Any business, whether an insurance company, government, university, or travel business, has a responsibility to care for its people. Students, employees, and community members alike operate under the assumption that you ensure the best care and coverage as they travel abroad, meet with clients, and live out their daily lives. But are you prepared when worst comes to worst? Can you respond effectively when your people are in trouble?
You may be asking yourself, “I’ve invested in all the latest technology, but I still don’t feel it’s good enough. Is there something else I should be doing?” This is a common question, especially with the high frequency of incidents on university campuses and the devastating tolls of natural disasters.
Step 1: Prepare
No one thinks they are going to be affected by an emergency until it happens. However, preparing for emergencies can ameliorate their potential consequences.
Verify that your buildings comply with the latest fire code standards and you have the equipment necessary to deal with emergencies. Equipment includes fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, back up power systems, and anything that may apply to your particular environment. There are office emergency kits available for purchase.
Prepare for medical emergencies or natural disasters by having sources of water and food. According to the American Public Health Association, there should be a supply of water for 3 days, which consists of a gallon per person per day.
Finally, be certain that your employees, students, or community members are trained to follow emergency plans. This leads to the next step.
Step 2: Determine what your plan should include
Create a robust plan of contingency in case an emergency happens. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers courses to help you learn how to do an emergency plan.
When you prepare this plan, check escape routes and design evacuation plans for every type of emergency. Identify secure locations throughout the building, and consider different ways to inform the authorities and emergency responders of the situation.
The American Red Cross’ free service Ready Rating available at www.readyrating.org can guide you as you craft an emergency response plan for your business.
Step 3: Alert and communicate
Communicate your plan and set of preparations to your members.
Before the emergency or as soon as possible during the situation, alert all your members and everyone in the area. Immediately upon learning about the situation, alert the authorities and emergency responders through the methods you have established as the fastest and most effective. Continue informing members and giving them clear instructions during the emergency.
You may use an electronic emergency communication system such as RapidSOS to alert and update potential victims and responders. Remember to update everyone after the emergency is over and to offer your help and support as they deal with the consequences.
Step 4: Analyze and Repeat
Consider what went well, analyze what did not work, and update your emergency plan accordingly. Do this both during the emergency and afterwards so that you respond as best as possible to the current situation and are better prepared for future incidents.
Trouble is sometimes unavoidable, but businesses can work to reduce the impact of the negative consequences. Designing a detailed emergency plan for the members of the organization, owning the adequate tools to protect them, and improving upon the original plan can help ensure members are receiving the care they expect.
Learn more about how RapidSOS Haven can help the members of your organization stay safe.