In Berlin, your main aim as a tour guide is to enthral and entertain your guest. But it is important for guests to be prepared, anyway, for any emergencies that may occur while on tours. This can be ranging from a medical emergency, to a lost tourist, or a natural disaster, and knowing how to handle these situations could literally be the difference in keeping your guests safe and out of harms way. In this Berlin tour guide blog post, we are going to talk about some important tips and guidelines to handle the need to address emergencies as a Berlin tour guide.
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Stay Calm and Take Charge
When it comes to emergencies, it is most important to stay cool and not respond in haste. So when things are crazy, your guests will be looking to you upon arrival and you want to take charge but not panic. Get the situation analyzed fast and take care of the safety and welfare of the people in your care.
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Communicate Clearly
Communication in emergencies is important. Make sure your guests know what they are doing and what they should be doing. It’s speaking clearly and calmly, giving clear instructions and reassuring the student. If there’s a language barrier, and especially if you speak a different language than the majority, make sure everyone understands, especially with visual cues or translation apps.
2.1 Use a Whistle or Megaphone
In group emergency situations, it could be helpful to have a whistle or megaphone, just to catch your guests’ attention in a populous area. This can be especially helpful when you need to point people in the right direction in their travel to a meeting place, or summon help from call handlers.
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Create an Emergency Plan
Before you even head out on tour, it is smart to have a good emergency plan in place. This plan should not only include finding out the local safe meeting points, emergency contact numbers and close by medical facilities but also arranging for people to know where to meet in case of an emergency. Learn basic first aid skills, and if you don’t have one, carry a basic first aid kit.
3.1 Establish Meeting Points
Meeting points at the beginning of each tour is very important. If an emergency should occur, you are able to quickly and safely aggregate your guests. Make sure these meeting points are recognizable landmarks and don’t have to work very hard to find them.
3.Emergency contact information
You should compile a list of must have emergency contact numbers, i.e. local authorities, hospitals, plus the number of your tour company’s emergency hotline. And make sure you have this information readily available, either in your phone, or printed out on a paper.
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Be Aware of Surroundings
Being a tour guide, one is always aware of you surroundings. Be on the look out for possible conditions that could cause you harm, and if they occur be ready to deal with them should it be required. That is why it includes being updated about the weather forecast, political news and any recent incidents or being able to anticipate potential disturbances in the area you’re visiting.
4.1 Keep up on Safety Alerts
Post warnings on your website letting readers know if they should sign up for safety alerts and updates from local authorities or tourist advisory boards. That’s because this will keep you up to date on any possible dangers or even emergencies right as they happen.
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Keep First Aid Skills Updated
Basic first aid skills can really be useful in emergency situations. So consider having a first aid and CPR course baked in and make sure that you keep your skills fresh. Being familiar with some basic first aid, knowing how to help until expert help arrives can be comforting and necessary help.
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Stay in Touch with Your Tour Company
In an emergency, you want to be able to communicate with your tour company. Make sure you can get hold of the number of the emergency hotline or your company’s point of contact and let them know what happened as soon as you can. Social media can also add some further guidance and can support in providing any necessary support for you and your guests.
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Read online or download Basic Phrases in the Local Language .
Basic phrases in the local language are wonderful to know in emergency situations. Find out how to ask for help, describe the situation, and pass on useful info to emergency officers. This will speed up response time and help with that crucial communication in trying times.
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Practice Prevention
However, prevention is always better than an emergency. Remind your guests to use proper footwear, keep hydrated and generally be safe. Before each tour, an explanation of potential risks and safety tips will let people knowing the chance of accidents or emergencies.
8.1 Let you know of Local Laws and Custom.
Communicate local laws, rules and customs to the guests and let them know what you want them to do. This should help them to avoid any legal trouble and enjoy a nice and rather safe sports trip.
Conclusion
It’s all about being prepared, thinking on your feet and using your mouth to communicate when emergencies strike. Staying calm, having an emergency plan, and communicating with your tour company and guests as openly as possible, will help not only keep yourself safe and ensure everyone’s well being, but keep everyone safe and well being. A good tour guide, prepared and well trained, can turn a trip around Berlin, or any tourist area, into a thriving, memorable safe experience for visitors.
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