The Leader's Toolbox: The Residual Impact of Firefighter Injuries & Deaths
Dr. Richard B. Gasaway talks with Winninpeg Firefighter Lionel Crowther and his wife, Joanna, about the long-term impact on firefighters who were involved in incidents where firefighter's were either seriously injured of lost their lives in the line-of-duty.
Lionel, a senior firefighter/paramedic with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, was seriously injured in a house fire on Gabrielle Roy Pl. on Feb. 4, 2007. The fire claimed the lives of Capt. Thomas Nichols and Capt. Harold Lessard. Three other firefighters were injured.
Lionel tells the gripping story of the tragic day. It began as on overtime shift and, as his crew gathered to watch the Super Bowl, the alarm came in. He walks the listeners through the incdident and shares how a flashover forced several firefighters to flea the structure.
Lionel's wife, Joanna, also joins the podcast to share how she was notified and what she found when she arrived at the hospital.
The two share the story of the first few weeks of the recovery process and tell of the many challenges they faced following Lionel's close call.
About the Author
Richard Gasaway
Richard B. Gasaway, PhD, CSP is an authority on human factors, situational awareness and the high-risk decision-making processes that are used in high-stress, high-consequence work environments. He served 33 years as a firefighter, EMT-paramedic, company officer, training officer, fire chief and emergency incident commander. Gasaway's doctoral research included the study of cognitive neuroscience to understand how human factors flaw situational awareness and affect high-risk decision-making. He authored six books, and his contributions on situational awareness and decision-making are featured and referenced in more than 400 publications. Gasaway's training programs have been delivered to more than 88,000 students.