists of 20 full time-staff, and another 80 part-time members. The staffed service area has a population of approximately 12,000 with a mix of rural, urban, commercial, industrial and forested areas. As a result of the variety they face, the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service members are trained to provide a wide array of services. Members are trained for: Structural / vehicle Firefighting to 1001 Level 2 Hazardous materials to technician level Rope rescue to technician level Ice rescue to technician level Wildland firefighting to 1051 level 1 MVC extrication to 1001 level 2 Confined space rescue 1006 level 1 Farm extrication 1006 level 2 Medical co-responses to EMR (EMT-B) The service area for the staffed stations is about 300 square miles. In addition we have 3 rural volunteer paid on call stations in 3 of our hamlets, and an additional 4 stations in 3 towns and 1 village located within the county to provide services. Our rural volunteer stations are 100% operated by our service. The contract departments are operated by their municipalities, and are provided with apparatus for county responses by our service. The entire County of Grande Prairie covers approximately 2800 square miles. The call volume for the entire region excluding the city of Grande Prairie is about 1500 calls per year. Our 2 staffed stations see about 800-900 of those calls. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Guest Information Jason Nesbitt Captain “C” P
Tue, November 24, 2015
SAM 083 | Interview with Close Call Survivor Tiger Schmittendorf
Dispatched to a report of multiple people trapped on the second floor of an apartment building with rising water, Tiger Schmittendorf and two of other members of his department launched their rescue boat and located the victims on in the apartment building. While preparing them for removal the conditions outside changed significantly and the slow moving water became swift moving water. Listen in as he chronicles how the firefighters were able to remove the victims but then almost became victims themselves. Lessons learned included: Don’t allow yourself it get into a situational you are not adequately trained and prepared to handle. Don't wear bunker pants while performing a water rescue. Don't let emotions drive your decision making. Only used trained responders for water rescue evolutions. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Guest Information Tiger Schmittendorf Deputy Fire Coordinator Erie County Emergency Services 716-777-0205 Tiger@TigerSchmittendorf.com TrainYourReplacement.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 17, 2015
SAM 082 | Interview with John Martens from NMotion UAS
John Martens is Founder of NMotion UAS, which provides Drone (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) technologies to public safety professionals and emergency management groups. These technologies enable responders to better assess, execute, and mitigate emergencies. As a firefighter, Martens initially discovered the unmanned aircraft industry through a previous company in video production and digital media. Martens was driven to improve the life safety of his crew members and other responders with a mission to revolutionize the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks that they perform regularly. His company was launched in March of 2014 and provides complete systems and relevant services to equip agencies with various aircraft, training, and delivery platforms. Martens received a Bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University in Organizational Leadership and a minor in Emergency Services. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Guest Information John Martens NMotion UAS 316-804-8149 620-217-6031 john@nmotionuas.com P.O. Box 917 Hesston, KS 67062 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HovWlBCluqM https://youtu.be/CdntbcwuWO0?t=2m34s www.nmotionuas.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, November 10, 2015
SAM 081 | Interview with Near-Miss Survivors Captain Tim Kohlbeck and Lieutenant Chase Longmiller
On January 30, 2010, Captain Tim Kohlbeck and Lieutenant Chase Longmiller, assigned to the heavy rescue at Sheboygan Fire Station #1 were dispatched to a structure fire with the possibility of people trapped on the second floor. They were inside conducting the search when conditions when conditions changed quickly. Their decisive actions saved their lives… barely. Lessons learned included: Knowing the buildings in your town – both construction and layout. Building mutual trust with your company. Realizing when you’re in an environment where victims are not savable. Keeping a big picture focus. Decide. Act! (no hesitation). Trusting your guy. Understanding the characteristics of a high-energy (pre-flashover) fire environment. Tim Kohlbeck,Biography: Tim Kohlbeck is serving in his his 26th year with the City of Sheboygan (WI) Fire Department. He was hired in 1990 and currently serves the city as a Captain and is assigned to Rescue 3, the city’s heavy rescue unit. Tim is trained to the Technician level in Ropes, Confined Space, and Trench Rescue, and to Level 1 in Structural Collapse. Currently, he teaches rope and confined space rescue, as well as vehicular extrication for the department. He has been married to his wife Kathy for 24 years, and they have two children- Luke, 19 and Sarah, 17. Chase Longmiller Biography Lieutenant Chase Longmiller has served with the Sheboygan (WI) Fire Department for 18 years. Prior to that, he served in the United States Air Force as a Security Police Officer. Chase has held the rank of Firefighter and Fire Equipment Operator (FEO) prior to being promoted to Lieutenant in 2015. He is the President of Sheboygan Professional Firefighters Local 483, and he has served on the Executive Board for 14 years. He is married with two children, ages 6 and 4. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Guest Information Captain Tim Kohlbeck Timothy.Kohlbeck@SheboyganWI.gov Lieutenant Chase Longmiller Chase.Longmiller@SheboyganWI.gov Photographer Information: Gary C. Klein/Sheboygan Press Media Copyright, all rights reserved Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System <a href="http://www.firefi
Tue, November 03, 2015
SAM 080 | Interview with Near-Miss Survivor Morris Lentz
On February 8, 2009, Lieutenant Lentz (now Assistant Chief) was working a residential dwelling fire when a wall unexpectedly collapsed on him. This resulted in multiple critical injuries including multiple fractured vertebrae, a pelvis fracture, a broken leg, multiple rib fractures and a collapsed lung. He was air lifted to Huntsville Hospital and underwent multiple surgeries and spent nearly a year in rehabilitation therapy, having to learn how to walk again. Listen as he recounts the events as they unfolded, what he was thinking as he laid there under the pile of debris, not sure if anyone even knew he was there, how his faith changed following the incident and his painful road to recovery. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Guest Information Assistant Chief Morris Lentz Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department MorrisTLentz@bellsouth.net Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 27, 2015
SAM 079 | The Overconfident Incompetent
This discussion includes the four steps in the progression of competency: Step 1: Unconscious incompetence – being unaware of what you do not know. Step 2: Conscious incompetence – being aware of how much you do not know. Step 3: Conscious competence – being aware of how much you know. Step 4: Unconscious competence – being unaware of how much you know. You will also be introduced to the Dunning-Kruger Effect. In 1999, two professors at Cornell University conducted a series of experiments and published their findings in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. What they uncovered is a cognitive bias where unskilled people suffer from the illusion of having superior skills and knowledge. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Spectrum Aeromed Spectrum-Aeromed.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 20, 2015
SAM 078 | Begin with the end in mind
One of the essential components of well-developed situational awareness is being able to accurately predict the future. This prediction should be made during the initial scene size up and then it should be updated often as the incident progresses. In this episode, the need to begin with the end in mind will be explored and tips will be provided for how to improve outcome predictions. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 13, 2015
SAM 077 | Rewarding undesirable behaviors
As it relates to first responders operating in emergency situations, their behaviors can be classified into one of two categories: Desired and undesired. Desired behaviors are those rooted in safety and best practices. Hopefully these are the behaviors taught during basic training and reinforced during on-going training and promoted during emergency responses. Undesired behaviors are those rooted in unsafe behaviors and practices. These can be taught in training or can develop over time as a result of drifting away from best practices. Behaviors are encouraged or discouraged with reinforcement. Reinforcement can be positive (i.e., providing something desirable or withholding something undesired) or negative (i.e., withholding something desired or providing something undesired). Behaviors (both positive and negative) are influenced by reinforcement (both positive and negative). Let me provide you with a few examples of how these concepts marry up. Positive reinforcement of desired behavior: A first responder performs tasks safely and consistent with best practices and is publicly acknowledged and recognized by a supervisor for the behavior. Negative reinforcement of undesired behavior : A first responder performs tasks that are unsafe and inconsistent with best practices and is privately counseled with a warning that continuing the undesired behavior will result in a punitive consequence. Negative reinforcement of desired behavior : A first responder performs tasks safely and consistent with best practices and is admonished or ridiculed by a supervisor for performing the task with a primary consideration for personal safety. Positive reinforcement of undesired behavior: A first responder performs a task that is unsafe and inconsistent with best practices and a supervisor who is aware of the behavior fails to address it. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, October 06, 2015
SAM 076 | Ontario Fire Service Critical Incident Initiative
The Ontario Fire Service Critical Incident Initiative was formed when training officers in the province realized that, armed with accurate and timely information about critical incidents, they could use this data to drive training to improve firefighter safety. Currently in the province there is no formal agency whose charge is to capture and share this information with the fire service. While investigations have been completed on many critical incidents, assess to the data has been difficult as Provincial agencies have been slow to share the findings with the fire service. Not only can this lead to frustration, it can also lead to misinformation being shared. And while the training officers of Ontario can access and use near-miss and line-of-duty death reports from the United States, it is their belief that while there may be some similarities, there are just as likely some unique aspects about critical fire incidents in the Province. However, absent the access to data, they cannot confirm their suspicions and lack the data to drive changes in training. During this conversation, recorded on the campus of the Ontario Fire College, we discuss their vision for creating a system to gather and share information from critical incidents in Ontario. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information Brent Thomas Assistant Chief Orillia Fire Department 705-325-5889 bthomas2orillia.ca Steve MacInnis Training Director Kitchener Fire Department 519-741-2200 x5527 Stephen.macinnis@kitchener.ca Richard Craibbe Chief Training Officer Town of Oakville 905-845-6601 Richard.craibbe@oakville.ca Ontario Association of Fire Training Officers http://www.firetraining.ca Twitter/SafetyBluePrint www.TheSafetyBlueprint.com Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 29, 2015
SAM 075 | Interview with Personal Safety Expert Shawn Rafferty
Today’s guest is Shawn Rafferty, and expert on how to help people be more aware of their surroundings and how to prevent themselves from become a victim of violent acts. In light of recent events where members of the first responder community have been targeted for acts of violence, I thought this would be a great topic to discuss. However, since it’s not, explicitly, my area of knowledge (personal protection), I brought in the expert. Shawn Rafferty’s background includes having worked as a: U.S. Marine Corrections officer Police officer Force protection officer Security consultant Protective security specialist Martial arts instructor Firearms instructor Federal agent Shawn is married with 2 children. Son is 8 years old and daughter is 20 months old. His wife is from Malaysia and is a Major in the active Army National Guard. Currently they reside in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas while his wife attends the Command General Staff College. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information Shawn Rafferty Shawn@TheSafetyBlueprint.com Facebook.com/safetyblueprint Twitter/SafetyBluePrint www.TheSafetyBlueprint.com Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 22, 2015
SAM 074 | Creating the Thinking Firefighter
In this episode, I discuss how to create thinking firefighters and share powerful examples of how our training may be a set-up for failure not because of poor instruction. Rather, because instructors have not been taught the art and science of decision making on the drill ground. The focus is nearly always in the action of firefighting without consideration for the decision making that should precede the action. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, September 15, 2015
SAM 073 | Ryan Pennington on Hoarder Home Fires
The latest Book from Ryan Pennington, Hoarder Homes: Pile of Hazards for Firefighters is a culmination of three years of research into fires that occur inside homes filled with large amounts of belongings. Compulsive Hoarding Disorder is a psychological mental condition that affects between 2-5% of adults. With the number of afflicted growing so is the chances of firefighters having to deal with this issue. The book covers: · Introduction to Compulsive Hoarding Disorder · Dangers faced by firefighters · Identifying and Pre-Planning hoarding · Introduced to a new name for hoarding · Offensive Fire attack · Defensive attack · Searching in Hoarding conditions · Overhauling · Special additional chapter covers EMS response in Hoarding Conditions. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-ali
Tue, September 08, 2015
SAM 072 | The dispatcher’s role in forming situational awareness
Some of the least appreciated members of the emergency response team are the communications specialists (in some venues, termed dispatchers). How do I know this? First, I served as a communications specialist (my job title was dispatcher) early in my career and I was routinely subjected to criticism and ridicule from responders because the information I shared with them wasn’t always accurate – like I was giving them misinformation on purpose. Second, in my situational awareness classes I often hear the same criticism of communications specialists I endured almost 30 years ago. I would like to offer some perspective on communications specialists and the critical role they can play in forming and maintaining situational awareness for responders. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autosp
Tue, September 01, 2015
SAM 071 | Why does situational awareness matter?
This episode is a recording on an interview conducted by Adam Farrar, Fire Chief in Wadesville, Indiana. Chief Farrar’s department hosted a full-day SAMatters Tour stop in August which was the third time Chief Farrar had attended a program. Inspired by the message, Adam decided to write a research paper on the topic for one of his college classes and interviewed Dr. Gasaway on the origins of SAMatters, the definition of SA and the top 10 most challenging SA barriers. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situatio
Tue, August 25, 2015
SAM 070 | Your brain on drugs: The impact of acute stress on decision making.
Simply stated, the stressed brain does not function the same as the non-stressed brain and for first responders, that’s a BIG DEAL… because the environments we work in are often flooded with stress. Stress changes brain function and these changes can have some very desirable… and some VERY undesirable impacts on your ability to develop and maintain situational awareness and in your ability to make decisions. This episode is going to explore some of the impacts of stress on SA and decision making. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situationa
Tue, August 18, 2015
SAM 069 | Learning from Failure
You’ve heard the saying that a person learns more from their mistakes than they do from the things to do right. This is true in life and in firefighting. But there is a place and time to allow failure and this episode is dedicated to explaining how to build failure into your training evolutions. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt
Tue, August 11, 2015
SAM 068 | Teaching Decision Making
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. Discussions revolve around how we train first responders which requires training both cognitive and kinesthetic skills (i.e., information and muscle movement). Stated another way, teaching the WHAT and WHY (cognitive) and the HOW (kinesthetic). However, on the drill ground, some instructors bypass the cognitive and focus almost entirely on the kinesthetic. It is easy to understand why this happens, with the majority of explanations revolving around limited (precious) time on the drill ground. That is understandable. But it’s not acceptable. For teaching decision making does not add substantial time to hands-on evolutions, so long as the instructor has spent some time in the classroom teaching the foundations of decision making. The drill ground becomes the closest thing to real-life practice that a firefighter/officer can experience. Teaching decision making, in the context of the real environment, is a critical skill that MUST be practiced. This episode is dedicated to how to teach decision making in real-world context. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid
Tue, August 04, 2015
SAM 067 | Lieutenant Todd Budd Close Call Survivor
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. Lt. Budd was the officer of the quint. While responding, information was relayed to the crew (from one of their off-duty officers who was at the scene in an unofficial capacity) that the fire was in a building approximately 100 years old, 50 feet wide in the front and rear with 80-foot sides. There was a restaurant on the main floor, apartments on the second floor and an open cockloft. The fire was advancing and first-due units had been there for 11/2 hours prior to our dispatch. The crew was advised that the fire was extending into the cockloft and the roof needed to be ventilated. The quint’s assignment was to lay our five-inch supply line to an engine in the rear as they approached and get to the roof and ventilate. While on the roof to ventilate, Lieutenant Todd because distracted and he ended up walking right into the ventilation hole, resulting in several injuries… and several important lessons learned, including: 1. Considering the building type, construction and hazards prior to engagement. 2. The need to employ tactics that fit the situation, versus employing universal tactics taught in training. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;
Tue, July 28, 2015
SAM 066 | Dave Dodson Interview
In this episode Dave Dodson shares how he created the Art of Reading Smoke program that has become a must-attend program for all firefighters. He also discusses his latest project – his recently released Art of Reading Buildings book that he co-authored with John Mittendorf. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso
Tue, July 21, 2015
SAM 065 | Conducting the 360 size-up
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, for some reason, it’s not always done. This episode provides an explanation why that might happen and how to fix the problem. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awaren
Tue, July 14, 2015
SAM 064: Interview with Close Call Survivor Nick Miller
Deputy Chief Nick Miller was first-in on a residential trailer home fire that resulted in two close calls. The first occurred when Miller’s SCBA was running out of air and he did not hear the alarm. The second occurred when a captain and recruit firefighter were over run by heat and had to bail out a window to survive. Lessons learned included: The need for teamwork and crew coordination. The need to ensure communications are heard and understood. The need to coordinate incident activities and priorities. The importance of avoiding independent action on a fireground. The impact of task fixation Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none
Tue, July 07, 2015
SAM 063 | SA Q & A Session
The episode addresses five questions asked during SAMatters live Tour events, including: You've shared many of the challenges we face as first responders when our brains gets stressed. Are there any good things that come from our reaction to stress? You talked a lot in the program about identifying and understanding the critical clues and cues during size-up. I'm a newer firefighter. Is there anything I can do to get better at this skill? Do you have any advice for how a young officer can develop command competency (including command situational awareness)? During the presentation you said the training should be as realistic as possible. Our police department was doing "realistic" hand-to-hand combat training. So realistic, in fact, that some officers were getting hurt. So we stopped doing that. Now, the instructors tell us to only put forth "ten percent" effort... "go through the motions" of how to subdue someone, but don't actually do it because someone might get hurt. Based on what you just taught us, is this a set-up for failure? There are some safety training programs our employees take that are online, such as fire extinguisher usage. Is this type of training good? Should we also be doing hands-on training? Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout
Tue, June 30, 2015
SAM 062 | Review of the most popular close call interviews
What can you learn from someone who has survived 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 by the real-life experiences of close call survivors, sharing INCREDIBLE stories about how they nearly died and, in some cases, how their comrades did die. This episode reviews some of the most incredible interviews conducted with close call survivors, including: Episode 17: Indianapolis Fire Department Health & Safety Chief Doug Abernathy sharing his close call survival story at the Athletic Club Hotel Fire that claimed the lives of two firefighters. Episode 18: Aurora Fire Lieutenant Sean Dolan sharing his close call survival story from being caught in a flashover while operating a hose line to provide protection to a truck company crew conducting a primary search. Episode 35: Winnipeg Firefighter Lionel Crowther sharing his close call survival story from a flashover event at a residential dwelling fire that claimed the lives of two firefighters. Episode 42: Raleigh Fire Captain Steven Page sharing his close call survival story from being lost, disoriented and alone inside a commercial building fire and how he narrowly escaped with his life. Episode 45: Yakima County Fire District #5 Captain Dave Martin sharing his close call survival story from being caught in a fast moving wildland fire that almost claimed the life of a fellow firefighter. Episode 55: Cypress Creek Lieutenant Jason Corthel sharing his close call survival story resulting from a structural collapse that trapped him and a fell firefighter at an apartment building fire. Episode 57: Speedway Fire Lieutenant Jeff Cheshire sharing his close call survival story from being caught in rapidly changing conditions during a fire in an apartment building. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire
Tue, June 23, 2015
SAM 061 | Begin with the end in mind: A situational awareness best practice.
One of the essential components of well-developed situational awareness is being able to accurately predict the future. This prediction should be made during the initial scene size up and then it should be updated often as the incident progresses. In this episode we discuss the need to begin with the end in mind will be explored and tips will be provided for how to improve outcome predictions. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exa
Tue, June 16, 2015
SAM 060 | Explaining the Dynamic Decision Making Process
On this episode we discuss how to make decisions in dynamically changing environments and the importance of using situational awareness as the foundation for making good decisions under stress. It is the decisions that first responders make, while operating in high stress, high consequence, time compressed environments (using situational awareness) that drive successful or unsuccessful outcomes. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16
Tue, June 09, 2015
SAM 059 | Understanding Time Distortion
Individuals impacted by tachypsychia have described it as having the appearance that time is elongated, giving the appearance that events are moving slower than reality. The opposite has also been described, where it appears time is speeding up, sometimes moving so fast that things appeared blurred. In this episode we will also review a near-miss event where rapidly changing conditions at an apartment building fire put firefighters in a dangerous position. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace:
Tue, June 02, 2015
SAM 058 | Mission Myopia
The tones drop for an apartment building fire. On the way, dispatch is advising multiple calls, confirming a working fire and the possibility of people trapped. The mind of the officer on the aerial platform is busy processing – thinking – anticipating – what will need to be done upon arrival? Of course, truck work is on the officer’s mind: Forcible entry; search and rescue; ventilation. The officer takes a deep breath and smiles. It’s going to be a good day. That is… until the officer gets overcome by mission myopia. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospac
Tue, May 26, 2015
SAM 057 | Interview with Close Call Survivor Jeff Cheshire
On June 30, 2008 an intense wind driven blaze destroyed a apartment building in Speedway, Indiana. As crews arrives on the scene a large column of smoke filling the sky from the building located along I-465 just north of Hollister Drive. The fire started around 3:21 pm and quickly spread as high winds from the north pushed the fire further into the building. Lieutenant Jeff Cheshire, then serving as a firefighter on Engine 202 recounts how his crew got over run by rapidly changing fire conditions and how another fire crew got blown down a set of stairs but what was described as a backdraft or smoke explosion. Lessons Learned: The need to pay attention to clues that indicate unusual conditions. The need to trust your gut and to speak up when you sense something is not right. The need to overcome your concerns about what others might think of you if you suggest it may be time to leave. The need to rely on your training and to apply the lessons from training on the fireground. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0
Tue, May 19, 2015
SAM 056 | Explaining the neuroscience behind your gut feelings
It is amazing how many articles and videos I have watched lately in which they are talking about decision making based on “gut feel.” It is also disheartening how many first responders I have interviewed who have admitted to me that they have dismissed their gut feelings and proceeded to do things that resulted in bad outcomes. Let’s explore the origins of intuition. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;
Tue, May 12, 2015
SAM 055 | Interview with Close Call Survivor Jason Corthell
In this episode, Cypress Creek Lieutenant Jason Corthell shares his close call survival story where he was operating on the second floor of an exterior stairwell at an apartment building fire. The stairwell, not involved in fire at all, unexpectedly collapsed, trapping Lieutenant Corthell and District Chief Sanchez under tons of steel and concrete. A mayday was called and a rapid intervention crew was able to remove the debris and successful rescue the two firefighters. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;
Tue, May 05, 2015
SAM 054 | SA Q&A
In this episode, Dr. Richard B. Gasaway responds to five listener questions. Tune in as he shares the answers and provides some best practices for developing and maintaining strong situational awareness while working in high-risk, high consequence environments. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Situational Awareness Matters! website <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 28
Tue, April 28, 2015
SAM 053 | Brian Mulligan Close Call Survivor Interview
On May 12, 2012, Atascocita Volunteer Fire Captain Brian Mulligan and his crew responded to a reported gas leak that resulted in a very close call. If the circumstances were just slightly different, Brian could have been severely burned or electrocuted. Yes, at a gas leak call he almost got electrocuted! Listen in and learn how it happened and the valuable lessons Brian and his department took away from this event, including: The need to always be vigilant and, if it is possible, to expect the unexpected – to think about other explanations for what you may be seeing or hearing. As Brian will share, things are not always what they appear to be. Do not take anything for granted. Ensure you have a solid standard operating guideline for responses to gas emergencies. Brian’s department didn’t have one then… but they do now. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt
Tue, April 21, 2015
SAM 052 | Interview with Chief Jerry Streich
In this episode, I interview Andover (MN) Fire Chief Jerry Streich on the value of having a safety officer assigned during training evolutions. Chief Streich took part in a pilot program for the League of Minnesota Cities (his department’s insurance provided) in an effort to reduce training-related injuries. The program has now been in place for two years and the Andover Fire Department has not had a single training-related injury in that time. This is impressive. Chief Streich discusses how the program came about and how your department might benefit from assigning a safety officer during training incidents. Specific takeaways from this episode include: The importance of having safety on the minds of all participants in a training evolution. How safety can become a valued recruitment and retention tool. How to identify predictable injuries during training evolutions. How to reduce insurance costs by reducing training injuries. Ways to implement a training safety officer in your department. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats <p class="MsoNormal" sty
Tue, April 14, 2015
SAM 051 | Seek First to Understand
On Sunday March 29 Fire Captain Pete Dern was leading his crew across the roof to provide ventilation for the safety of attack crews when a catastrophic collapse dropped him into the inferno. Fellow Firefighters rescued him within minutes but he suffered 65-75 percent second and third degree burns across his body. Following the incident a video of the event quickly made its way across mainstream media and social media. I was encouraged by the outpouring of support. I was also repulsed by the number of firefighters who chose first to judge and speak poorly of Captain Dern and his department and their leadership. This episode is dedicated to Captain Dern and all firefighters who, in the moment, make split-second decisions that, for any of us, at any time, can result in tragedy. This episode is a call to action. There are three actions I am requesting of listeners. Answer the questions I pose during the radio show that forces all of us to seek first to understand, and to allay our impulse to judge others (especially those we do not know). Shoot a short (30 second maximum length) video from your crew, company or department, offering support to Captain Dern and his family. Give a donation to support the Dern Family (a link is in the show notes). Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-a
Tue, April 07, 2015
SAM 050 | Interview with Peter Schenk on Crew Resource Management
Peter Schenk has a wide and varied background. He has worked as a firefighter and a police officer. And he served 32 years with Northwest Airlines prior to their acquisition by Delta Airlines. Peter was involved in the early stages of development of the cockpit resource management systems (CRM), now known as Crew Resource Management. This program is widely credited for reducing aviation accidents by taking proactive steps to address human error and improve communications and teamwork. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-gri
Tue, March 31, 2015
SAM 049 | Interview Ryan Fuller Mayday Call
Just after 0700hrs Washington County 911 Dispatch received a call reporting heavy black smoke to the rear of 110 North Conococheague Street in Williamsport. The caller advised them that her house was also filling with the smoke from outside. Crews were quickly dispatched out on Box 2-1 at 07:20 hours that morning. Williamsport Rescue Engine 2 was able to see heavy smoke showing as they approached the scene. Lieutenant Nokes of Company 2 immediately requested the Working Fire Assignment as they arrived. Crews found heavy fire on side Charlie of the structure as they began their initial attack on the blaze. Chief William Ball from Company 2 arrived and assumed Command after a quick size up and face-to-face with Lieutenant Nokes. Firefighters worked to control the fire, but the fire found its way through a cock loft area and rapidly spread to different parts of the structure. At 07:48 hours Chief Ball requested a Second Alarm struck. As heavy smoke encompassed the Williamsport area, crews continued to work diligently to gain control of the blaze. Firefighter’s main game plan at this point was to keep the fire contained to the main fire building. At 08:15 Chief Ball requested a third alarm and Level 2 Staging was established at Company 2’s quarters on Brandy Drive east of the incident. All hands continued to work to bring the blaze under control when Assistant Chief Kopp declared a May-Day after seeing a firefighter go down and become separated from his crew at 08:27 hours. RIT was immediately sent in to assist, but luckily the firefighter was able to self-extricate himself from the debris and rejoin his group quickly with no injuries. Firefighters continued on their quest to gain control as the building was deteriorating around them. After observing this, Command called for all buildings to be evacuated at 09:54 hours. It was later declared at 10:19 hours by Command that the Main Fire Building was off limits to all personnel due to the structural integrity being compromised. Around 11:00 hours, crews were seeing less smoke coming from the building showing signs that their efforts were working. It took four hours reaching a total of Five Alarms before bringing the fire under control which was reported to dispatch by Command at 11:20 hours. Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours conducting salvage and over haul operations working to extinguish the remainder of the fire. Meanwhile the State Fire Marshal’s Office was on site working an investigation into what caused the blaze that destroyed this historical building. State FM26 Ed Ernst later announced that the cause was traced back to a furnace located in an outbuilding on side Charlie of the structure. The oil furnace malfunctioned sparking a fire in the attached out building which quickly spread to the main structure. Some Williamsport Residents were deva
Tue, March 24, 2015
SAM 048 | Helping responders with addiction
Firefighters and addiction. It’s not something we like to acknowledge or talk about. On this episode, we both acknowledge the problem and I have two guests from the American Addiction Centers here to give first responders advice about how to get help. I’m really excited to have as my guests Mark Lamplugh and Mike Healy, both first responders and both committed to helping first responders with addiction issues. Assistant Chief Michael A. Healy is a forty -four year member of the Rockland County, NY fire service. He has served two prior terms as a chief. He is a NYS Fire Instructor, the Coordinator of Fire Education at the Rockland County Fire Training Center, a hands on fire instructor for the NYS Association of Fire Chiefs, and a member of the Rockland County CISM team. Mike retired in 2008 from he NY Transit Authority as the Clinical Director of the NYC Transit / TWU Local 100 Union Assistance Program. He is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional, Substance Abuse Professional, and a Labor Assistance Professional – Certified. In 2011 he teamed with Mike Blackburn, (Battalion Chief Providence FD, retired) to build a program to offer help to firefighters throughout the country suffering from behavioral health issues. Teaming with the NVFC and American Addiction Centers we offer a national hotline number for firefighters and EMS personnel. Mark Lamplugh, Jr. is a 4th generation firefighter and former Captain with the Lower Chichester Fire Company. He is now a national treatment consultant with American Addiction Centers specializing in First Responder Services. Mark has placed and referred 100’s of firefighters nationwide. He currently working towards his degree in applied psychology from Florida Institute of Technology and is a member of the American Academy of Experts of Traumatic Stress. In this episode Mark and Mike talk about the growing issue of firefighter ad
Tue, March 17, 2015
SAM 047 | Interview with Chief Bobby Halton – Part 2
Chief Halton began his fire career in structural firefighting with the Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department. He left as chief of operations in 2004 and joined the Coppell (TX) Fire Department as its chief. He left this position to assume his duties at Fire Engineering. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico. He has served on National Fire Protection Association technical committees and is active with the National Fallen Firefighters Life Safety Initiatives. In this second part of a two-part interview (Part 1 was Episode 46) I start by asking Chief Halton to discuss what trends in the fire service are causing him concerns. Then we conclude with him sharing his wish list for firefighter safety. I want to apologize to the listeners and to Chief Halton for having some audio issues with Skype. Where I could, I edited the audio to reduce the annoyance. Double Backdraft Video Link FDIC Website Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:
Tue, March 10, 2015
SAM 046 | Interview with Chief Bobby Halton
Chief Halton began his fire career in structural firefighting with the Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department. He left as chief of operations in 2004 and joined the Coppell (TX) Fire Department as its chief. He left this position to assume his duties at Fire Engineering. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico. He has served on National Fire Protection Association technical committees and is active with the National Fallen Firefighters Life Safety Initiatives. In this two-part interview (Part 2 will be Episode 47) we start by talking about FDIC International 2015 and all the exciting learning and networking opportunities you’ll have there. You’ll quickly see why the FDIC is the premier fire service educational conference in the world. During the interview Chief Halton shared with me the FDIC is the largest educational conference of its kind in the world as far as attendance and course offerings. There are 280 hands-on training session instructors who will deliver 21 classes on Monday and Tuesday and 211 course offerings on Wednesday and Thursday. And that’s only the beginning of what FDIC International has to offer. Then we’ll transition into a discussion where Chief Halton shares what he’s seeing that gives him encouragement about firefighter safety. In Part 2 of the interview we’ll pick up the discussion and Chief Halton shares what he’s seeing in the fire service that’s causing him concern… and we’ll conclude the episode with him sharing three things that are on his firefighter safety wish list. I want to apologize to the listeners and to Chief Halton for having some audio issues with Skype. Where I could, I edited the audio to reduce the annoyance. Our sponsor: <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt
Tue, March 03, 2015
SAM 045 | Interview with Captain Dave Martin
Dave Martin’s crew was assigned to the task of keeping the wildland fire from jumping Highway 97. Around 2100, Captain Martin and a member of the tribal fire management team were assigned to conduct a back-burn operation along the highway. Unexpectedly, the fire blew up on them, eventually consuming 1,200 acres. While on a retreat from the fast moving fire, Captain Martin’s partner become entangled on a barbed wire fence. While being over run by hot embers and heavy smoke, Captain Martin used a utility knife to cut away his partner’s ensnarled clothing and they both narrowly escaped death. 1. The need to trust your intuition – your gut feel when it tells you something is not right. 2. The importance of standing your ground when you feel a mistake is being made by your partner. 3. The consequences of overlooking critical clues and cues that indicate conditions are changing. 4. How task fixation and mission myopia and serve as barriers that impact your situational awareness and flaw your decision making. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-s
Tue, February 24, 2015
SAM 044 | Interview with Asheville Fire Chief Scott Burnette – Part 2
Fire Chief Scott Burnette began his career as a firefighter for the City of Asheville (NC) Fire Department in 1995. Chief Burnette has an Associates Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Gaston College, a Bachelors Degree in Fire Safety Engineering Technology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Masters Degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Chief Burnette is designated as a Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Chief Burnette worked his way through the ranks and was promoted to Fire Chief in November 2009. In this two-part interview we start by talking about the structure fire at 445 Biltmore Avenue on July 28, 2011 that resulted in the tragic line-of-duty death of Captain Jeff Bowen. During this interview, Fire Chief Scott Burnette talks about that fateful day and the significant changes that have occurred in the Asheville Fire Department – changes that every fire department can benefit from. Chief Burnette discussed six top priorities they have been working in, including: 1.Air management 2.Staffing 3.Critical task analysis for RIT 4.Critical task analysis for incident management 5.Mayday operations 6.Health and wellness <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule:
Tue, February 17, 2015
SAM 043 | Interview with Asheville Fire Chief Scott Burnette – Part 1
In this two-part interview we start by talking about the structure fire at 445 Biltmore Avenue on July 28, 2011 that resulted in the tragic line-of-duty death of Captain Jeff Bowen. During this interview, Fire Chief Scott Burnette talks about that fateful day and the significant changes that have occurred in the Asheville Fire Department – changes that every fire department can benefit from. Takeaways from this interview include: 1. How the process of a facilitated debriefing helped the Asheville Fire Department identify the 16 focus reas that represented opportunities for improvement. 2. The importance of having an air management protocol and changing the department’s culture about air management. 3. The need to have the right staffing front-loaded at an incident scene, including a command aide (or command technician) to support the Incident Commander. 4. The value of completing critical task analysis to determine how many personnel are needed to perform vital tasks at incidents (such as RIT and incident management). 5. The importance of training personnel on how and WHEN to call a mayday. 6. The focus on health and wellness – ensuring members are fit for duty and providing on-duty time to workout. Our sponsor: Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com Intro Music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information Fire Chief Scott Burnette Asheville Fire Department stburnette@ashevillenc.gov Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/ Contact Rich Gasaway www.RichGasaway.com Support@RichGasaway.com 612-548-4424
Tue, February 10, 2015
SAM 042 | Interview with Close Call Survivor Captain Stephen Page
Raleigh Fire Captain Stephen Page, serving on the busy Ladder 4 in downtown Raleigh, responded to restaurant fire at 311 Glenwood Avenue. The ladder crew, followed by an engine crew with a hoseline, entered the heavily smoke filled environment with the mission of search and fire attack. Crews were quickly overrun by changing conditions and an evacuation was ordered. All the crews scrambled for the exit, leaving Captain Page behind… along… without water… and disoriented. During this interview he recounts the story and shares his best advice, including: 1. The need to pay attention to your gut instinct. 2. Big fires need big water. 3. Keep your focus on the big picture. 4. Assess the risk-benefit of making entry in zero visibility environments. 5. Maintaining allegiance to the mission of search, even after being informed by employees that everyone is out of the restaurant. 6. The need to overcome pride and the competitive nature of firefighters to avoid creating risk. Thank you to our sponsor:Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28
Tue, February 03, 2015
SAM 041 | Preparing to be a leader
In this episode Dr. Gasaway interviews Santa Clara County Deputy Chief Steve Prziborowski, Contra Costa Battalion Chief Bob Atlas and Pinole Firefighter Christopher Baker on how to prepare for promotion to ensure you are providing the right safety leadership to your crew. Each of the guests has a unique background and offer a varied perspective on how to prepare for a position of leadership. They offer their best advice for how to be a great company officer, including: 1. The need to have mentors. 2. The importance of being the “designated adult” in the firehouse. 3. The value of continual learning, even if your department won’t pay for it. 4. How to prepare for promotion. 5. And more! Thank you to our sponsor: Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information: Steve Prziborowski, Deputy Chief <p c
Tue, January 27, 2015
SAM 040 | Interview with Ryan Pennington
In this episode I interview Ryan Pennington who runs the website ChamberOfHoarders.com. Ryan has a passion for helping first responders understand the challenges of fighting fires in hoarded environments. In this episode you’ll learn: 1. Why Ryan prefers to call hoarded conditions “Heavy Content” and how that term applies to more than cluttered residential conditions. 2. How to use Ryan’s shortcut of: Identify, Confirm, Orient and Control to improve safety while operating at Heavy Content incidents. 3. Ryan shares the tactical considerations for operating at Heavy Content Incidents. 4. He discusses the challenges of keeping oriented during searches and discusses why it’s never a good idea to climb over the pile. 5. Finally, he shares some advice for how to remove victims from the Heavy Contents Environments. Thank you to our sponsor: Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: ex
Tue, January 20, 2015
SAM 039 | Station Alerting Noise Can Impact Situational Awareness
I recorded the featured content of this episode a few weeks back so you’ll notice the difference in the sound quality because I was using my standard podcasting microphone. This episode was inspired by a long conversation I had with some firefighters about challenges they are facing with their station alerting system so I decided to dedicate an episode to this potential situational awareness barrier. During this episode I discuss: 1. The impact loud noises can have on stress levels. 2. How noise triggers primal defenses. 3. The long-term impact of noise exposure. 4. The need to upgrade station alerting systems. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"
Tue, January 13, 2015
SAM 038 | Interview with Dr. Burt Clark
This episode is an interview with Dr. Burt Clark, author of the recently released book “I can’t save you but I’ll die trying: The American fire culture.” Dr. Clark shares his passion for firefighter safety and the need to change our culture. During this interview we discussed the themes in his book, including: 1. The Firefighter’s Genes: Fast, Close, Wet, Risk, Injury, Death 2. Seatbelts save lives. So why don’t we wear them? 3. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Know when to call it. 4. Best Practices 5. The Pursuit of Higher Education 6. His list of the best fire departments in America (from research he conducted based on criteria in the book: In Search of Excellence. Thank you to our sponsors: Midwest
Tue, January 06, 2015
SAM 037 | Interview with Dr. Chad Weinstein
Dr. Charles “Chad” Weinstein is the founder and president of Ethical Leaders in Action, a firm that exists to empower ethical leaders to achieve extraordinary results. He works primarily with leaders in public safety, healthcare, and business organizations. Dr. Weinstein recently authored a book – Thinking Aloud. Reflections on Ethical Leadership. During this interview we discussed: Dr. Weinstein’s three guiding principles of ethical leadership.- Excellence in service. - Sound stewardship. - Fairness. - How Dr. Weinstein works with fire departments to identify opportunities to achieve excellence in leadership. Dr. Weinstein’s new book – a collection of essays that can be used to inspire conversations about leadership best practices and the connection of safety, culture and ethical leadership. Thank you to our sponsors:Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.comBranding Iron Marketing: BrandingIron.com Intro musicSafety Dance (1982)Men Without HatsGMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-
Tue, December 30, 2014
SAM 036 | Interview with Lionel Crowther - Part 2
This is part 2 of a 2-part Interview. Feb. 4, 2007, is the day that changed the lives of Lionel and Joanna Crowther forever. A firefighter with the Winnipeg, Manitoba, Fire Department, Lionel was off duty when he got called in for an overtime shift. Early into the shift his company, Engine 101 was dispatched to a reported residential dwelling fire. Within minutes of responding to the call, a flashover occurred. Flames engulfed the entire house, trapping several firefighters on the second floor. Lionel managed to escape by jumping out of a second-story window. When the smoke cleared and the flames were extinguished, two fire captains had been killed and four firefighters, including Lionel, were severely burned. Take aways from this two-part interview include: 1. Department members received RIT training but were not trained on how or when to call a mayday, a missing component that would prove critical to the outcome of this incident. 2. The importance of being a student of every fire. 3. The need to acknowledge our own weaknesses and see where we have opportunities to improve. 4. The importance of not judging others, regardless of their opinions. 5. The value of learning from LODD reports and near-miss reports. 6. How many little mistakes add up and lead to catastrophe. 7. How brain function changes under stress and how our apparent “common sense” will be non-existent. 8. The impact of tragedy on family members. 9. Tragic outcomes can happen to any of us… ANY of us! Thank you to our sponsors: Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com Branding Iron Marketing: BrandingIron.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information Lionel Crowther ljncrowther@gmail.com
Tue, December 23, 2014
SAM 035 | Interview with close call survivor Lionel Crowther - Part 1
This is part 1 of a 2-part Interview. Feb. 4, 2007, is the day that changed the lives of Lionel and Joanna Crowther forever. A firefighter with the Winnipeg, Manitoba, Fire Department, Lionel was off duty when he got called in for an overtime shift. Early into the shift his company, Engine 101 was dispatched to a reported residential dwelling fire. Within minutes of responding to the call, a flashover occurred. Flames engulfed the entire house, trapping several firefighters on the second floor. Lionel managed to escape by jumping out of a second-story window. When the smoke cleared and the flames were extinguished, two fire captains had been killed and four firefighters, including Lionel, were severely burned. Take aways from this two-part interview include: 1. Department members received RIT training but were not trained on how or when to call a mayday, a missing component that would prove critical to the outcome of this incident. 2. The importance of being a student of every fire. 3. The need to acknowledge our own weaknesses and see where we have opportunities to improve. 4. The importance of not judging others, regardless of their opinions. 5. The value of learning from LODD reports and near-miss reports. 6. How many little mistakes add up and lead to catastrophe. 7. How brain function changes under stress and how our apparent “common sense” will be non-existent. 8. The impact of tragedy on family members. 9. Tragic outcomes can happen to any of us… ANY of us! Thank you to our sponsors: Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com Branding Iron Marketing: BrandingIron.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records Guest Contact Information Lionel Crowther ljncrowther@gmai
Tue, December 16, 2014
SAM 034 | Firefighting: It's a whole new ballgame
Situaitonal Awareness WebcastFirehouse.comhttps://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1044687 Thank you to our sponsors: Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com Branding Iron Marketing: BrandingIron.com Intro music Safety Dance (1982) Men Without Hats GMC - Virgin Records <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 5
Tue, December 09, 2014
SAM 033 | Interview with Deputy Chief Adam Farrar
On January 14, 2010 the Wadesville Fire Department was dispatched to a residential dwelling fire. Deputy Chief Adam Farrar served as the incident commander. During the incident, a crew on the interior attack nearly fell into the basement through a burned out floor and then a second narrowly escaped off the roof before it gave way under the strain of fire in the attic. Some takeaways from the interview include: 1.The need to complete a thorough 360-degree size-up to form situational awareness about what is burning and where the fire is located. 2.Ensuring haste does not compel a firefighting crew to rush into a situation that could otherwise prove catastrophic. 3.The need for a strong commander who is willing and able to order a crew out of a structure… when the crew may not want to come out. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0p
Tue, December 02, 2014
SAM 032 | Twelve Ways to Situational Awareness
Here is my Twelve Ways to Situational Awareness wish list. I hope you have all of them on Christmas day and every day throughout the year. 12: Communications skills: This includes both listening and speaking skills. Flawed communications is a significant barrier to situational awareness. I’ve written about this in numerous articles, including some suggestions for how to improve communications. Click on the “Categories” box on the right hand side of the page and enter “Communications” to see the articles on this topic. In the early days, they used to communicate by banging drums. Now we have handheld computers. Yet we’re still plagued by communications challenges. There are many opportunities for improvement in this arena. 11. Vigilance: To be vigilant is to be on-guard. Always on-guard. Your imagination isn’t good enough to think of all the ways this job can kill you. Being alert, even when it seems like things are routine. That is the mindset of a survivalist. Nero may have fiddled while Rome burned and eleven pipers may have piped for Christmas. Play whatever instrument you want. Just be sure you do it with your guard up. Always! 10. Avoiding judgment: The judging mind cannot learn. When you jump to conclusions about how firefighters are getting hurt and killed you miss some very important lessons about how things unfolded around them – why things made sense at the moment things went wrong. This Christmas season the lords may be leaping. But keep your feet planted firmly on the ground. No jumping to conclusions. 9. Ask the hard questions: When your department has a near miss or a casualty event, don’t dance around the issue. Address the issues head-on. Near miss casualty events are wonderful learning opportunities. If you’re going to do any dance, make it a safety dance, not the denial dance. The moves for the safety dance result in learning, enlightenment and change. The moves for the denial dance produce anger, resentment and blame. 8. Debrief: There is a lesson to learn after every incident. Even when things go well there are lessons to be learned. Milk every opportunity to learn and share. If you can’t think of one, come up with a “what-if” scenario to discuss – discussing how things might have turned out if the circumstances were just slightly different. Don’t be shy. Grab the teat and give it a squeeze. <p class="MsoNormal" style="
Tue, November 25, 2014
SAM 031 | Interview with Elyria Captain Joe Pronesti
On February 18, 2009, Elyria Fire Captain Joe Pronesti responded to a fire alarm activation call on a college campus. The first arriving engine reported heavy smoke coming from multiple buildings. In search of the source of the smoke, crews would learn the fire was in a tunnel that connected multiple buildings on the campus. Captain Pronesti was involved in advancing a hoseline and fighting the underground fire. While approximately 300’ inside the tunnel on the attack, his low air alarm started ringing. He ran out of air before making it completely out, disconnected his regulator and breathed products of combustion. Upon exiting, he provided a briefing to his commander and without warning, or his knowledge, collapsed to the ground (from smoke exposure and exhaustion). This occurred just a few minutes after exiting the structure. Had he collapsed in the smoke filled tunnel, the results could have been catastrophic. On a side note, at the time of the fire, the Elyria Fire Department was undergoing an evaluation of the fire department budget and staffing. There was an outside consultant on premise when the fire alarm activation came in and, to say the least, the crews were worried and distracted. Some might even speculate they were frustrated and perhaps feeling betrayed by the city. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.
Tue, November 18, 2014
SAM 030 | Interview with Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Ken Prillaman
On Saturday, September 13, 2014, the Brooklyn Park Fire Department was dispatched to a medical call that had the potential to be catastrophic for the members of their department, their EMS transport provider and their police department. The call was for a person having a stroke. As the crew arrived and made entry through the front door of the house there was a man on the floor having a seizure. The two police officers on the scene were attending to the individual. One of the firefighters on the scene, Jeff St. Martin, noticed a mess of exhaust and heard what sounded like a motor running. His quick actions prevented a catastrophic outcome. Some takeaways from the interview include: 1.How complacency can creep into our mindset that we are responding to “just another medical call.” 2.How strong situational awareness can alert us when the pieces of the puzzle don’t fit… and things don’t make sense.
Tue, November 11, 2014
SAM 029 | Interview with Spokane Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer
On July 5, 2013, the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported commercial building fire at the Mayfair Professional Building, located at 5901 North Mayfair. Within two minutes of the alarm, the first arriving company found light smoke coming from the area of the HVAC units in the side of the building. The structure was a Type 5 construction, two-story structure with a basement. The fire progressed quickly, nearly trapping crews on the first floor and in the basement. Some takeaways from the interview include: 1. How rapidly changing fire conditions can unexpectedly over run crews. 2. You’re hear what you can learn when the fire does not behavior as expected (i.e., the puzzle pieces don’t fit). 3. You can become normalized to your environment and may not see the severity of the conditions. 4. How volumes of radio traffic on a single tactical channel can impact scene safety if at-risk crews cannot communicate via radio. 5. Time distortion impacted perception of speed of the incident. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly; mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace
Tue, November 04, 2014
SAM 028 | Interview with technology guru Darrell O'Donnell
This episode is an interview with Technology Guru Darrell O’Donnell. I met Darrell through my social media channels. Darrell is located in Ottawa, Ontario and runs a very successful consulting and coaching business where he bridges the knowledge gap between the technology creators and innovators and the front end users of that technology – us… the first responder community. As you can imagine, this is no easy task. Darrell has a special passion for technology that helps first responders develop, maintain and improve situational awareness by providing rapid access to critical information that can aid in decision making. We recorded this interview in Darrell’s home in Ottawa where he invited me to join his wife Nancy, his daughter Haley and his son Connor for dinner. Coincidentally, it was Connor’s 15th birthday so I got to be part of that celebration, which was really cool. I was in town working on a project that brought 40 researchers and practitioners together from around the world to develop an international curriculum for compartment fire behavior training. It was an awesome opportunity to share and learn with some amazingly smart and talented fire service leaders. I was honored to be selected to develop a situational awareness and decision making component for the curriculum. This will be, to my knowledge, the first international curriculum that incorporates a full-day of decision making and situational awareness training. <p class="MsoNormal" styl
Tue, October 28, 2014
SAM 027 | Interview with Jeff Dill and Less Karpluk
On this episode I interview Jeff Dill from the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance and Les Karpluk, retired fire chief and owner of Genesis 2020 Solutions, a leadership teaching and consulting firm located in Prince Albert Saskatchewan. During the interview we: 1. Share a dvice about how to prepare for our climb down the ladder of success. 2. Talk about how to maintain your identity and find your new passion and purpose on retirement. 3. Discuss how firefighters can suffer from loss of identity as they retire and go from “Hero to Zero” all in one day. 4. Jeff talks about the 531 reported firefighter suicides, including the 120 that have been retirees. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0
Tue, October 21, 2014
SAM 026 | Interview with Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner
For more show notes and pictures, visit: www.SAMatters.com/26/ On this episode I interview Fire Chief Gord Schreiner from the Comox Fire Department, located on beautiful Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Chief Schreiner holds the distinction of being one of the most impressive fire service thought leaders I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet. Gord Schreiner started in the fire service in 1975 and is the full-time Fire Chief in Comox, BC where he also manages the Comox Fire Training Centre. The Comox Fire Training Centre hosts about 500 students per year and consists of four training buildings that are full of very creative and innovative training props. Chief Schreiner is also a structural protection specialist (sprinklers) with the Office of the Fire Commissioner and worked at the 2010 Olympics as a venue commander. He also serves as the Educational Chair for the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia. In 2010 Chief Schreiner was named the Canadian Career Fire Chie
Tue, October 14, 2014
SAM 025 | Mayday! A firefighter falls through a weakened floor.
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 about 15,000. Listen in as John discusses how he responded to a mutual aid residential dwelling fire and fell through a weakened floor. As he notes, the only thing that kept him from falling all the way through was his SCBA. The house that was on fire was a vacant, dilapidated structure with a fire on the second floor. John was part of a crew that was looking for fire extension on the second floor of this large farm-style house. While on the second floor, John separated from his partner – by his estimates – approximately 20 feet or so, and entered a room where the floor was weakened – not from fire, but from rot. With no warning, John fell through the floor and was caught by his SCBA bottle. This resulted in a Mayday and John’s successful rescue. During this interview, John will share some valuable lessons learned, including: 1.The importance of not being complacent and letting your guard down. Simply because you are in an environment that does not contain a lot of smoke and fire, doesn’t mean you are not in danger. 2.John recalls hearing someone announce the structure was in poor condition and the floors had been compromised – yet he still fell through a weakened spot. 3.At the time, the department did not have a mayday policy and firefighters were not trained to a standardized
Tue, October 07, 2014
SAM 024 | Firefighter involved in apparatus accident. A close call survival story
On this episode, I interview Firefighter Richard Marcus of the New Hartford Volunteer Fire Department in Connecticut. On May 5, 2006, Firefighter Marcus was in the officer’s seat of New Hartford Engine 1 responding to a report of a fire on the roadside. While in route, they were cancelled and a discussion in the cab caused the driver to become momentarily distracted. For the brief moment that he had his eyes off the roadway, the engine drifted of the right side of the road. While the driver attempted to correct and recover, the engine veered out of control and struck a tree on the officer’s side of the engine. As a result, Firefighter Marcus suffered multiple injuries that included a spinal fracture and bilateral knee injuries. All firefighters riding in the engine were wearing seat belts. However the engine was older and was only equipped with lap belts, not shoulder belts. Listen in as Firefighter Marcus shares this incredible story of how this incident impacted his life. Lessons learned include: 1.The adoption of commercial driver’s license (or Q-endorsements in Connecticut) for drivers. 2.The implementation of a sterile cockpit policy (adopted from the airline industry). This is a topic I speak about in the SAMatters Online Academy and during the live Fifty Ways to Kill a First Responder program. I will talk about this more in an upcoming podcast. 3.Changes the department made in vehicle safety following
Thu, October 02, 2014
SAM 023 | Three feet from death. An interview with Captain John Lightly - Part 2
On this episode I continue my interview with Captain John Lightly. John as served as a member of the Youngstown, Ohio Fire Department for 13 years. Youngstown FD has 8 stations and a sworn strength of 135 firefighters. John’s married and has twin daughters who are in 3rd grade. So you can imagine how exciting… and hectic John’s life is. I really appreciate him sitting down with me and sharing his close call survivor story where he almost died as a result of being caught in a flashover. For reasons that will become obvious during the interview, I title this episode “3 feet from death” and dedicate to all the firefighters who’ve been caught in a flashover and did not live to tell their story. In this two-part story, you will learn: 1.How John conducted his size up and made a determination, based on clues and cues that formed his situational awareness, that there was a high probability the house was occupied. 2.How the flashover occurred within two minutes of entry – a recurring theme I see at flashover casualty incidents. 3.How communications challenges influenced understanding among crew members. 4.How John experienced TachyPsychia – or a slowing down of ti
Tue, September 30, 2014
SAM 022 | Three feet from death. An interview with Captain John Lightly - Part 1
This episode is Part 1 of a 2-part interview with Captain John Lightly. John as served as a member of the Youngstown, Ohio Fire Department for 13 years. Youngstown FD has 8 stations and a sworn strength of 135 firefighters. John’s married and has twin daughters who are in 3rd grade. So you can imagine how exciting… and hectic John’s life is. I really appreciate him sitting down with me and sharing his close call survivor story where he almost died as a result of being caught in a flashover. For reasons that will become obvious during the interview, I title this episode “3 feet from death” and dedicate to all the firefighters who’ve been caught in a flashover and did not live to tell their story. In this two-part story, you will learn: 1.How John conducted his size up and made a determination, based on clues and cues that formed his situational awareness, that there was a high probability the house was occupied. 2.How the flashover occurred within two minutes of entry – a recurring theme I see at flashover casualty incidents. 3.How communications challenges influenced understanding among crew members. 4.How John experienced TachyPsychia – or a slowing down of time when the flashover occurred. <p class="MsoNormal" style="
Mon, September 22, 2014
SAM 021 | Interview with Sean Balantic - A close call survivor story
Hello and welcome to episode 21 of the Situational Awareness Matters radio show. I am your host, Rich Gasaway. The purpose of this show is to improve situational awareness and decision making for individuals and teams who work in high risk, high consequence environments. The SAMatters mission is simple… To help you see the bad things coming… in time to avoid bad outcomes. I have a great interview coming up, so stay tuned for that. But before I introduce our guest, I’m uber excited to share with you an announcement about some really valuable features we are going to be adding for the benefit of the Situational Awareness Matters community. First, as many of you know, about a year ago we launched the Situational Awareness Matters Online Academy. The feedback from the students was awesome and we’ve taken your great ideas and rolled them into an updated version of the Academy. One of the features will
Mon, September 15, 2014
SAM 020 | Interview with Fire Chief Patrick Kenny
On this episode I interview Fire Chief Patrick Kenny from the Village of Western Springs, Illinois Fire Department. Chief Kenny talks candidly about losing his son, Sean, to suicide – and the importance of mental health for first responders. I first heard Chief Kenny’s message when he delivered his program at the VCOS Symposium in Clearwater Beach. Today, we were both presenters at the FASNY Convention on Albany, New York. After our programs we sat down and talked about his Mayday for Mental Health program. During the interview Chief Kenny shares: 1.How he lost his son, Sean, to suicide. 2.How he developed a program to share the message of mental health for first responders. 3.The powerful feedback he has received on his impassioned message. 4.How important it is for this topic to be discussed in fire departments. 5.How he almost lost a member of his department to suicide and how he was saved. 6.How our culture needs to change to take the stigma out of mental health. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308
Mon, September 08, 2014
SAM 019 | Investigator Steven Hough Interview
On this episode I interview retired Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Investigator Steven Hough. Steven was shot three times by a suspect and the return fire mortally wounded the assailant. In this gripping interview, Investigator Hough shares: 1.How his training paid off under the stress of gunfire. 2.How he experienced the Fog of War, and he explains in detail what that means. 3.How he used a combat breathing technique to keep himself calm. 4.Why it is so important to get yourself mentally and physically prepared for the fight. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0p
Mon, September 01, 2014
SAM 018 | Interview with Aurora (CO) Fire Lt. Sean Dolan
I titled this episode: What I learned in two minutes. It is an interview Lieutenant Sean Dolan from the Aurora Fire Department. On January 7, 2013 Sean, then serving as a firefighter on Engine 7 became a close call survivor when he entered a structure fire at 16562 East Asbury Place, a single story residential fire with confirmed people trapped. Sean made entry through the front door with an inch-and-three-quarter line to provide protection for the truck company crew that was searching for the known victim. As conditions took a turn for the worse, Sean was caught in the wake of a fast advancing fire. A mayday was called and Sean suffered second and third degree burns prior to being pulled to safety by a fellow firefighter. While the entire experience lasted just two minutes, Sean has some great advice for others and he shares some powerful lessons learned including: 1.Having gut feelings (known as intuition) and how he ignored the warning signs of his intuition. He recognized the conditions and what needed to be done and, as he stated: Talked myself out of it. <p class="MsoListParagrap
Mon, August 25, 2014
SAM 017 | Interview with Doug Abernathy - Indianapolis Fire Department
On this episode I interview Indianapolis Fire Department Chief of Health and Safety, Doug Abernathy. Doug’s career has spanned almost three decades and on February 5, 1992, he had a close call event that, most unfortunately, took the lives of two of his brother firefighters. In this episode, you’ll learn about: 1. Doug’s close call that involved tunnel vision and running out of air on the third floor. 2. How he became disoriented and realized, for the first time in his life, he may die in a fire. 3. How he was in shock and disbelief that he was carrying out downed firefighters. 4. How is training saved his life. 5. Reflection shared by Indiana State Fire Training Director, John Buckman, III <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; ms
Fri, August 22, 2014
SAM Special Episode 002 | Near Miss Expert Panel Discussion at FRI in Dallas
This episode is a recording of a near-miss panel discussion held at Fire-Rescue International in Dallas, Texas. The panel, consisting of Chief Josh Waldo (Oakridge, TN), Training Officer Andrew Beck (Mandan, ND) and myself discuss three near events, including: 1.A live training burn near-miss involving the crazing of a facepiece. 2.A haz-mat call near-miss involving a Freon leak. 3.An EMS call near-miss involving a patient with weapons You can visit them at www.FirefighterNearMiss.com <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.
Mon, August 18, 2014
SAM 016 | Impact of Fatigue on Situational Awareness
The SAMatters mission is simple… To help you see the bad things coming… in time to avoid bad outcomes. On this episode…. 1. We will look at the hot button issue of first responder fatigue. 2. We will review a near-miss report that emphasizes the importance of having a designated safety officer. 3. And I will discuss a community question that addresses which, among the more than 100 situational awareness barriers, is the most pervasive. Situational Awareness Matters! website <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 1
Mon, August 11, 2014
SAM 015 | Radio Traffic Can Impact Situational Awareness
The SAMatters mission is simple… To help you see the bad things coming… in time to avoid bad outcomes. On this episode…. 1.We’ll discuss how radio traffic can impact situational awareness. 2.I’ll share a near-miss incident where a firefighter fell through an open crawl space hatch in a floor… left open by other firefighters. 3.Finally, I will answer one of the most often asked questions I receive… what does it cost to host a Situational Awareness Matters Tour Stop Event? Situational Awareness Matters! website www.SAMatters.com <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;
Sat, August 02, 2014
SAM 014 | Interview with Louisiana State Fire Training Director Dave Casey
On this episode I interview Dave Casey, Director of the Louisiana State Fire & Emergency Training Institute on the need for realistic first responder training. During the interview, Dave shared: 1.The need to turn off the PowerPoint, get out of the classroom, and into the field for hands-on training. 2.Some of the challenges associated with electronic learning. 3.The benefits of demonstrating skills during scenario-based evolutions. 4.The need to perform high fidelity training, combining all the practical skills together in complete practice scenarios. 5.The use of task books to track skill development. 6.Challenges with creating realism with gas-fired firefighting props. Fire Engineering Magazine http://www.fireengineering.com/index.html Fire Engineering Books and Videos http://www.pennwellbooks.com/fire.html Dave Casey’s Consulting Business
Fri, July 25, 2014
SAM 013 | Training for Failure
Hello and welcome to episode 013 of the Situational Awareness Matters radio show. I am your host, Rich Gasaway. The purpose of this show is to improve situational awareness and decision making for individuals and teams who work in high risk, high consequence environments. The SAMatters mission is simple… To help you see the bad things coming… in time to avoid bad outcomes. EPISODE OUTLINE 1.In the feature segment we’ll talk about training for failure, how it happens and I’ll offer some advice for how to o
Fri, July 18, 2014
SAM 012 | Interview with Fire Chief Alan Predmore - Buckley (WA) Fire Department
Hello and welcome to episode 12 of the Situational Awareness Matters radio show. I am your host, Rich Gasaway. The purpose of this show is to improve situational awareness and decision making for individuals and teams who work in high risk, high consequence environments. The SAMatters mission is simple… To help you see the bad things coming… in time to avoid bad outcomes. On this episode I had the pleasure of interviewing Alan Predmore, the fire chief in Buckley, Washington. I have had the opportunity to deliver multiple programs for the Buckley Fire Department over the past five years and this past February Chief Predmore invited me out to talk with the students in their recruit academy about situational awareness. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.
Fri, July 11, 2014
SAM 011 | Interview with Seattle Fire Department Training Chief Phil Jose
On this episode I had the opportunity to tour the Seattle Fire Department training facility and I sat down and talked with Phil Jose, the training chief for the Seattle Fire Department. During the interview, Chief Jose shared some of the things he is focused on to improve the situational awareness and decision making abilities of Seattle firefighters including: 1.Conducting Post Incident Analyses (PIA) of major fire incidents, defined as one that results in a firefighter injury, a civilian fatality, or a 3rd alarm or greater. 2.Their efforts toward officer development despite the challenges of operating short staffed (roughly 100 vacant firefighter positions). 3.How they are working to instill the core competencies of Trust, Competence and Vision in their members. 4.How they are working with company officers who would be arriving first-in at fires to develop situational awareness and make high quality decisions. INFORMATION If you are interested in attending a live event, you can check out the Situational Awareness Matters Tour Stop schedule at: SAMatters.com
Thu, July 10, 2014
SAM 010 | Interview with Jack Sullivan - Responder Safety Institute
On this episode I interview Jack Sullivan, Director of Training for the Responder Safety Institute. The mission of the Institute is to reduce highway incidents involving first responders and to minimize the impact of responders who are involved in these incidents. Our discussion was recorded at the National Volunteer Fire Council Summit in Myrtle Beach where Jack was presenting on highway incident safety and I was presenting program on Thirty deadly situational awareness barriers. Thank you to the fifty-plus people who attended my session and for sharing your wonderful feedback. The one seasoned veteran who noted: “I realized I don’t know what I thought I knew” is a common response to this program. Rest easy, my friend. I am trying very hard to change that… through the articles on the website, the on-line academy, the books, the videos, the live programs and of course, through this radio show. Stick with me and we’ll change that for you. During this interview, Jack shares: 1.How a seemingly routine incident caused Jack to lose a friend and how this wake up call inspired him to get involved in educating responders on roadway incidents. 2.How the Institute uses case studies, dash cam videos, and department of transportation videos to build awareness of roadway incidents. <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: medi
Fri, June 27, 2014
SAM 009 | Interview with Captain John Wright - Close Call Survivor
On this episode we walk with Captain John Wright from the Flower Mound (Texas) Fire Department. Captain Wright survived an extremely close call while operating as an interior search crew at a residential dwelling fire. On June 17, 2011 the Flower Mound Fire Department along with several mutual aid companies responded to a residential structure fire. During the incident, Captain Wright and Firefighter Trujillo became overrun by fire on the second floor. The rapidly increasing fire disorientated them and they became lost in the fire room. After the Mayday was called, Firefighter Trujillo located two small windows on the wall opposite of where the fire had broken through the wall. Both men made a narrow escape seconds before the room flashed. As you listen you’ll hear him share some very strong lessons related to numerous situational awareness barriers. You’ll hear him share how he was: · Afflicted by a sense of urgency · How muscle memory from past training impacted his performance · How unconscious competency benefited him · How he suffered from tunnel vision and why tunnel vision isn’t anything like what he’d thought it would be · How he suffered from time distortion <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; font-size: medium; font-family: Cambria; text-indent: -0.25in; lin
Fri, June 20, 2014
SAM 008| Another false alarm - A tale of complacency
In episode 2, I spoke a little bit about complacency. The feedback was awesome, thank you everyone for that. 1. In this episode I will continue on that topic and share a how a false alarm mindset can lead to complacency. 2. In the near-miss report we will share an incident where complacency caused a firefighter to fall through a weakened floor at a residential dwelling fire. 3. And in the question/answer segment, we will explore why the “Blind Search” drill may be a set-up for failure and consequence. FEATURE TOPIC Another False Alarm: A Tale of Complacency Complacency is a big deal for first responders because it impacts your situational awareness on multiple levels. I would like to give every responder the benefit of the doubt that if or when they have found him or herself being complacent that it was not happening on purpose. In other words, I hope every responder desires to be diligent and alert. Yet, complacency still gets us. I recently had an up close and personal experience with this that I’d like to share. If you follow my Twitter or Facebook updates you know this: I travel. A lot. I am sort of living my own version of Planes, Trains and Automob
Mon, June 16, 2014
SAM Special Episode 001 | International Fire EMS Safety & Health Week
On this episode we celebrate the International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week. My guest is Ryan Pennington, webmaster at Views from the Jumpseat and host of Jumpseat Radio. We are talking about the International Fire and EMS Safety and Health Week and its theme: Train like you fight! INFORMATION If you are interested in attending a live event, you can check out the Situational Awareness Matters Tour Stop schedule at: SAMatters.com . Click on the Program and Keynotes tab just below the header. Then click on the Events Schedule tab. If I am in your area, I hope you will consider attending a live event. If you are not able to attend a live event, consider signing up for the SAMatters On-Line Academy. The Academy contains videos and articles that cover the same content as a three-day live tour event, delivered in 14 modules you can go through at your own pace, from your own computer. If you sign-up for the Academy Plus version you will also receive four situational awareness books that are cross-referenced throughout the Academy. The Plus version is a great bargain because the tuition simply covers the cost of the books… making the Academy free! Just click on the link below the header on the SAMatters home page titled On-Line Academy. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Cambria; line-height: 16pt;"
Fri, June 13, 2014
SAM 007 | Captain Jeff Bowen Line of Duty Death
Hello and welcome to episode 7 of the Situational Awareness Matters radio show. I’m your host, Rich Gasaway. The purpose of this show is to improve situational awareness and decision making for individuals and teams who work in high stress, high consequence environments. Our mission is simple… To help you see the bad things coming… in time to prevent bad outcomes. I am broadcasting to you today from my Situational Awareness Matters Get in the Loop Tour Stop in Erwin, Tennessee where I am training 950 employees from Nuclear Fuel Services on situational awareness and the challenges faced by industrial workers. NFS processes the uranium that powers the nuclear navy. I am honored they have engaged me in a multi-year contract to help improve the safety of their employees. Thank you NFS for this opportunity. On this episode we’ll talk about: 1. The Line of Duty Death of Asheville Fire Captain Jeff Bowen. 2. In the near-miss lesson learned we’ll talk about an incident where flawed situational awareness led to firefighters being caught in a ceiling collapse. 3. And in the Question/Answer segment we’ll take a program attendee question about fatigue. FEATURE TOPIC <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0
Fri, June 06, 2014
SAM 006 | Wayne Williams Interview on safety and situational awareness
On this episode we’ll talk 1. Briefly about the myth of multitasking 2. We’ll listen to an interview I recorded with a wildland firefighting safety officer with 40 years of experience on the line. 1. Developing the mindset of a Just Culture in the wildland firefighting community. 2. Why a culture of compliance won’t work. 3. How age brought wisdom and helped Wayne realize the need for instant gratification was far less important than the goal to bring everyone home in one piece. 4. His view on fire shelters and their limitations and why he says he would not carry one unless he was forced to and why he thinks the fire shelter is “a political piece of equipment.” <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 28.0pt; line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 1
Fri, May 30, 2014
SAM 005 | Emotions, decision making and situational awareness
On this episode we’ll talk about… 1. The role of emotions in decision making. 2. I’ll share a report about a first responder who had a near-miss with a chain saw. 3. And we’ll talk about why so few first responders and industrial workers are being taught about situational awareness. FEATURE TOPIC How you decide to do something… or not do something is a complex process that involves multiple brain regions. Are decisions made with the rational brain or the intuitive brain? The answer, surprisingly, is both. Rational judgment allows you to process facts and data essential to good decision making. Intuition allows you to tap into past training and experiences and quickly glean the lessons of your successes and failures – lessons seeded deep into memory by… emotions. The role of
Fri, May 23, 2014
SAM 004| The 360 degree size up role in situational awareness
On this episode we’ll talk about… 1. The importance of completing a 360 degree size-up. 2. We’ll share a near-miss event where a combination of inexperience, freelancing, and assumptions led to a loss of accountability. 3. And we’ll address a community member’s question about how to develop expert knowledge in younger officers who are seeing less fires.
Fri, May 16, 2014
SAM 003 | Situational Awareness - Clues and Cues
On this episode we’ll talk about… 1.Positive and negative clues and cues that form situational awareness. 2.We will share a near-miss event where a first responder was nearly run over by a fire department command vehicle. 3.And we will address a dilemma where a listener shares his concern about his department training officer and the seemingly lack of interest in conducting mayday and rapid intervention training because, as the listener writes… He thinks it will never happen here. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"
Fri, May 09, 2014
SAM 002 | Complacency
On this episode we’ll talk about… 1.Habits, routines and complacency. 2.We will look at a near-miss event where tunnel vision and complacency may have flawed situational awareness. 3.And we will address a question from an SAMatters community member about how to make mayday training more realistic. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in
Fri, May 02, 2014
SAM 001 | Defining and explaining situational awareness
Welcome to the first episode of the Situational Awareness Matters! Radio show. And since this is the first episode I thought it would be appropriate to share with you how the back story of how Situational Awareness Matters got started. You will also be provided with a good working definition for situational awareness and explanation as to why it is so darn important to the process of making good decisions. The focus of this show is to improve situational awareness and decision making… for individuals and teams… working in high stress, high consequence environments. Our mission is simple… To help you see the bad things coming… in time to ch
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