In an incident review, why is writing a summary an important final step?

Writing a summary at the end of an incident review serves as a formal record of events, capturing key details, actions taken, and outcomes that occurred during the incident. This documentation is crucial for a number of reasons. Firstly, it provides an accurate account that can be referred to in future reviews or investigations, ensuring that the details are not lost over time. A formal summary also serves to provide clarity and context for those who were not directly involved in the incident, allowing for a better understanding of what transpired.

Moreover, this formal record can be important for legal or compliance purposes, as it may be necessary to demonstrate that proper protocols were followed and that the incident was handled appropriately. By having a well-documented summary, organizations can also use it as a part of their continuous improvement processes, identifying patterns or trends that may require addressing.

Although preventing miscommunication, outlining future training needs, and deciding on disciplinary actions are all valuable aspects of the incident review process, the primary role of the summary is to ensure that there is a concrete, formal record of what occurred, ultimately supporting accountability and transparency in the fire service.