MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

• Survey attendees for information about average age, activity level, existing medical conditions or any disability requirements.
• Upon reviewing attendee profiles, train meeting staff to recognize potential medical problems.
• Develop emergency procedures, using specific scenarios, for all meeting staff, including volunteers.
• Teach event staff members how to recognize problems and respond appropriately.
• Encourage all staff members to learn CPR and to keep their certifications current.
• Provide special identification for staff members trained to administer CPR.
• Designate staff to take responsibility for various emergency scenarios, and provide them with the name and number of the hospital.
• Evaluate the facility's procedures for medical emergencies:
     - Is a written medical emergency plan in place?
     - When was it last reviewed?
     - How are emergency procedures initiated?
     - Is facility staff familiar with the plan?
     - Is a first-aid station on-site? If so, what are the station's hours of operation?
     - What is the first-aid station equipped with, and how is it staffed?
     - Is a doctor on call 24 hours?
     - Is waitstaff trained to perform the Heimlich maneuver?
     - How are emergency care procedures initiated within the facility?
     - Where is the nearest hospital? What is its name and phone number?
     - Who is responsible for ambulance service?
     - What is the phone number to call for an ambulance?

DEMONSTRATIONS, PROTESTS, AND OTHER CONFRONTATIONS

 Assess the potential for organized protests and consider the following precautions:

• Hiring a security consultant
• Briefing the organization's leaders, staff and facility officials
• Consulting with local police and facility security
• Hiring additional security

IF A PROTEST DOES OCCUR, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

   - File a citizen's complaint.
   - Confer with leadership of protest group.
   - Cordon off an area for protesters; advise attendees of same.
   - Set up a press conference to address the issues, including disruptions or changes in the event schedule.
   - Ask speakers to be available for interviews.
   - Brief staff on the organization's position.
   - Clarify procedures for handling press.
   - Designate specific people who are authorized to respond to press

BOMB THREATS

 If a bomb threat is received by phone:

• Record exact time of the call.
• Record exact words of the caller.
• Record the facts of the call. Take note of who took the call, the telephone number the call was received at, the date and to what authority the call was initially reported.
• Ask questions to keep the caller on the line so authorities have time to trace the call. For example: • When will the bomb will explode? • Exactly where has it been placed? • What kind of bomb is it? • What does it look like? • What is the name of the individual or group responsible? • From where is this call being made? • Why is the caller providing this warning?
• Take note of the caller's voice, including any accent, inflection or lisp.
• Consider whether the voice sounds familiar.
• Take note of any background noises.
• Write down all observations as they occur to you. This will assist authorities in their investigation.

OTHER CONTINGENCIES

• Consider the impact of inclement weather.
• If transportation is likely to be impeded, consider offering attendees information about alternative transportation methods.
• Plan for delayed departures and/or arrivals.
• Inquire about possible union strikes, labor disturbances and resulting staff shortages.
• Identify a local agency for handling hazardous materials, and distribute the phone number to event staff.

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