Emergency Preparedness Training

Prepare for Contingencies © Martyn Carruthers

Online Life Coaching & Training

This is not a drill …

Emergency preparedness, contingency planning, crisis management and disaster control are arts that reflect clusters of sciences and demand a huge number of skills. Well designed emergency training and well exercised contingency plans save lives and reduce property damage. Poor preparation and training can worsen the consequences of a crisis and perhaps endanger lives.

Trained disaster workers can reduce a major crisis to a relatively minor event, and can reduce the time needed to return an emergency situation to normal. Ideal emergency workers are not only well trained but experienced; having discussed, practiced and exercised many accident and incident scenarios.

They are fluent in the local language and empathic about the local culture. They understand local values and honor local traditions. They are respected by community leaders and trusted by emergency authorities. They are emotionally mature and can support unstable people. They can be innovative leaders, loyal team-workers and obedient followers as the changing circumstances require.

Emergency Workers

Professional emergency workers are often trained by military or paramilitary organizations. Military personnel, police officers, firefighters and paramedics are often very well trained and experienced in crisis situations. They accept a military-like chain of command and can lead as well as follow.

Emergencies are hard places. Untrained disaster workers often have high ideals and minimal experience. In their haste to help, they create more problems than they solve. They may disobey orders and worsen problems. Their contribution may be worth less than their transport, accommodation, supervision and food. Their lack of appropriate training may require more resources than they provide!

Untrained people in disaster areas not only risk harm – they waste essential resources. Untrained workers often get burned out … or kicked out.

Emergency Resources

We offer:

• selection and teambuilding
• exercise design and evaluation
• emergency training and coaching
• creating and editing contingency plans and manuals
• doctors, psychologists and coaches skilled in crisis, trauma and PTSD

In-House Training . Coaching . International Crisis . Contingency Planning

Emergency Preparedness Training

Our emergency preparedness coaching can be customized for an organization’s unique needs.

• Which supervised exercises should be included?
• How much time can you invest in emergency training?
• Worker background – what is their experience and age range?
• Your objectives – what skills do you want your people to learn?
• Your contingency – what emergencies do you want to prepare for?
• Your situation – what skills and resources do your people already have?

We teach emergency preparedness and refugee management courses in three-day segments.

Emergency Basics

1. Communication skills
2. Anatomy of emergencies
3. First Aid, CPR and triage
4. Specialists and their skills
5. Teamwork and leadership skills
6. Physical and mental preparedness
7. Personal resources & quick-departure packs

Getting Ready

1. Legal limitations
2. Authority issues
3. Isolated people
4. Evacuations
5. Food and shelter
6. Missing persons
7. Conflict and violence
8. Crime continues in crisis
9. Conflicts and corruption in crisis
10. Makeshift emergency resources

Plans & Operations

Disasters take many shapes. Some are natural – and others manmade. Some are predictable and others are shockingly unexpected. Some may kill thousands of people. A crisis can take many shapes, and each type of crisis requires a set of reactions by emergency workers. Emergency planning cannot anticipate every scenario, but it can get emergency workers and resources together quickly.

1. Storms and floods
2. Wars and terrorism
3. Famines and droughts
4. Plagues and epidemics
5. Tidal waves and tsunamis
6. Avalanches and landslides
7. Vehicle and airplane accidents
8. Industrial and nuclear accidents
9. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
10. Hurricanes, cyclones and tornados

Preparing for Disaster

You’re an emergency worker! You are eager to help others while developing your skills and abilities! You are trained in first aid and CPR. You are fit. What skills can you develop that will assist you greatly – even if you never step into a real crisis situation – what skills are invaluable in any crisis?

1. Dealing with survivor guilt
2. Getting food, rest and sleep
3. Staying resourceful in chaos
4. Maintaining empathic dissociation
5. Working in teams – not groups or gangs
6. Becoming a leader that people can follow
7. Dealing with your own emotional reactions
8. Moving your attention and action into priorities
9. Recognizing your own burn-out and overwhelm
10. Sequencing assistance (shock, trauma and guilt)

Crisis Coaching

It’s up to you. You have been instructed to lead a group of refugees to a safe location. Or maybe you are with a group of evacuees and it’s time to go home. You may believe that you know what is best for them. Some are older than you and some much younger. Some may be in shock and some may be injured. Children may be crying and screaming … and some people will not understand you at all…

1. When to call for help!
2. Initial shock and disbelief
3. People in shock or in pain
4. Adults who are age regressed (adults become child-like)
5. People who have lost family, goods or property
6. Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD)
7. Assisting people with strange beliefs
8. Dealing with suicide and other threats
9. Making decisions after crisis
10. Evaluating life after a disaster

Emergency Teamwork

Emergency work is teamwork. Independent heroes only look good in movies. Emergency workers violating chain of command are worse than useless. During team training, we coach team members to work together effectively. Team training can include forming new teams, resolving conflicts, improving existing teams and training team leaders. We also assist teams to disband with minimum stress.

1. Overall objectives
2. Team consultation
3. Team competencies
4. Leader’s role and tasks
5. Establishing team rules
6. Selecting team members
7. Task content and priorities
8. Team member responsibilities
9. Selecting and training leaders
10. Hidden agendas and other objections

Online Life Coaching & Training.

Martyn Carruthers

Martyn Carruthers was a paramedic (Royal Navy) and served on nuclear submarines during the Cold War. He was a health physics and safety officer at nuclear power stations, and Radiation Protection Officer for the Canadian government, where he worked with industry, public health and emergency measures organizations. Martyn Carruthers founded Systemic Solutions, a complete system of professional coaching and training.