Firefighters act within extreme environments, work under threatening conditions and are often exposed to goal conflicts (e.g., self-protection vs. mission objective) during their missions. However, what are the consequences of these safety and task goal conflicts, and what countermeasures could help to reduce their occurrence? In an online survey, 340 firefighters were asked about goal conflicts, risky decision making, debriefings and the frequency of difficulties in teamwork during firefighting. Associations between the survey variables were determined by multivariate regression and mediation analyses. Data show that goal conflicts were associated with risky decision making and unsafe acts. Furthermore, debriefings were associated with fewer goal conflicts, as mediated by less-frequent difficulties with teamwork (communication, leadership and shared mental models). Though limited by the cross-sectional design of our study, the results provide evidence that debriefing is a valuable tool to reduce difficulties experienced with teamwork on missions and therefore reduce the occurrence of conflicting goals. Fewer goal conflicts are associated with a decrease in unsafe decisions and, thus, a safer working environment for firefighters. Accordingly, it is recommended to conduct debriefings, with an increased focus on team aspects.

Flow is often experienced under stress-related conditions and associated with improved performance and well-being. Different workplace stressors and resources demonstrably affect individual flow. Considering the team level, our study explores the associations between typical teamwork-related stressors and resources and team flow. Firefighters work under extremely challenging conditions and rely on functioning teamwork processes, thereby constituting a promising sample for examining team flow and its associated factors. An online questionnaire was implemented in Germany examining frequency of team flow, experienced teamwork-related stressors, and resources in firefighting missions. Collective orientation was also measured as a factor potentially associated with team flow. The final sample consisted of 317 experienced firefighters. Multiple regression analyses showed that the more often firefighters experienced stressors of teamwork (e.g., problems regarding leadership or lacking shared mental models) the less often they experienced team flow. Conversely, the experience of resources of teamwork (e.g., good communication and shared mental models) was associated with more frequent team flow. Collective orientation was positively associated with team flow. As team competencies are trainable, the study offers concrete approaches for interventions strengthening teamwork and team flow, thereby benefitting firefighters but also teams in other professions.

Packung auf, ab in die Mikrowelle ? und fertig ist das Mittagessen. Sch?n praktisch, aber ungesund. Allerdings geht es auch anders: Gesundes Essen im Rettungsdienst ist m?glich ? auch wenn es schnell gehen muss.