This is a post in a blog series taking a closer look at the steps in the 9 Steps to Create Your Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Plan. You can click here to follow along with the Steps.
Remember, the safety and well-being of your clients and team members should always be your top priority.
Unfortunately, emergencies can happen at any time. They require quick and effective responses. To ensure the safety of your clients and their beloved pets, you and your team must be well-trained and prepared.
Responding quickly and effectively to high-stress situations requires proper planning and training. Let’s take a closer look at Steps 7-9 of Paws-itively Prepared Emergency and Disaster Plan Checklist. Download Your Free Copy of the Checklist.
Create a Culture of Preparedness
Proper training is the backbone of a resilient business. Training helps to build your confidence. You feel more equipped to make quick, informed decisions. Confidence makes your response significantly more effective. Here are some key training strategies:
Effective Use of the Emergency Preparedness Plan
Train your team members on how to effectively use your emergency preparedness plan. Familiarize them with the different types of emergencies they might encounter and the specific protocols to follow in each situation. This includes understanding the different components of the plan, knowing their roles and responsibilities, and being familiar with the procedures for responding to emergencies.
Conduct Regular Drills and Practice Evacuations
In the event of an emergency, the safety and well-being of your clients and team members should be your top priority. Conducting regular evacuation drills can help familiarize your team with the evacuation routes and procedures. This training ensures that everyone knows where to go and what to do in the event of an evacuation.
Action Item: Schedule a mock emergency drill with your team and, if appropriate, your clients. Put it on your calendar now.
Basic First Aid and CPR Training
This training equips your team members with the skills needed to provide immediate assistance to both humans and pets in need. Regularly refresh their knowledge and skills.
Action Item: Consider partnering with local organizations or hiring certified instructors to provide this training to your team.
Sharing Your Plan with Potential Response Partners
Establishing strong relationships with local emergency services and nearby businesses can be invaluable during emergencies. Collaborating with these response partners can enhance the effectiveness of your emergency response.
Share key information from your emergency plan with your response partners. This will enable them to understand your specific needs and provide effective assistance during emergencies. Ensure that they are aware of your unique requirements for pet care and any specialized equipment or supplies you may need.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
Understand Your Local Emergency Services
Take the time to understand how emergency services operate in your area. To find your local contacts, look for your municipality’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA). You can also call the police or sheriff’s department non-emergency phone number to find the appropriate contact.
Action Item: Familiarize yourself with the services they can provide and establish open lines of communication. This will allow for a seamless collaboration when emergencies occur.
Network with Your Neighbors and Related Businesses
Action Item: Make a list of your neighbors and any pet-related businesses in your area. Invite them for coffee and to review each other’s emergency plans.
Networking with other local businesses is beneficial for mutual support during times of crisis. Establish connections with nearby pet care facilities, veterinary clinics, and pet supply stores. By fostering these relationships, you create a network of support that can make a significant difference in challenging times.
Regular Plan Review and Updates
Developing an emergency preparedness plan is not a one-time task. To ensure its ongoing effectiveness, you must regularly review and update your plan.
Regular Plan Review
Action Item: Put a repeating annual review of your plan as an event on your calendar now. Scheduling regular reviews of your emergency preparedness plan to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.
Assess any changes in your business operations, address new potential risks, and incorporate lessons learned from past emergencies.
Your team members are on the frontlines and can provide valuable insights into improving the plan’s effectiveness. Their input will help identify any areas that may need adjustment or additional training.
Post-Emergency Hot Wash
After an emergency, it’s important to seek feedback from your stakeholders. Give them the opportunity to freely share their thoughts on what worked well and possible areas for improvement.
In the EMA community, this is referred to as a “hot wash”. Click here for an example hot wash form you can use. I recommend conducting a hot wash as soon as possible after the emergency. You may want to include methods for offering feedback using written and verbal formats.
Photo by Elina Volkova
Stay Proactive!
To ensure the highest level of preparedness for your business, stay proactive in reviewing and updating your emergency plan. Seek input from your clients and team members, and remain responsive to their needs. By continuously adapting to changing circumstances, you can maintain an effective and relevant emergency preparedness plan.
Need to update your plan or don’t have one yet?
Remember, this checklist serves as a starting point, and you should customize it based on your pet care business’s specific needs and circumstances.
Would You Like Some Help?
This isn’t a quick project you can complete in an afternoon – or even a day. You will need to commit some time and effort to this very important project.
I can help! From a free 30-minute consultation where we discuss your specific needs to partnering with me to develop a comprehensive plan and present it to your team, I’m available to work with you. Book your free consultation today!
Tiffani Hill LLC 