It’s a fact of life that emergency situations arise when you least expect them. You can’t always predict home or workplace emergencies, such as a bad injury or fall, sudden cardiac arrest or heart attack, natural disasters, and security threats. It’s best to prepare for them now with the aid of an emergency response plan, checklists, training practices, supply kits, and other essential resources in helping save a life.

Emergency Planning and Response

A prompt warning or announcement to employees or family members to help, evacuate, shelter, or lockdown can aid in an emergency. A call for help to public emergency services that provides full and accurate information will help the dispatcher send the right responders and equipment. An employee or individual trained to act quickly, administer first aid or perform CPR can be lifesaving, as each second counts.

The first step is developing an Emergency Response Plan for your home or office. This is key to conducting a risk assessment to identify potential emergency scenarios. Possible predictions of what could happen will enable you to determine resource requirements and to develop plans and procedures, plus include the necessary supplies.

Organization Preparedness Program

This will help identify your project goals, objectives, and potential obstacles and challenges in implementing the program. Actionable planners help focus your efforts against any challenges that are projected for either home or workplace. Four (4) core interrelated phases for organizational preparedness include:

• Pre-Incident Awareness, Education, and Training
• Facilities and Equipment Assessment
• Procedure and Policy Assessment
• First Responder Organizational Preparedness Plan

General Preparation and Training

Developing an Emergency Response Plan with individual roles and responsibilities.

• Aiding in various emergency situations that could occur with session discussions on best practices, identifying resources, gaps, strengths, and areas of improvement.

Receiving Emergency Prep Training and Mock Drill Exercises.

• Based on the many emergency scenarios that could develop, preparation is key. These include CPR/AED and First Aid training, fire extinguisher use and drills, knowing evacuations routes, shelter-in-place, taking headcounts for your team/family, plus procedures for natural hazards.

Preparing and building an Emergency Supply Kit.

• This is a series of necessary items placed in a grab and go colorful backpack that include waters, protein bars and snacks for kids, flashlight and batteries, first aid and bleeding control kits, eyewash and protection, face masks and gloves, whistle, foot protection, change of clothes, mylar thermal blanket, wrench/pliers, shears, toiletries, garbage bags, map, important documents, identification, list of prescriptions and allergies, formula and diapers, and treats for pets.

Having Ready Access to Important Personal Information.

• Remember to build and share with employers and family members. This includes a designated meeting place, emergency contact list of family/friends, go to out-of-town contacts, and personal family photos for identification including pets.

Readily Available List of Local Emergency and Non-Emergency Phone Numbers

• Emergency: 911, local police, hospital, security, ranger, and poison control.
• Non-emergency: 311, security, building manager, electrician, gas/power and water company, locksmith, FEMA, animal control, roadside assistance, lost or stolen credit card hotline, veterinarian, doctors, close offices or neighbors, co-workers, or others).

Key Steps to Act in an Emergency

• Stop and assess the situation, watch out for danger in order to remain safe
• Make sure it is safe to approach the scene
• Make the area safe for you and other bystanders
• Assess the victim and check for lie threatening conditions
• Call for help and ask others to take action
• Resuscitate and treat injuries as necessary
• Take notice and keep a record of the situation for claims
  

Take Away

Communication is the most important part of Emergency Preparedness. Every second counts when time is of the essence during an emergency. The 7 Components of an Emergency Plan include planning, training, drills, education, technology, coordination, and of course communication. Use this updated Emergency Response Plan (template from CDC) to be prepared and ready to act.

Contact Life Rescue Training to schedule your in-house or blended CPR/AED & First Aid course (plus ACLS, BLS, ACLS, and PALS) today at www.liferescuetraining.com or call us at 301-327-2525.

THANK YOU TO OUR MANY FIRST RESPONDERS

Life Rescue Training is here to guide and support you with Training Courses and Scenario Drills.

Plus we will guild you in choosing the proper AED, First Aid Kit, and Bleeding Control Kit for your location.

May You All Have A Safe, Healthy, and Prosperous Year!