Make Emergency Preparedness Learning Engaging and Memorable

The Challenge: Training That Sticks

Emergency preparedness is a critical aspect of organizational safety, yet it's often approached as a “check-the-box” requirement—routine, uninspiring, and ultimately forgettable. With so many competing demands on time and attention, it’s no surprise that traditional training often fades into the background. But when it comes to real emergencies, passive knowledge isn’t enough. Healthcare organizations must be actively engaged in learning if we expect them to perform when it counts.

Learning Objectives That Matter

Active and engaged emergency preparedness learning is anchored in three essential goals, each designed to elevate the quality and impact of emergency preparedness training:

1. Understand how action oriented and hands on training enhances emergency readiness.

2. Identify strategies to make drills and exercises interactive and participatory.

3. Incorporate feedback and continuous improvement into all preparedness activities.

By focusing on these objectives, the training aimed to shift mindsets from compliance to true competency.

From Boring to Transformative: Rethinking Emergency Training

It's important to make a clear distinction between two common approaches:

• “Check-the-box” training may be efficient, but it rarely leaves a lasting impression. It’s easy to deliver but hard to retain.

• Transformative training, on the other hand, is dynamic, memorable, and yes—fun. It goes beyond information delivery to spark critical thinking, collaboration, and lasting understanding.

When you ask healthcare providers to recall their most memorable learning experiences, rarely did it involve online learning/slideshows or handouts. More often, they featured stories, challenges, or personal involvement—powerful reminders that memorable learning is active, not passive.

As the timeless saying often attributed to Benjamin Franklin suggests:

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

Three Tactics to Level Up Your Training

To move from rote to remarkable, here are three practical, high-impact strategies:

1. Embrace Your Inner Storyteller

Humans are hardwired to respond to stories. By framing tabletop exercises as narratives—with characters, stakes, and unfolding challenges—trainers can turn abstract scenarios into engaging, realistic simulations. This approach not only increases retention but also encourages deeper emotional and cognitive engagement.

2. Lean Into Competition and Whimsy

Gamification works. Injecting games, challenges, and even a bit of whimsy can revitalize tired training formats. Tools like “Preparedness Jeopardy” bring out team spirit, reinforce knowledge through play, and foster camaraderie. These elements make learning something participants look forward to—not something they endure.

Gamified Training defined: a learning approach that incorporates elements of games—such as points, challenges, competition, and rewards—into educational or training programs. The goal is to make the learning experience more engaging, interactive, and memorable, helping participants stay motivated and retain information more effectively.

3. Make Games Work for You

Escape rooms are more than a passing trend—they’re powerful metaphors for real-world emergency situations that demand quick thinking, collaboration, and decisive action. Custom-designed educational escape rooms for topics like fire safety or resident care make preparedness tangible, enjoyable, and directly applicable to the workplace.

Take the Next Step: Try a Gamified Emergency Training Session

Ready to reimagine your emergency preparedness training? Healthcare Preparedness Solutions/HAPevolve offers several gamified learning experiences tailored for healthcare and long-term care settings. Explore the options below to find the right fit for your team:

• 🔥 Fire Safety Educational Escape Room

• 🛏️ Resident Safety Educational Escape Room

• 🧴 Skin Care in Long-Term Care Educational Escape Room

Connect With Us

Looking to strengthen your emergency response capabilities while keeping your team engaged? Contact us today to learn how we can help you build a culture of preparedness that sticks.