Every organization needs individuals capable of making sound decisions. During low-frequency, high-acuity events, a responder's ability to make good decisions is more critical than ever. Therefore, knowledge and decision-making should be integral parts of any emergency training. The training you provide may fulfill basic requirements, but does it equip your team members to make effective decisions during an emergency? If not, you may not realize it until it's too late.

As a Battalion Chief and paramedic for Glynn County Fire Rescue, I have learned the importance of making good decisions during emergencies. It took me longer than I care to admit to master this skill. As a course coordinator for our EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic programs, I am responsible for training my department’s responders. I am also a co-owner of Glynn Emergency Training, a company that specializes in customized emergency training for industrial organizations. Over the years, I have observed panic and the decision-making processes unfold in myself, my peers, and my students. I have also learned that what students successfully demonstrate in the classroom does not always reflect their performance in real emergencies unless their training is designed to bridge this gap.