Situational Awareness for the Incident Commander

Concerns Incident commander often overwhelmed by sensory input Failure to properly evaluate situation may lead to faulty decisions Faulty decisions may result in loss of life or property

Situational Awareness Steps Fly the airplane Be a fighter pilot Define the problem Set Priorities Stay out of the weeds

Situational Awareness Steps Avoid tunnel vision Don’t overanalyze Skate to where the puck is going to be Know when to pull the plug

Fly the Airplane

Keep the end in mind Make sure someone is focused on staying in the air

Be a Fighter Pilot Attitude Indicator Crosschecks Remember your wingman

Define the problem Do a personal 360 0

Define the problem Do a personal Pare away superfluous information Identify the root issue Determine impacts

Set Priorities Determine most important impact List possible outcomes Prioritize

Stay Out of the Weeds Deal in overviews –Delegate trusted ‘filters’ Rely on staff Review ‘folders’

Avoid Tunnel Vision Sector areas of concern –Folders Require comprehensive reports –Filter information Back up one layer

Don’t Overanalyze Deal in generalities Listen to others –Institutional memory

Don’t Overanalyze Deal in generalities Listen to others –Institutional memory Occams Razor –the explanation of any should make as few assumptions as possible, eliminating, or "shaving off," those that make no difference in the observable predictions of the explanatory hypothesis or theory –the explanation of any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible, eliminating, or "shaving off," those that make no difference in the observable predictions of the explanatory hypothesis or theory –"All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one."

Skate to where the puck is going to be Keep your head up Anticipate Trust your footwork

Know when to pull the plug Start the clock Keep options open Be decisive

Situational Awareness Steps Fly the airplane Be a fighter pilot Define the problem Set Priorities Stay out of the weeds

Situational Awareness Steps Avoid tunnel vision Don’t overanalyze Skate to where the puck is going to be Know when to pull the plug