Situational Awareness Quick Tip: Tunnel Vision

Introduction

• Speaker: Rich Gassaway
• Location: Mount Rainier National Park
• Companion: Alan Predmore, Chief of the Buckley Fire Department
• Context: Hiking discussion on situational awareness and tunnel vision

Understanding Tunnel Vision

• Definition: A narrowing of the visual field to a specific geographic area or watching a task performed by someone else.
• Distinction:
  • Task Fixation: Focusing on one's own task, not considered tunnel vision.
  • Tunnel Vision: Focusing on someone else's task or a specific area and missing surrounding events.

The Broader Concept of "Tunneled Senses"

• Tunnel Vision: Narrowed visual focus.
• Tunneled Hearing: Focusing on a specific sound or voice, missing other auditory cues.
• Other Tunneled Senses: Tunnel feel, tunnel taste, tunnel smell.

Implications of Tunneled Senses

• Potential to miss important signals such as:
  • Explosions
  • Sirens
  • Air horns
  • Mayday calls

Recommendations

• Maintain hyper-vigilance.
• Be aware of stress-induced narrowing of senses.
• Enhance situational awareness to counteract tunneled senses.

Conclusion

• Situational awareness is crucial to avoid the pitfalls of tunnel vision and tunneled senses.
• Awareness of surroundings can prevent missing critical information during stressful situations.