Developing the situational awareness of incident commanders: evaluating a training programme using a virtual simulation

Abstract

Life, property, and the effectiveness of efforts involved in saving the environment depend upon the situational awareness of incident commanders. However, so far, the impact of situational awareness training for working rescue incident commanders has not been studied in Estonia. This study aims to evaluate situational awareness training that has currently been implemented as an overall part of the dynamic decision-making model for all rescue incident commanders in Estonia. The new training curriculum, plus training materials and methods, were developed for situational awareness training using the virtual reality software, XVR On-Scene, and the Moodle e-learning environment. Assessors were trained and certified to apply the effective command behavioural marking framework to measure situational awareness. The Kirkpatrick training programme evaluation model was adopted to measure the SA training outcomes. Based on the Kirkpatrick model, Level 1 trainee reactions indicated that Estonian rescue incident commanders were able to accept a new approach to their decision-making training as a purposeful and engaging way of completing their attestation. Their basic psychological needs were supported during the training process, and participants achieved higher-than-threshold results in all SA levels, as is shown in Level 2 of the Kirkpatrick model. Training programme evaluation model Level 3 behaviour, and Level 4 results, need to be further studied. Suggestions have been provided in improve the virtual simulation-based training and assessment of situational awareness.