Sunday, April 19, 2009

Safety at Every Meeting

One of the best "best practices" I've ever witnessed was during Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad training. I was teaching train-the-trainer in Overland Park, KS. Each morning session began with a point person asking for five people who were willing and able to serve the group of participants. Each person would be accountable for one of the following:
1. To deliver CPR, if necessary.
2. To apply the defibrilator device, if necessary.
3. To give the headcount to first responders or rescuers, if necessary.
4. To assist any self-identified person(s) within the group during an emergency evacuation.
5. To call 9-1-1, if nercessary.
I invite you to propose a consistent and comprehensive system for basic safety and survival at all of your organization's meetings. Two minutes to assign volunteers brings life-saving skills and safety commitments to the forefront of all attendees' minds. As an outside consultant at BNSF, I felt reassured that a heart attack, a fire, or a terrorist would be foiled in any dastardly attempt to expire me.
Now get or renew your CPR certification!

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