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SAMatters Radio episodes
- 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 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.comwww.RichGasaway.com612-548-4424 (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.
1 hr 21 min - 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 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.comwww.RichGasaway.com612-548-4424 (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/
Phil Jose
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.
1 hr 6 min - 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.
How Tom became the fire chief when the three existing fire chiefs in the community all resigned.
Tom's thoughts on the generational changes he's observed since joining the fire service in 1983.
Tom's application of his unique "Moss and Grass" leadership.
The role fire associations played in Tom's personal development journey.
How Tom planned for succession and preparation for retirement.
Tom's advice for firefighters preparing for retirement.
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.comwww.RichGasaway.com612-548-4424 (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 one of 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.
1 hr 15 min - 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.comwww.RichGasaway.com612-548-4424 (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
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.
1 hr 11 min - 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.comwww.RichGasaway.com612-548-4424 (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/
Ed Mann Contact Information
The SAMatters Show is one of the longest running, fastest growing, safety focused programs 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.
1 hr 26 min - 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.
1 hr 12 min - 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.comwww.RichGasaway.com612-548-4424 (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.
1 hr 33 min - 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.comwww.RichGasaway.com612-548-4424 (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.
1 hr 5 min - 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.comwww.RichGasaway.com612-548-4424 (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.
55 min - 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.comwww.RichGasaway.com612-548-4424 (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.
42 min
About SAMatters Radio
From the publisher's feed
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.