How Social Media Reinforces Existing Fire Service Beliefs
Firefighters bring their own experiences and beliefs to everything they encounter on social media. Confirmation bias, selective exposure, and algorithmic personalization can reinforce those beliefs until repeated exposure begins to feel like evidence and a personalized feed can look like a reflection of the fire service as a whole.
Availability Heuristic, Social Media and Firefighter Perception of Risk
Social media does not necessarily create false information—it can create a distorted sample of real information. Repeated exposure to LODDs, maydays, close calls, and dramatic fireground images can make rare events feel common, reinforcing the availability heuristic.
USFA On-Duty Death: Texas
The firefighter was found unconscious in the station bathroom after responding to six calls.
USAF On-Duty Death: Oklahoma
The firefighter suffered a medical emergency during a grass and structure fire.
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Providing a point of critical thought about firefighter fatality data and education, line of duty deaths, and risk.
“People in both fields operate with beliefs and biases. To the extent you can eliminate both and replace them with data, you gain a clear advantage.”
John Henry
Moneyball by Michael Lewis
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