Planning for Life’s Little Emergencies

Crisis communications are not just for catastrophic events. The techniques used by crisis communicators help manage small events and can minimize them and their impact. In a story coming from Las Vegas, during a soft lockdown due to a suspicious person reported on or near the Ruth Fyfe Elementary School campus on May 14, a young girl was required to relieve herself in a classroom wastebasket. Naturally, she was embarrassed and her mother was incensed. Unfortunately, the Clark County School District responded to the situation Continue reading →

10 Crisis Lessons from the Movie “Gravity”

The movie “Gravity” is pretty much a 90-minute PSA for crisis preparedness.  While few of us will ever be faced with such an extreme environment, it’s always a good idea to plan for the worst case scenario. Ten Crisis Preparedness Lessons Understand your working environment Have a contingency plan Have a backup to your contingency plan Listen to instructions from the authority(ies) Train Know your equipment Have a lifeline Stay calm Have a fire extinguisher Never give up

6 Steps to a Smart Start with Social Media

The world is abuzz with social media–what platforms to use, how and when to use it, what content to publish, how to engage followers…it’s overwhelming, isn’t it? So take a step back.  Breathe.  Anything can seem overwhelming at first.  These six steps will help you build a successful social media program. Step One:  Learn How do you choose the right social media platforms for your organization? Know how social media platforms function and interact with each other across different devices.   Consider the resources you have to Continue reading →