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Disaster Preparedness for Schools and Businesses

04.21.2010 · Posted in Humanities Articles

No one enjoys contemplating natural and manmade disasters. But, as the saying goes, you should always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Time and again, research has shown that those who have prepared for an emergency fare better in the face of disaster than those who have not. This is true for air travel, where people who mentally map out an evacuation route are more likely to survive an air emergency than other passengers, and it is true for people facing catastrophic events on the ground, such as an earthquake or hurricane. rnrnWhile disaster preparedness, in the form of supplies and training, is an important consideration for every family, it takes on a whole new meaning for businesses and schools. When you’re responsible for other people – or other people’s children – you must prepare an appropriate response in case of a natural disaster or terrorist event. This means having adequate disaster preparedness supplies and kits on hand, but it also means ensuring that employees and teachers are appropriately trained. rnrnWhile there are many sources of emergency supplies and kits, it’s common sense that those designed by first responders and emergency services personnel are superior to those compiled by other suppliers. After all, these are the people who are out in the field and who have firsthand experience in dealing with the unimaginable. rnrnIf you own or manage a business or school, you can rely on companies created by professional firefighters to deliver both the first aid supplies and the classes you need. For example, a 10-person corporate disaster kit might contain food, water, medical supplies, sanitation materials, and tools to shut off utilities. Similarly, a classroom evacuation pack may contain light sticks, water pouches, survival blankets, and first aid supplies, while a student pack could contain a food bar, water pouches, a light stick, and basic first aid. rnrnIf you’re a school administrator, your disaster plan may be outdated. It’s critical that your disaster preparedness coordinator learn new best practices and strategies for evacuation and triage, as well as techniques that professionals use for first aid. You’ll definitely want to obtain copies of a leading edge disaster response guide for schools, which should cover team organizing, search and rescue, triage, disaster first aid, and lockdown procedures.rnrnIf you’re a business owner or manager, it’s important that your management and disaster teams take classes in survival skills. Often, they will be in a better position to conduct light rescues than first responders, who may not have immediate access to the building. Similarly, they will likely need to know CPR, how to differentiate between serious and minor injuries, and how to treat those conditions that are treatable. rnrnWithin the corporate world, “risk management” is a hot topic of discussion. All too often, risk management discussions are limited to financial risk, information security risk, or reputational risk. Any comprehensive risk management assessment should include risks to people and property caused by disasters. In the face of an emergency, you can greatly mitigate the risk of death and further property damage by undergoing the proper training and procuring the proper preparedness supplies.

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