Check list for event organisers

112 Day events can be organised by any body active in safety promotion, both authorities and NGOs. The more parties can be brought to the table to plan and implement an event, the better the result.

Here is a checklist of things to remember when organising an event:

1. Put together a group!

Organising a 112 Day event begins with convening a working group, which should be done well in advance. There are several stages in the process, and it will take time to work out the details. The working group should include representatives from the local rescue services, local social welfare and health care authorities, the police, the Emergency Response Centre, the sea rescue services or Border Guard if applicable, and of course any local NGOs and volunteers. An active approach and a joint effort can result in an impressive local event that attracts visitors and puts the message across effectively!

2. Get to know the theme!

The main theme of 112 Day is ‘Everyday Hero’ to which each safety actor brings their own significant input. The Everyday Hero is a person who prevents everyday situations of danger.

3. Come up with ideas!

For the event to attain its goals, it must be attractive. An event that brings people in to have a look and participate will attain its goals best. Ideas generated through brainstorming are an excellent source of inspiration. They should be shared for the benefit of others, for instance through a feedback form.

Events may be widely differing in nature. Although large-scale events at shopping centres, on market places or on pedestrian streets attract a lot of visitors, smaller-scale events can also be fruitful.

Good locations for organising an events are those that are centrally located and busy, such as:

• shopping centres
• a supermarket (or a supermarket car park)
• a department store
• a market place or pedestrian street

But events may also be organised at:

• schools and day care centres
• other educational institutions, vocational education institutions, universities of applied sciences
• community colleges and workers’ colleges
• libraries, culture centres, youth centres
• municipal offices
• old people’s homes and service centres
• workplaces
• workshops
• garrisons
• rescue services
• public shelters

Companies or consortia such as shops or shopping centres may also be approached for cooperation. In such an arrangement, the event could be given use of a venue, or perhaps advertising space, and the corporate partner would gain visibility in a positive context.

4. Download material!

This website includes ready-made 112 Day education materials. They are freely usable by anyone involved in teaching, education or guidance, not only for 112 Day events but for any other safety counselling throughout the year.

5. Enter your event!

Remember to enter your event on the 112 Day website.

6. Remember publicity!

Be active in informing the local media about events on 112 Day. It is important to tell them what will be happening, when and where.

An interested audience will also attract the media. Newspapers, radio and TV can help put the message across, so it is worth offering them something special too. Images in the print media and on TV often show flames and emergency response vehicles. It would be much better for the media to take an interest in how hazards could be prevented. This should be taken into account when planning the event.

There are ready-made bulletin and announcement templates available.

7. Attain your targets!

112 Day is a shared effort for safety actors to increase citizens’ safety knowledge and skills. Therefore a variety of education goals have been defined for 112 Day and its events:

1. Cooperation among safety bodies. It is better for several parties together to produce one larger event at a particular location than several small ones.
2. Active publicity to get the general public and the media interested.
3. Make the public acquainted with the theme ‘Are you an Everyday Hero?’
4. Alert the public to the risks of everyday life and what they can do to prevent accidents; provide advice.
5. Encourage people to help and advise how to act correctly and responsibly in an emergency until the professionals alerted through 112 arrive.
6. Explain when it is appropriate to phone 112 and when it is better to phone somewhere else.
7. Remind citizens to replace the batteries in their smoke detectors and to test them every month.
8. Report on other current matters that affect everyone’s safety.

Consider whether there would be any way to measure attainment of the goals.

8. Give feedback!

How did the arrangements for 112 Day go? Did your working group gain enough support from this website?
Would you like to see anything new in particular for the next 112 Day?

Send feedback to the national working group; tell us about your good and bad experiences, and give tips on successful action for the benefit of others.

9. Use the model format!

The 112 Day format is a sample of how to plan a 112 Day event. You can use this format as a template when planning and implementing a 112 Day event in your community with several parties involved. Numerous 112 Day events have been organised in southwest Finland in recent years. The point of these events has been not only to convey the message of safety to citizens but also to get the relevant authorities to cooperate with each other and with other parties concerned with safety.

10. Social media

Statistics show that at least 1.8 million Finns are already on Facebook, so now 112 Day is too. Visit the campaign page: 112 Day on Facebook

The more people ‘like’ the 112 Day Facebook page, the more efficiently we can distribute information on events on 112 Day.