Please resist the urge to use Bad Math, which goes like this: “This one thing happened and then this other thing happened, so I will make a random correlation and spout some overused catchphrase (‘They lost SA’) as if it were an actual solution and expect people to listen because I have a belt buckle.”
Accidents
When Lightning Strikes
Two Helitack members are struck by lightning on a remote fire. What are the lessons?
Tighten Your Chaps & Talk About Rocks
Lessons from 2020 incidents about chainsaw cuts and heavy equipment rollovers.
Saws, Rocks, & Trees
Here are a few more pieces of the 2020 Infographic. This portion simply lists a few numbers we added up based on reports we received. The numbers by themselves may be enough to generate discussion, but a bit of context is always helpful.
The SOG Fire Rock Strike: Lucky? Or Prepared?
SOG Fire Rock Strike “Being lucky is often stated when something attributed to a miracle happens, but preparation is what really creates the outcome.”
What is “Normal Work”? Getting the Most from Accident Reports
This is the third of a three-part blog series by Jody Jahn, PhD, that addresses how we learn about complex hazards. Each of these three posts focus on a different facet of learning. (To see the first post: How "Oh Sh*t" Moments Can Make You a Better Firefighter ; and second post: “See Something, Say Something" … Continue reading What is “Normal Work”? Getting the Most from Accident Reports
“See Something, Say Something” – Why That Advice Doesn’t Always Work and How to Make it Work for Your Crew
A crew isn’t simply a collection of free-floating, fully independent people. Instead, it’s its own social system guided by a cohesive logic about what the crew is (and is not), what it does, and how it does it.
How “Oh Sh*t” Moments Can Make You a Better Firefighter
"In my research, I found that crews that make a point to do regular learning-based discussions can help their people put intense fire experiences into perspective."
2020 Mid-Year Analysis
Here are some numbers and a few lessons from incidents that occurred during the first half of 2020 (January - June).
The Coronavirus Pandemic and Fuel Geysering
Be Aware: Gasoline being used during the warming months—May, June, July—may be more susceptible to geysering than in previous years.