A lot has been written about the events of 9-11. As a current resident of the District of Columbia, I am reminded of the attack on the Pentagon every day. I also experienced the anthrax scare first hand when my post office was closed for decontamination. These are different times, and we are faced with many uncertainties. Still, many positive things have surfaced since that horrible day. Many of them reinforced the importance of risk management and safety when it comes to preventing accidents, injuries or even death. In a USA Today article, author Dennis Cauchon did a comprehensive investigation of the evacuation of the World Trade Center Twin Towers. He found that after a terrorist bomb explosion in 1993, the Port Authority of New York went back and revised its evacuation plan. It made numerous changes such as putting reflective paint on stairs, railings, and doors, painting bright arrows to guide people along corridors to stairway connections, providing evacuation chairs to assist handicapped employees and installing loudspeakers so building managers could talk to people in their offices as well as hallways. More importantly, building managers took evacuations seriously and held drills every six months. These changes saved the lives of countless World Trade Center employees. Amidst the tragedy, the evacuation proved to be a success!

Health/fitness professionals must answer the question, “are our fitness/wellness facilities prepared for an emergency evacuation, or a medical crisis?” What preventive measures are in place to minimize risks and ensure a safe environment for our members to work out in every day?

Evacuation Plans
Develop a written emergency plan that incorporates the unique characteristics of your facility. Remember, it’s important to think through different scenarios – a fire, a bomb scare, a national threat. Each might call for a different strategy and different responsibilities for your staff to perform. Your staff might have to turn off equipment, check locker rooms and wet areas, as well as alert and evacuate members. Aside from knowing the location of telephones, alarms, and the nearest building exits, your staff should have access to emergency equipment such as a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and flashlight.
Strong, confident leadership will help minimize panic during an emergency. Review evacuation plans at staff meetings to ensure that all staff are prepared and ready to respond. Make sure all staff know the nearest exits and alternate routes, and other potential escape routes, including windows and service entrances, in case of a national threat. Identify rooms or areas that may be dangerous to walk through in the dark (in case of a power outage) and/or safe structures or areas in which to take cover.

Medical Crises
All staff should be trained and certified in CPR, first aid, operating a defibrillator and other lifesaving techniques. In case of a medical emergency, staff must be prepared to describe their location to emergency personnel (address, building name, location of nearest entrance and room number, if applicable) and to assist them, if necessary. To ensure compliance, post this information by telephones and exits. Review CPR and emergency techniques monthly to help your staff become better prepared in case of a medical crisis.

Emergencies
If your facility is equipped with emergency lights and buzzers, it is important to check them regularly to make sure they work properly. Surprise fire and evacuation drills will keep staff current on operating procedures. In case of an on-site emergency, an incident report should be completed that documents not only the nature of the incident, but also the action taken to prevent a recurrence. First aid and OSHA supplies such as latex gloves, CPR micro shields, biohazard and Sharps containers should be kept in a central location accessible to all staff (including front desk, group exercise instructors and personal trainers).

Although we can never eliminate risk, by implementing and managing an effective risk management program, we can reduce the dangers in the environment we manage. By formulating a comprehensive action plan that is continually reviewed and practiced by staff, we can ensure member safety and program effectiveness. The responsibility of risk management is shared by all fitness/wellness professionals in order to ensure the care and safety of our clients.

Published with permission from:
Fitness Onsite Magazine Feb 2004