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  4. Hotwash debrief
WorkshopGovernment & councilsSafety

Hotwash debrief

30 minutes 7 blockspro Runs with Pro

The immediate debrief after an exercise or incident: strengths, areas for improvement and gaps from every responder's phone, ready for the after-action report.

Use this template See inside

Free to open and edit. Running it live needs Pro, free for 14 days on every new account.

Share
Strengths
What worked and should be kept
Improve
Areas for improvement: what slowed us down
Gaps and surprises
Plans, equipment, training, communication
For the AAR
Moved here for the after-action report

In short

A hotwash is a short facilitated debrief held immediately after an exercise or incident, where responders share strengths and areas for improvement while memories are fresh. This template collects input from every responder's phone on a live board, dot-votes the top issues and feeds them straight into the after-action report in 30 minutes.
Time
30 minutes
People
5 to 60
Board
4 columns, 3 dots each
Plan
Pro

Updated October 4, 2026

What's inside

The agenda

By the end of this meeting, every responder's view is captured and the top issues are ready for the after-action report.

30 min · 7 blocks, drawn to scale Fits exactly
  1. Purpose and ground rules, 2 minutes 2
  2. One word for how that went, 2 minutes 2
  3. Strengths, improvements and gaps, 10 minutesBrainstorm 10
  4. Dot-vote the issues that matter most, 4 minutes 4
  5. Walk the top issues, 7 minutesDiscuss 7
  6. What goes into the after-action report, 3 minutes 3
  7. Thank the team and close, 2 minutes 2
08152330 min
  1. +0′Purpose and ground rulesTip: We're capturing what worked and what didn't while it's fresh. Not a blame session; every role's view counts.2 minInfo
  2. +2′One word for how that wentOne word for how that went2 minCheck-in
  3. +4′Strengths, improvements and gapsTip: Everyone writes from their phone at once, which beats going round a large room. Ask people to add their role or function to each note (operations, comms, logistics, command).10 minBrainstorm
  4. +14′Dot-vote the issues that matter mostTip: Three dots each, across improvements and gaps.4 minDiscuss
  5. +18′Walk the top issuesTip: For each: what happened and what would have helped. Capture specifics; the after-action report depends on them.7 minDiscuss
  6. +25′What goes into the after-action reportTip: Move the top items into the last column. Name who drafts the report and the improvement plan.3 minDecide
  7. +28′Thank the team and close2 minWrap-up

How to run it

  1. 1Run it straight after the exercise or incident, before people leave, with everyone who took part.
  2. 2Collect strengths, improvements and gaps from phones; in a big room it's faster and quieter voices get in.
  3. 3Dot-vote and talk through only the top issues; there isn't time for everything.
  4. 4Move the top items into the after-action column and name who drafts the after-action report and improvement plan. The meeting summary is their starting point.

Questions people ask

What is a hotwash?
An immediate, informal debrief after an exercise or real incident. In the US Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), it's where players share strengths and areas for improvement right after play ends.
What's the difference between a hotwash and an after-action report?
The hotwash is the quick conversation on the day. The after-action report is the written document produced later, with findings and an improvement plan; the hotwash is one of its main inputs.
How long should a hotwash be?
Short: 15 to 45 minutes, straight after the event. A longer, more formal debrief can follow in the days after.

Run it with your group

pro
  • Ideas land on the board from every phone, then dot-vote
  • A timer for every block on the shared screen
  • Results, decisions and actions in the summary
Use this template

Free to open and edit. Running it live needs Pro, free for 14 days on every new account.

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