Empowering Crisis Responders: The Story Behind Our Liaison CoPI Course 

In times of crisis, every second matters. Whether it’s a natural disaster, public health emergency, or any large-scale incident, effective communication and coordination between responding agencies are critical. This is where the Liaison CoPI* comes into play. This important link between the professional rescue agencies, other governmental agencies and the crisis management team of the affected company, makes sure that the rescue agencies have access to the technical details of the affected site, but also the crisis team from the company has access to the decisions and actions performed by the rescuers.

The Need for Liaison Officers 

Crisis situations often involve multiple agencies—emergency services, healthcare organizations, government officials, and NGOs. Without a central point of communication, critical information can be delayed or miscommunicated. Liaison officers ensure smooth and efficient coordination by acting as the pivotal communication link between these agencies. However, this role requires specialized skills, as managing relationships, making decisions quickly, and handling intense pressure are not easy feats.

The Inspiration Behind the Course 

Often, the fire brigade can only operate effectively during an incident in an otherwise unknown company premises, if they get technical details of the site, such as the location of hydrants, emergency exits, results of headcount and inventory of chemicals possibly on site. 

On the other hand, a crisis management team is highly dependent on the actions performed by the rescue agencies, and in dire need of details such as casualties rescued and transported to hospital, decisions taken by the fire chief and intended line of communication of the spokesperson of the combined responders. 

Without a properly trained liaison, both parties will be left without those important details and neither organization will be able to perform optimally. 

If a non-trained person is sent to perform the task of liaison, he or she will not 'talk the talk’, won’t understand the streamlined process the professionals use and will have difficulty contributing to their process. 

What Makes the Liaison CoPI Course Unique? 

While many emergency management programs focus on operational skills or leadership, the Liaison CoPI Course stands out by honing the intersection of communication, decision-making, and relationship management during crises. Here's what makes it unique: 

1. Interagency Collaboration

One of the most challenging aspects of being a liaison officer is navigating the complex web of agencies and organizations involved in a crisis. The course places a strong emphasis on understanding the roles and responsibilities of different agencies, fostering collaboration, and reducing bureaucratic delays. 

2. “Talk the talk”

Learn how to speak the language of the professionals. Become familiar with the terms they use and the network they operate in. Learn to understand the organizational structure, the chain of command and who's responsible for what tasks.

3. Crisis communication

The governmental rescue agencies have the legal obligation to provide the local communities with fast, reliable crisis communication. They have trained professionals coming to the incident site and start the communication process within minutes. If you don't hook on, the communication will start without you. The published statements will serve the safety of the community, but not necessarily the interests of the company you represent. Learn how to coordinate the communication efforts, so both organizations complement each other, rather than the company having to react on the incident being framed by social media and the statements of the professionals.

4. Practical tips

What to think about before you step into your car and drive to the incident? What to bring to the CoPI? How do you communicate with your own crisis team? How to make sure you're allowed to pass the red-and-white barrier tape to grant you access to the CoPI command module? 

Once the blue flashing lights are parked on your doorstep, there's no longer time to educate the first responders. 

Appoint certain people in your organization, equip them with the necessary knowledge, provide them with a couple of simple tools. When the sirens are on your doorstep, your first responders will know what to do. 

In a world where emergencies are inevitable, preparedness is our best defense. The Liaison CoPI Course makes sure that your first responders will be able to represent your companies’ interests and assist the professionals in their emergency response efforts.. 

* CoPI = Command on Place Incident, the official command structure of the place of an incident. 

Want to learn more about the Liaison CoPI Course or enroll in our next training session? Contact us today to join a global network of empowered crisis responders.