NFST Situational Judgment and Decision Making Flashcards
6 cards from real NFST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 NFST Situational Judgment and Decision Making flashcards as text
You arrive first at a multi-vehicle accident with multiple patients. What is your immediate priority?
Answer: Conduct a scene size-up, establish command, and call for additional resources
The first-arriving unit must conduct a scene size-up, establish command, and request appropriate resources before beginning patient care.
During a structure fire, you notice the floor beginning to feel soft and spongy underfoot. What is the best action?
Answer: Immediately back out along your entry path and alert your team and IC
A spongy floor is a warning sign of imminent structural failure; the only safe response is to immediately exit and notify the incident commander.
A crew member tells you they feel lightheaded and short of breath during rehab. What should you do?
Answer: Immediately notify your supervisor and ensure they receive medical evaluation
Any complaint of lightheadedness or breathing difficulty at an emergency scene warrants immediate medical evaluation — symptoms could indicate CO exposure or cardiac events.
You are assigned to a hose team and your nozzle operator makes a water application error that allows the fire to extend. How should this be handled after the incident?
Answer: Address it in a calm, structured post-incident critique focused on learning
Post-incident critiques are the appropriate forum for addressing tactical errors in a constructive, learning-focused environment.
You observe a community member having a medical emergency on the sidewalk outside your station. You are off duty and in civilian clothes. What should you do?
Answer: Call 911 and provide first aid within your training until EMS arrives
Firefighters have a professional and moral duty to render aid within their training whenever a person is in immediate danger, regardless of duty status.
Your captain orders your crew to enter a structure, but you believe conditions have deteriorated beyond safe entry limits. What is the best course of action?
Answer: Clearly communicate your specific safety concern to the captain before entering
Every firefighter has both the right and the duty to communicate specific safety concerns to a supervisor before proceeding with a potentially dangerous order.