Education is a highly effective effective means of crisis prevention
Our government has very clearly realized that one of the best ways to do widespread crisis management and crisis prevention is through education. The CDC was one of the first major agencies to really embrace this strategy, and many have followed suit since.
For example, at the start of August, FEMA sent out a mail promoting its Ready.gov program titled, “Preparedness for Your Pets and Beating the Heat,” full of simple advice to help the average person cope with the common crises that accompany high temperatures. Here’s a sample of what they shared:
Temperatures are rising across the country and many cities are feeling the heat of 100 degrees or more.
Did you know extreme heat causes more deaths than hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined? Heat related illnesses occur when the body is not able to compensate and properly cool itself. The great news is extreme heat is preventable by following a few tips:
- Listen to local weather forecasts and stay aware of upcoming temperatures.
- Weather strip doors and windows to keep cool air in.
- Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sunshine with drapes, shades or awnings.
- Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.
- Stay indoors. If you do not have air conditioning, visit a cooling station such as your local library or shopping mall.
- Wear light weight and light colored clothing with sunscreen to reduce exposure to the sun.
- Do not leave children or pets in the car unattended at any time.
- Pace yourself in your outside activities. Reschedule if needed.
For more information on beating the heat visit: https://www.ready.gov/heat.
You can put this type of messaging to work building a positive reputation for your organization as well! Consider what type of information your stakeholders might find useful, and how often they’d like to receive it, then put everything together in an easy-to-digest format (most likely email, but we’ve seen text, YouTube and others used well). Suddenly, you’re giving back to your community by sharing relevant info AND spreading awareness of your organization, just like FEMA!
The BCM Blogging Team
https://www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com/