Choosing to Command: Crew Resource Management Applied to Emergency Operations

The time has come for all public safety industry organizations to adopt and incorporate crew resource management or similar programs focused on making the best critical decisions at incidents. The goal of Dennis Rubin's essential new book is to urge organizations to integrate a critical decision-making model into the incident command system and use methods to improve critical decision making to bring about the next significant improvements for firefighter safety, operational efficiency, and effectiveness. There are many tactics, strategy, and command courses available at local, state, national, and international levels. But there isn't much information included in these amazing courses that addresses critical decision making. This book aims to change that. Here you will find a discussion of the history and current science of crew resource management as well as invaluable information on: Leadership and teamwork Communicating under stress Task allocation Applications to operating conditions, such as abandoned buildings, aviation fires, and more Crew resource management uses the basic philosophy that to err is human, and that's never truer than in stressful situations. Building on the successful work of such organizations as the Federal Aviation Administration and the US Armed Forces in developing crew resource management, this book focuses on making the best decision at an incident the first time - every time.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Acknowledgments   . Introduction Flashback Change Demonstration Change Comes to Critical Decision-Making Incident Action Plan Command Decision-Making Background Taking A Page from the Commercial Aviation Decision-Making Playbook CRM to the Rescue Introduction to CRM Change Is Difficult Our Challenge Critical Learning Points Crew Resource Management Discussion Questions   2. The History of Crew Resource Management Seemed Like Just Another Day at the Office Fuel Quantity Impact and Effects of this Aviation Case Critical Learning Points CRM Discussion Questions   3. The Need for Crew Resource Management within Emergency Operations National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Fire Rescue Incident Command Progression Building Fire Case Study Building Fire Case Study Aftermath Building Fire Case Study Operational Alternatives Critical Learning Points Crew Resource Management Discussion Questions   4. The Science Behind Crew Resource Management The Domino Theory Root Causes and Impacts of Accidents The Swiss Cheese Theory The Sterile Cockpit 82 2 Aviation Case Study Sterile Command Post The Disruptive Command Post 82 2 Pipeline Case Study Pipeline Case Study Operational Alternatives Get-home-itis Syndrome Get-home-itis Aviation Case Study 82 2 American Airlines Flight 42 Get-home-itis and Its Impact and Effects on Fire Rescue Operations Triad of Get-home-itis Fire Rescue Case Studies USAF Knock-It-Off Program Critical Learning Points Crew Resource Management Discussion Questions   5. Teamwork and Leadership Teamwork and Leadership Aviation Case Study 82 2 Korean Air Cargo Flight 85 9 Catastrophic Explosion Case Study Explosives Case Study Operational Alternatives Incident Command Teams Duties of the Incident Commander Duties of Incident Safety Officer Duties of the Incident Accountability Officer Duties of the Deputy Incident Commander Command Team Staffing Critical Learning Points Crew Resource Management Discussion Questions   . Effective Communications Under Stress Ideal Communications Case Study On-Scene Operations Methods of Communicating Communications Order Model Command and Tactical Radio Use Brief Initial Reporting Incident Benchmarks Building or Area Personnel Evacuation Signal Assigned Radio Frequencies Summary and Critical Learning Points Communications Discussion Questions   7. Task Allocation A Really Bad Day in the Air Fireground Failure to Allocate Tasks The Lone Ranger Rides Solo Summary and Critical Learning Points Crew Resource Management Discussion Questions   8. Critical Decision-Making An Aviation Application of CRM Historic Fire Rescue Service Decision Making NIOSH Death in the Line of Duty Report (Executive Summary Excerpt) Korean Air Cargo Flight 85 9 Crash Eliminating Decision-Making Distractions Brief Initial Report Incident Action Plan Summary and Critical Learning Points Crew Resource Management Discussion Questions   9. Operating at Abandoned, Vacant, and Derelict Building Fires Building Shot in the Head Four Benchmark AVD Case Study Fires Path Forward to Better Manage AVD Building Fires Critical Learning Points Discussion Questions   . The Power of After-Action Reporting AAR Reflection and Application The AAR Process Gathering AAR Data After-Action Report Process Guidelines Critical Learning Points Discussion Questions   . Job Aid and Checklist The Research Command 82 7 s -Minute Checklist Expanded Mayday Checklists Brief Initial Report Checklist Review Structural Fire Operating Guideline Policy Firefighter Accountability Critical Learning Points Discussion Questions   2. Precedence Setting Decisions in Aviation and Fire Operations Case Studies: Proof of the CRM Concept United Flight 73 (December 978) Hackensack Ford Commercial Building Fire (July 988) United Flight 232 (July 989) Clipper Mill Warehouse Fire (September 995) U.S. Air Flight 549 82 2 The Miracle on the Hudson (January 2 9) Conclusion Critical Learning Points CRM Discussion Questions   Epilogue Notes Index About the Author

About the Author :
Dennis L. Rubin has fire and rescue experience spanning more than 45 years. Rubin has served as a line firefighter and emergency medical technician, company officer, staff officer, command officer, and chief of the department in Atlanta, Georgia Washington, DC and Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Departments. Chief Rubin's educational accomplishments include a masters in Organizational Leadership from Waldorf University, a bachelor of science in Fire Administration from the University of Maryland, and an associate degree in applied science in Fire Science Management from the Northern Virginia Community College. Rubin is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program and the Naval Post Graduate School's Executive Leadership Course in Homeland Security. Rubin is a certified incident safety officer and has obtained the Chief Fire Officer Designation and Chief Medical Officer Designation bestowed by the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Rubin is a nationally registered emergency medical technician. Rubin is a popular lecturer at local, state, national, and international venues. Rubin's teaching credentials are significant. Rubin was an adjunct faculty member with several state fire-rescue training agencies. He is part of the contract faculty at the National Fire Academy. Rubin has been a member of seven National Fire Academy course development teams to include Incident Command, Leadership, Infection Control for the Fire Service, Incident Safety Officer, and Tactical Operations. Rubin is the author of several emergency service textbooks all published by Fire Engineering Books. Rubin's first release was Rube's Rules for Survival. This book is a collection of case studies dealing with the mission critical topic of fire fighter safety. The next book that Rubin authored was D.C. Fire, discussing his 4 years as the fire chief of our nation's capital. Rubin's third textbook is It's Always About Leadership, which reviews Rubin's leadership principles. The fourth text is titled Choosing to Command. This textbook discusses critical decision-making at fire-rescue incidents. Chief Rubin contributes to several fire-rescue service publications and has written more than 200 technical articles relating to fire rescue department operations, administration, emergency management, training, and safety. Rubin has three children and five grandchildren. Rubin is an active member of the Kansas City, Kansas, Downtown Rotary Club.