Introduction

Chapter 1.
Change your perspective
Chapter 2.
difficult problem
Chapter 3.
I'm just human
Chapter 4.
puzzle
Chapter 5.
Trust your gut
Chapter 6.
Be evaluated by your shadow
Chapter 7.
mental preparation
Chapter 8.
The price of humanity
Chapter 9.
Brain and Behavior
Chapter 10.
Things you realize after it's all over

Going out words
Acknowledgements
supplement
References

“I cannot pass on the weight of the orders I give to anyone.”

Limited time, creeping self-doubt,
Uncertain information, countless hypothetical scenarios…

“Who will you save and who will you give up?”

Discovered through 20 years of field experience and 10 years of psychology research
Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, a 'psychologist firefighter'
The psychology of life-or-death decision-making!

Decision-making techniques and vivid experiences from a current fire department commander in the most critical moments.
Firefighters are the only ones who rush into a raging fire while everyone else runs from the acrid smoke.
While it is important to have the courage to put others' lives before your own, another quality you absolutely must possess is the ability to make cool and quick decisions.
Because rescue is not achieved just by jumping in unconditionally.

Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, who joined the Fire and Rescue Service at 18 and went on to become the highest-ranking female firefighter in the UK, was deeply saddened by the tragic fact that so many firefighters lose their lives every year, often as a result of a momentary lapse in judgment.
So, to improve this situation, I studied psychology myself and studied how people make decisions in crisis situations.
Dr. Cohen-Hatton's pioneering research has been recognized in academic circles, and he has swept awards in related fields, including receiving a doctorate in psychology and the American Psychological Association's Raymond Nickerson Distinguished Paper Award and the Young Investigator Award.
Her research has also revolutionised firefighting systems across the UK, and its usefulness has been recognised to the extent that it is being actively replicated with interest overseas.

“Every day is someone else’s worst day.
I will never forget that fact.”

"The Firefighter's Choice" is a book that contains 20 years of field experience and 10 years of psychological research by Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, a "psychologist firefighter."
The author guides the reader into the midst of a disaster where life and death are at stake.
As a fire chief leading a rescue team, the author struggles to save people going through the darkest times of their lives from the worst fates.
She decides which of her colleagues to send into the burning building and how they should fight the flames.
When it is determined that all options have been exhausted or that the situation is hopeless, the order to withdraw personnel from the scene is also given.

Every decision a fire chief makes carries the weight of life.
Moreover, information is uncertain and there is little time to consider, and everyone is waiting for the commander's decision.
From a behavioral psychology perspective, what are the tips for making essential decisions without being overwhelmed by emotions or shock in situations where maintaining a clear mind is simply impossible? Drawing on his work experience and research, the author offers insights into the best decision-making methods.


All the case studies featured in "The Firefighter's Choice" are based on the author's own experiences, and the research cases are also based on psychological and neuroscientific experiments he conducted on fellow firefighters.
Because of this, the author's solutions to decision-making in stressful situations offer a level of credibility that is difficult to find in other psychology books.

For example, when making important decisions, do we often rely on intuition or an analytical approach? Dr. Cohen-Hatton attached cameras to the helmets of firefighters to study how they make decisions in the field.
As a result, commanders relied on intuitive decision-making far more often than they realized.
It was assumed that fire commanders made decisions analytically in most cases, and they received training and post-event evaluations accordingly, but the reality was different.
The author did not stop at these research results, but considered training methods, field manuals, and post-evaluation methods suitable for intuitive decision-making.
Ultimately, her research led to practical changes, reflected in manuals used by British firefighters, such as the 'Guidelines for the British Fire and Rescue Service' and the 'Principles for Collaboration Between Emergency Services'.

The author's achievements are not limited to his profession as a firefighter.
In urgent and uncertain situations, how would a reader make a decision? Decisions based on analysis? Or intuitive decisions based on intuition? The author also provides tips for making wise decisions in the large and small crises we face in our daily lives.

“Empathy is what moves me a little further,
“It’s a driving force that makes you try a little harder.”

The greatest appeal of "The Firefighter's Choice" is its gripping and tense plot that reads like a novel or movie.
Sometimes, the vivid descriptions of situations are so graphic that they make the reader feel as if they are standing at the scene of the accident.
The cases presented in the book are not repeated in one structure, but rather the way they are presented varies from chapter to chapter, making it an interesting read.
It's as exciting as reading an omnibus novel about firefighters, with flashbacks to past events, imagery training for training, test scenarios to assess command skills, discussions with fellow firefighters, and research the author has conducted.
Even in scenes that we know are not real, such as training or tests, it makes us sweat.
This book provides readers with remarkable insight into a profession that requires them to make some of the most difficult decisions imaginable.

Another interesting element of the book is the author himself.
The author is a veteran firefighter with 20 years of experience, a behavioral psychologist, a mother of one child, and a wife.
The autobiographical stories that appear throughout the book tell how the author came to have such an interesting background.
You'll learn why she dropped out of school to become a firefighter, why she studied psychology, and what gave her the drive to juggle parenting, school, and a career.
She also calmly describes the difficulties she faced in the male-dominated world of firefighters and how she overcame them.


The author's affection and respect for his colleagues are evident throughout the book, adding sincerity to his research and writing to prevent injuries among fellow firefighters.
Our heartfelt condolences to the victims of accidents and disasters and their families are also deeply felt.
These aspects make this book a great book on behavioral psychology, but it also resonates deeply with readers as a story about a great human being.