Firefighters, the ultimate decision-makers
Did you know that, according to the European Forest Fire Information System, almost 346,000 hectares (1,370 sq miles) of land have been recorded as burnt already? High temperatures continue to test the world’s limits, while heat waves have become more frequent and intense, lasting longer than ever. So far this year, the amount of land burnt by fires across the European Union is more than three times greater than what you would expect by the middle of July.
In these terrible times, there is still hope remaining. And it is found in the bravery of the firefighters, who risk their lives to save nature, animals, and humans. Have you ever wondered what makes firefighters successful? Okay, we shall all agree that, yes, having the proper training is the number one factor. But is that all there is? Absolutely not! In order to throw themselves into the wildfires, they need to think fast and work well under pressure. They need to evaluate the dangers and quickly form functional plans by making the best possible decisions.
Decision-making can be defined as the process of selecting a right and effective course of action from two or more alternatives for the purpose of achieving the desired result.
Similar to firefighters, children face situations that require them to make decisions, too! Okay, hopefully, not that scary! However, children’s decision-making skills are not fully developed to the level those of adults are. Research has found that adults can be more adaptive when making decisions, as they are capable of applying various strategies depending on the situation. Dr. T. Betch's research on children’s decision-making suggests that “the ability to make quick and good decisions by holistically integrating a variety of different information is already present in young children”. What does this mean?
Decision-making is a soft skill, and like all soft skills, it can be enhanced with practice! Whether you are a firefighter having to make a quick decision about the spreading fire, or a 6-year-old deciding on your next ice cream flavor, this crucial soft skill is present.
We shall leave you with this. Firefighters are a bright example in a challenging world. Today, we can make a decision to stand by them, united, against wildfires. This way we can teach our children that, yes, there are small decisions to make, such as an ice cream flavor, but there are important ones too, such as standing in solidarity.
