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Improving Memorability to Support Decision-Making During Fire Evacuations

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Improving Memorability to Support Decision-Making During Fire Evacuations
Authors: Kinsey, Michael, Menzemer, Leo Willem, Hulse, Lynn, Hunt, Aoife, Gwynne, Steve, Wan, Yanli
Contributors: Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Departments at LTH, Department of Building and Environmental Technology, Division of Fire Safety Engineering, Lunds universitet, Lunds Tekniska Högskola, Institutioner vid LTH, Institutionen för bygg- och miljöteknologi, Avdelningen för Brandteknik, Originator
Subject Terms: Engineering and Technology, Civil Engineering, Other Civil Engineering, Teknik, Samhällsbyggnadsteknik, Annan samhällsbyggnadsteknik, Social Sciences, Psychology, Applied Psychology (including Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy), Samhällsvetenskap, Psykologi, Tillämpad psykologi (Här ingår: Klinisk psykologi, psykoterapi)
Description: Fires in buildings present life-threatening scenarios where rapid decision-making and timely evacuation are paramount. Significant advancements in understanding evacuation decision-making have been made, though little research addresses the role of memory in this process. Memory plays a crucial role in how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to information which, during fire evacuation, could have life-threatening implications. This paper presents an overview of memory theory, considering processes for encoding, storing, and retrieving memories in the context of different information types used by people. Memory errors associated with forgetting and false memories are discussed. We present the decision-making process during fire evacuations, identifying areas where memory impacts each stage. Contextual categories are presented showing key areas where people obtain information during fire evacuation including Training, Physical Environment, and Social contexts. Based on memory theory and these categories, literature was reviewed to identify memorability methods with examples to improve the likelihood information could be remembered during fire evacuation for each contextual category. The insights provide recommendations for further research to identify the efficacy of proposed measures for developing more effective training programmes, building designs, and information systems to enhance safety and improve the likelihood people respond appropriately during fire evacuations.
Access URL: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5221477
Database: SwePub
Description
Abstract:Fires in buildings present life-threatening scenarios where rapid decision-making and timely evacuation are paramount. Significant advancements in understanding evacuation decision-making have been made, though little research addresses the role of memory in this process. Memory plays a crucial role in how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to information which, during fire evacuation, could have life-threatening implications. This paper presents an overview of memory theory, considering processes for encoding, storing, and retrieving memories in the context of different information types used by people. Memory errors associated with forgetting and false memories are discussed. We present the decision-making process during fire evacuations, identifying areas where memory impacts each stage. Contextual categories are presented showing key areas where people obtain information during fire evacuation including Training, Physical Environment, and Social contexts. Based on memory theory and these categories, literature was reviewed to identify memorability methods with examples to improve the likelihood information could be remembered during fire evacuation for each contextual category. The insights provide recommendations for further research to identify the efficacy of proposed measures for developing more effective training programmes, building designs, and information systems to enhance safety and improve the likelihood people respond appropriately during fire evacuations.
DOI:10.2139/ssrn.5221477