Even organizations with good intentions often overlook critical areas of emergency preparedness.
Here are five of the most common mistakes.
1. Creating a Plan and Never Updating It
An emergency plan should be reviewed annually or whenever significant changes occur.
2. Assuming Everyone Knows What to Do
Employees change. Leadership changes. Procedures change.
Training must be ongoing.
3. Ignoring Communication
How will employees receive emergency information?
Who contacts first responders?
Who updates families?
These questions should already have answers.
4. Forgetting Visitors
Emergency plans shouldn’t only account for employees.
Think about customers, patients, volunteers, contractors, and visitors.
5. Never Practicing
A plan that has never been tested is simply a document.
Drills identify weaknesses while there’s still time to improve.
Preparedness Is Continuous
Emergency preparedness isn’t a one-time project.
It’s an ongoing commitment to protecting people and minimizing risk.
Samaritan Shield works alongside organizations to evaluate existing plans, identify gaps, and build practical emergency preparedness programs that work in the real world.
