Stress changes everything: Gasaway talks fireground decision-making

How could they not see it coming? It’s a common knee-jerk reaction to news or incident reports about calls that went south. But Dr. Rich Gasaway — a former fire chief and the founder of Situational Awareness Matters (samatters.com) — cautions against judgment, emphasizing that it can be extremely difficult to see the red flags flying around us, as stress compromises decision-making during high-risk situations. You have to train your brain through mental rehearsals so you’re able to go beyond simply having your head on a swivel to being able to predict what will happen next — and make the right decision for yourself and your crew.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore (go.lexipol.com/?target=lnk_gJwUyLzy5fzELcZZ). Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore (go.lexipol.com/?target=lnk_gJwUyLzy5fzELcZZ).

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.