Background

Sabrina Cohen-Hatton was born in United Kingdom.

Education

Sabrina attended Bassaleg School in Newport. She received a Master's degree in International Fire Service Development from Middlesex University in 2005 and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the Open University in 2009. She also earned a Ph.D. in behavioural neuroscience from Cardiff University in 2013.

Career

After leaving home at fifteen and school at sixteen, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton joined the fire service at eighteen, and was the first female ever to serve at her first posting at the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Sabrina worked her way through the ranks but one incident proved a watershed moment. She was called to an incident where another firefighter had been badly burned - and she knew her fiancé was part of that crew. When it wasn’t him, she was torn between relief and guilt that she had somehow wished it on her colleague. It played on her mind so much that Sabrina started to look into the major causes of injury to firefighters. She found 80 per cent of all industrial accidents - including the fire service - are caused by human error. Not inadequate policy or bad procedures, but someone making the wrong choice, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. To continue the research, Sabrina started a part-time Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience, while still working full time in the fire service. Her ground-breaking studies on decision making within the service have changed national policies.

The results of Sabrina's research are compiled in her book, The Heat of the Moment, which is much more than a memoir of her extraordinary life. Drawing on Sabrina’s personal experience of managing emergency situations, having attended a number of major incidents. The book provides a unique insight into the reality of firefighting. It also explores the psychology of leadership and crisis management.

Since 2015 Sabrina Cohen-Hatton serves as Deputy Assistant Commissioner at London Fire Brigade. In addition to her operational role, she is also an Honorary Research Fellow with Cardiff University since 2010.

Achievements

• Sabrina Cohen-Hatton combines two roles of firefighter and research fellow at Cardiff University. She is known as the author of The Heat of the Moment, which is a careful selection of incidents unpacked to reveal the realities of firefighting which also shed light on the skills and qualities essential to surviving a fast-paced, high-pressured and emotionally-charged working environment.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Through the Fire

    (A Firefighter's Stories of Life and Death Decisions)

    2019

Connections

Sabrina is married to Mike Cohen-Hatton. They have a daughter.

Spouse:

Mike Cohen-Hatton

Daughter:

Gabriella Cohen-Hatton