Tabletop Exercises
Preparation makes all the difference in a critical situation. CSDSIP's Tabletop Exercises allow your emergency response team to prepare through realistic scenarios that are designed to test the team's response skills and the efficiency of your response plan.
When completed regularly, these exercises are designed to improve your teams critical thinking and coordination abilities as well as help build confidence responding to urgent events. However, proper use is the key to the effectiveness of any tool, so we've created a step-by-step guide to help you get the most out of our Tabletop Exercise Series.
If you have questions about how to work through a Tabletop Exercise, CSDSIP's Risk Control Team would be happy to help!
Gather your Team
Gather your emergency response team, including planners, like a school principal or Superintendent, and those first on the scene, such as SRO's. If you are presenting this tool to an audience of 10 or more, have them complete the activity in smaller groups to promote good discussion.
Review Scenario & Critical Thinking Questions
Read the scenario and details of the simulated emergency event. Allow time to reflect on the Critical Thinking Questions, formulate thoughts, and share their responses. Have someone note group responses and decisions to compare to later recommendations.
Review CSDSIP's Response Recommendations
Once you've crafted your group's response, review CSDSIP's recommendations. If your responses differ greatly from the recommendation, consider why. Did your response speak to specific conditions the recommendation did not take into account? Did the recommendation bring up something your group did not consider?
Evaluate Your Conclusions and Next Steps
What did you learn from this exercise and how will it impact your larger emergency preparedness plans? Review the additional resources and update your emergency preparedness plan. Having an effective plan in place with trained staff can drastically improve the outcome of a real emergency situation. If these scenarios bring up further questions, please do not hesitate to contact CSDSIP's Risk Control Team!
