Does Your Emergency Action Plan Include Volunteers?

1. Does Your Emergency Action Plan Include Volunteers? The ABC’s of training your volunteers on how to handle emergency situations Jessica Deering Butterfly House Jessica.deering@mobot.org

2. Determining What Training Type to use Number of volunteers Topic(s) to be covered Experience/knowledge of trainer Time

3. Control of content Repeatable Timing Future reference material Easiest Presentations: Pros

4. Presentations: Cons • Can be boring • Limited interaction • No hands on • No check of comprehension

5. Tips Have visuals: pictures, items to pass around, video Prepare good hand-outs Pause for questions Give breaks to move around and stretch

6. Hands on Interactive Instant feed back View points Scenarios: Pros

7. Scenarios: Cons • Participation • Topics not fully covered • Hard to re-do • Timing • Difficult to take notes

8. Tips • Have ice breaker activities to get group “warmed-up” • Divide into groups • Add humor • Make hand-outs for future reference

9. Controlled content Pace individualized Repeat uses Flexible scheduling Can include a quiz Computer Training: Pros

10. Computer Training: Cons • Not personal • Technical issues • Not interactive • Cost • Need equipment

11. Tips • Seek assistance • Make the information concise and relevant • Address questions • Provide training on program • Get feed back from trainees

12. Doing is learning Expectations are clear “Think on your feet” training Very interactive Simulations: Pros

13. Simulations: Cons • Space/time constraints • Potentially disruptive • Harder to develop • May be stressful

14. Tips • Ask for assistance from outside group(s) • Test on staff first • Start slowly with a small group • Pick easiest situation

15. Outside Sources For Help Insurance Companies: Worker’s Compensation, Health, & Liability Fire and Police Departments Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) County Health Department The American Red Cross Crime Victim Advocacy Center (identify theft) Local colleges/universities