What is the most important thing to do during a crisis, and how should you respond? In this episode, Gard’s Vice President, Scott Gallagher, discusses the best ways to respond and react during a crisis. The first step is to remain calm and identify your plan while ensuring everyone’s safety throughout the crisis. When dealing with emergency situations, coordinate with all relevant services to guarantee that everyone is safe.
After everyone is safe, be sure that you do not communicate too much information too soon. Be careful not to overcommunicate, as it may interrupt the emergency services’ investigation. Identify your audiences and determine who needs to know and when they should be informed. When a crisis attracts media attention, it’s better to say nothing than to say something incorrect. When dealing with the media, be patient and ensure that if you do share any information, it is accurate. When engaging with social media during a crisis, while it’s a fast way to share information, it can also frighten your audience, leading to increased frustration as they begin to ask questions.
Avoid sharing personal information prematurely, and ensure you remain patient. One key point to remember during a crisis is to refrain from engaging with the media and avoid providing answers when you don’t have all the information. Be cautious about posting on social media too until you are fully prepared, as it’s easy to lose control of the narrative. Focus on keeping everyone calm and adhering to the plan you established for yourself and your team.