Emergencies at Events: How to Be Prepared
Sometimes, we look at emergencies as an afterthought because they don’t happen every day.
Now, when it comes to events, emergencies may not be that rare, not unless you have every scenario covered.
But What Could Go Wrong?
When people are gathered in one place, many things can go wrong. There’s the risk of accidental injuries, fires, theft, food poisoning, etc.
Holding an event demands careful planning and juggling a dozen different things at the same time. It can be an exhausting task, and the challenges are pretty much unpredictable.
However, the more prepared you are, the better your chances of reacting correctly in the case of emergencies.
These tips will help you prepare for emergencies at your event.
- Professional Input
If you’ve held events successfully before, you may be familiar with some emergencies and how to prepare for them.
However, foreseeing certain emergencies and creating a specialized plan may require the services of a professional planner.
While managing an event is not an insane feat, experience is important when it comes to minimizing certain risks. If you’re not very familiar with what to expect, you may fail to foresee certain things.
A good place to start would be to bring in a professional to help you get things done smoothly.
A professional would assess risks based on the venue and demographics of the attendees. This allows them to determine incidents that are likely to happen and figure out how to respond.
For example, the risks associated with a wedding party are different from that of a music concert. That is why a generalized response plan cannot cover all types of events.
- Team Training
Training team is a major part of emergency preparedness. You’ll be equipping them with the necessary knowledge for quick responses.
Make sure everyone understands their role and responsibility and has no problem reacting positively to a situation.
Some of the things every member of your team can benefit from learning is CPR, First Aid, and evacuations.
Other regular staff roles should also include an understanding of the:
- Points of entry and exit
- Different risk levels
- Use of emergency equipment like fire extinguishers
- Command of instructions in emergencies
Apart from the main staff, bringing in volunteers may help strengthen the response team in case something happens.
- Security Services
Security is an important part of event management. Services like quick evacuations and protection often require trained individuals.
Most security companies have officers with years of experience in emergency responses. Many of them have military or police backgrounds.
So, if you know you can’t handle or respond quickly to possible emergencies, you should probably hire a security team.
Safety risks also tend to increase depending on the size of the event. This requires trained officers to set up strategic points for surveillance.
Another factor that affects the risks at an event is its location. An affluent neighborhood, for instance, may need more beefed up security because it can easily attract criminal activity.
During the planning phase, consider the crime rates in your state and especially where you’re holding the event. If you’re in California, for instance, you may want to hire private bodyguards to secure your event. Learn more about how you can do that here.
- Emergency Drills
Practice makes perfect!
Just before the event, why not run a drill to play out possible scenarios that may take place?
Managing emergencies in small events may not be that big of a deal. The same can’t be said for large events like rallies, seminars, or annual company meetups.
If you’re in charge of a large, complex event, conducting an emergency drill may provide you with valuable insight on the type of response to expect in case something happens.
There are many drills you can use to assess your preparedness. Drills such as lockdown, shelter-in-place, and fire evacuation will give you a clear picture of what to expect.
- Medical Response
Immediate response to emergencies is what reduces damage extent.
Make sure you hire an onsite healthcare provider for your event. Having a medical professional plays a crucial role in managing injuries before an ambulance arrives.
Remember, the possibility of a medical emergency increases with the size of the gathering. Injuries may result from falls, intoxication, or even allergic reactions.
Massive events like concerts require a fully equipped onsite medical team to prevent health hazards from escalating
Conclusion
There are many things you can do to prepare your event for emergencies. We’ve shared with you some tips that you can easily implement to maintain a flawless event.
Most of the time, nothing happens. However, being prepared tends to keep problems to a minimum.
