Every EMS provider has experienced it: the call that did not go as planned, the diagnosis that was missed, the medication error that was caught at the last second, or the patient who looked routine until the outcome proved otherwise. While it is easy to attribute these events to individual mistakes, research consistently demonstrates that most errors result from predictable human factors rather than a lack of competence. Operating in unpredictable environments, EMS clinicians make hundreds of decisions during every shift while managing fatigue, distractions, stress, interruptions, and limited information. These conditions create opportunities for cognitive biases and system vulnerabilities that can lead even highly skilled providers toward error. Understanding these influences is essential for improving patient safety and clinical performance. Through compelling case studies, audience interaction, and evidence-based discussion, this session examines the "mistake before the mistake"—the hidden human factors that often precede near misses and adverse events. Participants will explore common cognitive traps such as anchoring bias, confirmation bias, tunnel vision, and premature closure while learning practical strategies to improve situational awareness, communication, and decision-making under pressure. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of why errors occur, how to recognize vulnerabilities in themselves and their teams, and how to apply human factors principles to improve patient safety. More importantly, they will gain tools to transform near misses into learning opportunities and strengthen a culture of safety throughout their organizations. In a profession where perfection is impossible but improvement is essential, understanding human factors may be one of the most powerful patient safety interventions available.