Prevention, as always, is better than cure and it is essential that organisations prepare for the eventuality of a major critical incident and the impact it can have on its employees.

Major incidents are unpredictable and how prepared an organisation is to deal with that incident will go a long way in reducing both the long and short term impact that it has.

By their very nature, major critical incidents, place the people involved in them in extreme, life threatening situations, exposing them to situations and experiences they will not necessarily be able to cope with on their own (see the What is Trauma and the Symptoms of Trauma pages).

Typically these can include:

	Road, Rail, Air and Sea accidents
	Terrorist attacks
	Armed/violent incidents - Armed robbery at a bank or petrol station, riots
	Violent assaults
	Explosion
	Fire
	Suicide
	Natural disaster

With the help of the Red Poppy Company organisations can implement the policies and infrastructures required to properly prepare for a major critical incident. 

From initial assessment of both physical and physiological risks and trauma awareness training and critical incident response services, through to providing specialist trauma management and treatment for victims and their families, the Red Poppy Company enables organisations to meet their Duty of Care responsibilities.