Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
sleep. While sleeping, we don
t have any input and can digest every-
thing we experienced during the day. The brain area that is responsible
for this scanning and preparation activity never sleeps.
'
Risk understanding supports us permanently, day and night.
Risk understanding can be defined as a permanent, autonomous,
and nonconscious scanning of activities for possible dangers. The scan-
ning can be done in actual situations (for example, in the workplace),
on actions (the past or present activities), and on plans (scheduled
work). The process mostly takes place on a nonconscious level, but con-
scious interventions, like making a project plan or reviewing a checklist,
will enhance this process. Risk understanding is directly related to the
amount we grasp the situation and the impact of actions that are going
to take place. We can only anticipate what we know and understand.
The more you comprehend the process you are dealing with, the easier it
is to develop risk understanding.
The difference between risk sensitivity and risk understanding is
that risk sensitivity is based on responses to external stimuli, while risk
understanding is the result of analyzing processes or activities. Risk
sensitivity is active in the here and now, and is always based on previ-
ous experiences, whereas risk understanding can be related to the past
(I forgot something), the present (is this alright?), and the future (if we
don
t adjust this plan, something might go wrong). Compared to risk
sensitivity that is based in the emotional brain, risk understanding is a
more advanced danger system that uses the intellectual power of the
modern brain. It strongly involves elements of reasoning.
'
We experience the results of risk understanding at moments when we
receive an alarm signal, usually when we realize that something is going
wrong or might go wrong. Typically, such a signal is the sudden feeling
of shock or a shiver going through our body, waking us up and making
us ready for action. The body physically prepares for possible action. The
blood pressure raises and the amount of sugar in the blood increases.
When we hear our alarm bell ringing, we can block other planned activi-
ties and generate enormous concentration on a specific task.
