What does an effective report document?

An effective report documents important facts and actions taken during an incident, providing a clear and objective account that can be referenced for future analysis or investigation. This type of reporting focuses on verified details, such as dates, times, locations, involved parties, and specific actions that were carried out in response to the incident. By recording these key elements, the report serves as a reliable resource for understanding what transpired, ensuring accountability, and guiding potential future responses.

While emotional opinions or subjective accounts can be insightful in some contexts, they do not contribute to the factual basis required in formal reporting. Focusing solely on the final outcome would omit crucial details about the process that led to that outcome. Similarly, while suggestions for future prevention can be valuable, they do not replace the fundamental need to document what actually occurred and the steps taken during the event. Thus, the most effective reports are those that emphasize factual accuracy and detailed accounts of actions taken.