Debriefing

Debriefs help identify what went right and wrong during the incident. Debriefs are a good opportunity to bring together everyone involved in the response, not just on scene responders. 

Ideally, there should be two types of debriefs conducted after an incident: a "hot" and "cold" debrief.

• A hot debrief immediately following the incident is helpful in capturing feedback from everyone on scene, including responders from other agencies. A hot debrief focuses on immediate concerns, such and is good for gathering quick feedback for responders.

• A "cold" debrief may happen shortly after the incident and is a more organized process. These kinds of debriefs should also include all partners that responded to the incident and were involved in the planning in advance of the incident. Whereas a hot debrief is about immediate issues, formal debriefs are better suited to address longer term concerns of the agencies, such as changes to training and protocols.