Humana Behavior in Fire Incident - Literature review Example

According to Erica (2009, Pg 5) any action that a person makes in an event, results from a given behavioral process. Studies from community evacuations during fire incidents indicate that before people performed an action during the fire incident, they identified certain signs, interpreted the situation and the risks, based on those signs, and then took the action basing on their interpretations. Consequently, this process has an effect on all actions that an individual takes. 

There exist various factors that influence a person’s or groups’ human behavior before, during, and after a fire breakout. These factors are largely categorized and assessed as traits of the individual, characteristics of given groups, aspects of the physical setting in addition to characteristics of the fire, or the explosion. These aspects and their interaction with each other offer an important insight regarding how fire-related human behaviors affect any given fire incident (Gamble, 2007, Pg 11). 

• 1. Factors relevant to the individual

Characteristics of the individual affect fire-allied human behavior in various ways. The characteristics of the individual include physiological factors and this comprises physical limitations, cognitive ability limitations as well as being knowledgeable of the physical setting. According to NFPA (2011, Pg 99), a number of factors have an impact on the capability of the individual to recognize and correctly assessing the risks presented by a fire incident and also the ability of the individual to respond as required to those risks. There are individual-based incident factors that impact perception and include factors that increase the probability of perception such as being closer to the incent and being able to visually see the incident while factors that reduce the likelihood of an individual recognizing the signs of fire encompass, being anxious or stressed, perceived time pressure, being asleep more so if the individual is very young or extremely aged, being drunk or sleep-deprived (Guylene 2000, Pg 4).