By Bruce D. Angier
The post incident analysis (PIA) has been around for decades and is a common practice for most fire service agencies. The idea is to get the participants of a significant or major incident into a room to discuss what happened, what went well, and what can be improved on. Facilitated by the incident commander (IC), a PIA should be a positive experience for all with a focus on organizational and operational improvement culminating in an after-action report (AAR). However, organizing and conducting a PIA can also cause anxiety for the IC and others involved, especially if the incident did not go well. The key to a successful PIA is to have a plan, set the ground rules, and promote a spirit of cooperation at the onset of the meeting.
Ideally, everyone who responded to the incident should attend the PIA. This includes outside agencies, dispatchers, and mutual-aid departments. It is vital to make sure the incident is fresh in everyone’s mind; hence, schedule the PIA as soon as practicable after the incident, preferably during the next shift. However, the availability of key personnel will likely determine when you should schedule the PIA. Sometimes, a day when only the primary company officers and incident commander can attend will have to suffice.
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit ushere.
