BLINK!!! About This Page:

[Christine43]

About the positive feedback....I'm not an Oprahite but she had a suggestion on her show once that was pretty effective. She suggested keeping a notebook and each night writing down five positive things about that day. I've done this with one of my sons and it's been fairly helpful. He also has a self affirming sentence he recites quietly to himself during stressful periods.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by stretch2864

Interesting question! In reality, life itself is always a training ground for those rapid fire scenarios. We are always taking things in, and filing that information away to perhaps be used at a later time. I worked for years in a high risk labor and delivery unit. When a crisis presents itself, that is not the time to be looking up a policy or procedure in a book. Everyone needs to be springing to action and doing what needs to be done in that moment because frankly the difference between life and death can be a matter of mere seconds. You can't train specifically for every possible thing that could happen, but you can equip yourself with the basics that will serve you in many situations. Common sense can go a long way as well.

SOOOOOOOO true! I just wish I could pick and choose some of the info I pull out of my brain. Much of it is rather trivial and pointless, while a coworker's name escapes me!

I think alot of the ability to BLINK THINK is confidence. A single moment's doubt, I believe, can rob you of the ability to BLINK THINK.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by Christine43

About the positive feedback....I'm not an Oprahite but she had a suggestion on her show once that was pretty effective. She suggested keeping a notebook and each night writing down five positive things about that day. I've done this with one of my sons and it's been fairly helpful. He also has a self affirming sentence he recites quietly to himself during stressful periods.

I think that is helpful because it cultivates gratitude, which is a great thing to do!

[stretch2864]

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

SOOOOOOOO true! I just wish I could pick and choose some of the info I pull out of my brain. Much of it is rather trivial and pointless, while a coworker's name escapes me!

I think alot of the ability to BLINK THINK is confidence. A single moment's doubt, I believe, can rob you of the ability to BLINK THINK.

Very true! I watch Jeopardy almost every day, and DBF is always wondering where I am pulling the answers from. Apparently my brain is full of useless trivia which only comes in handy answering Jeopardy questions.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by GoofEme

Okay here goes..... Chapter 4

Discussion Question #18--Can anyone ever really prepare for decisive, rapid fire scenarios? Is planning for the unpredictable worthwhile or a waste of time and energy?
.

I've been thinking about this point quite a bit lately.

Decisive, rapid fire scenarios are often like a game of chess. You can only plan your next move, then you have to see what moves next, which is out of your control. Your opponent may make a lousy move, a smart move, or, if he is crazy, he could pick up a piece and throw it at you, actually!

You have to just see what you can and make your decision when you have more info.

The fire scenario is a good example of that. THey had SOME info (a kitchen fire) but needed to get further in before they knew the true important facts (That the fire started in the basement).

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by stretch2864

Very true! I watch Jeopardy almost every day, and DBF is always wondering where I am pulling the answers from. Apparently my brain is full of useless trivia which only comes in handy answering Jeopardy questions.

I think the ability to pull that useless trivia out can work for you in a pinch.

I LOVE films like The Matrix, Kill Bill, Remo Williams, Enough, Karate Kid, etc, where people train extensively for some future event that may only last a short time. THen they are able to call on that knowledge by BLINK THINKING because they are confident.

It doesn't always need to be physical, though. It can be your words, your actions, or useless trivia!

[emtpej]

Originally Posted by GoofEme

Discussion Question #18--Can anyone ever really prepare for decisive, rapid fire scenarios? Is planning for the unpredictable worthwhile or a waste of time and energy?

Yes.
No.
Paramedics memorize algorithms / decision trees and then we assesse a patient and rule out what is not happening and apply treatments and re-assess / start over until the patient is stable.

We also all get training in the incident command system, which can be applied to pretty much any emergency. It's just a matter of how big.

[Christine43]

In answer to q 18 I'd say yes and no. You can prepare yourself emotionally and psychologically to be able to handle unexpected scenarios. You can also be trained to handle specific scenarios in certain situations like a paramedic, nurse, doctor etc. but every situation is different and there is no telling how one emergency can differ from another.

[emtpej]

I just now realized this question is from Chapter 4, which I was just about to start reading. I guess I should do that instead of 'shootin from the hip'.

[GoofEme]

Originally Posted by emtpej

I just now realized this question is from Chapter 4, which I was just about to start reading. I guess I should do that instead of 'shootin from the hip'.

No, no, I love to hear what everybody has to say. I don't believe there are right and wrong answers here just really great ideas and view points we each can share. Thanks for your insight and practical application to our reading.
Right Sandy?

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by emtpej

Yes.
No.
Paramedics memorize algorithms / decision trees and then we assesse a patient and rule out what is not happening and apply treatments and re-assess / start over until the patient is stable.

We also all get training in the incident command system, which can be applied to pretty much any emergency. It's just a matter of how big.

Erik, you crack me up! You are always consistent and wise.

I'd love to hear more about those algorythms/decision trees. Can you tell us a little more? I'm curious how they would affect Blink Thinking, but I actually don't have much experience. (I'm declaring that on topic, because I think something like that is important to the whole picture of decision making.)

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by emtpej

I just now realized this question is from Chapter 4, which I was just about to start reading. I guess I should do that instead of 'shootin from the hip'.

I'm in the same boat! I just started chapter 4!

As far as shooting, we've got a no guns policy! You are supposed to check them with LizardCop at the door!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by GoofEme

No, no, I love to hear what everybody has to say. I don't believe there are right and wrong answers here just really great ideas and view points we each can share. Thanks for your insight and practical application to our reading.
Right Sandy?

DING, DING, DING!!! Good Answer!

[emtpej]

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

Erik, you crack me up! You are always consistent and wise.

I'd love to hear more about those algorythms/decision trees. Can you tell us a little more? I'm curious how they would affect Blink Thinking, but I actually don't have much experience. (I'm declaring that on topic, because I think something like that is important to the whole picture of decision making.)

I received my training in Maryland, which has a pretty good state-wide EMS system. We have to memorize the protocols so they can be applied ASAP, without having to call for physician direction until a certain point is reached. The algorithm / flowchart illustrates the decision tree you use so you don't have to 'think' about everything, just what is most important at the time. So, what is most critical is the highest priority and once that is fixed, you move on. That process can also be useful for determining what it is not (rule out A, B and C so it might be D).
And another thing -- if you actually find what you are dispatched for, that is a good thing -- you often find something completely different. And it is usually not the fault of the 911 center / call-takers / dispatchers, it is usually a problem with the caller's information. So you pretty much have to be prepared for anything.

Also, like the fire officer in chapter 4, if something does not 'add up' then you go down a different path / back off / call for help. It is also why we usually have something to use to correct things if what we did was wrong.

As far as the unknown, we did a lot of 'what if' planning for the Y2K (non) event and all that was still on the books in 2001... it was the best we had at the time...

[emtpej]

Originally Posted by stretch2864

Very true! I watch Jeopardy almost every day, and DBF is always wondering where I am pulling the answers from. Apparently my brain is full of useless trivia which only comes in handy answering Jeopardy questions.

I like Jeopardy, too. Those people are both smart AND fast! I think it is a survival trait. You never know what might be useful at some point, but even that is worthless if you can not add up both what is there and what is missing and come up with something useful.