An important foundation stone is constituted by values, which
are strongly linked to both the ethics and morals a particular in-
dividual possesses. A value is a fundamental perception of what is
good and desirable or bad and worth rejecting or refraining from.
Values are deeply rooted and require preparation and maturity to
be changed (Swedish Rescue Service Agency). Awareness of values
constitutes the foundation for all contemplated conduct.
According to Lundberg et al. (1997), groups are considered to
be morally inferior to individuals in their conduct. There are at
least two reasons for this. One is that the individual does not feel
responsibility as strongly if sharing it with others. The other is
group pressure. Consideration to people outside the group tends
to be toned down in favour of consideration to people within one’s
own group.
In this context, it can also be of interest to bring up the Golden
Rule: Do onto others as you would wish them to do onto you (Mat-
hew, 7:12). Upon reflection, this seems to be a good fundamental
principle for all conduct and all decisions, even in conjunction
with conducting municipal emergency response operations.
Reality’s need for decisions
The decisions made in conjunction with emergency response ope-
rations are made in a dynamic environment. The decisions made
in a specific context are affected by what has happened previously
and what is currently occurring. Decisions and the measures that
they result in can influence events on both the short and long
term. Because of a situation’s character, in certain cases, more in-
dividuals are needed to make decisions or in some other way work
with decisions, the supporting information for decision making
and carrying out decisions, with various scopes in time and space.
For work with these decisions, either one’s own expert knowledge
is employed or that of experts from other organisations. In work
with decisions, one must – besides purely expert knowledge on the
actual sequence of events and based on the need of assistance in the
situation – also take consideration to the stress that most decision
makers experience to various degrees. An important basis for deci-
sions is also taking consideration to ethics, morals and values.
One often desires, especially as a novice, to have support for
one’s actions or decisions. To obtain this support – and against the
background of the entire rather complex situation that decision
making represents – there is always a major risk that one bases