[CM] [SIT] [E3] [PB] [CS] [1] Pre-Crisis for Mass Casualty Crisis Scenario for Student Overseas Trips

This chapter details specific actions to take before, during, and after a Mass Casualty Crisis Scenario for Student Overseas Trips by the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

This playbook is a training aid for Module 2 participants in the CM-300/5000 Implementer/Expert Implementer Course to attempt the CM plan development assignment.

Detailed Steps Before the Crisis

Preparedness and Prevention/ Reduction

Purpose

The objective of the pre-crisis phase is to establish governance, strengthen preparedness, identify and mitigate risks, and ensure that SIT can rapidly activate and coordinate a response should a mass-casualty incident occur during an overseas student trip.

Given the complexity of overseas travel and the involvement of multiple stakeholders across jurisdictions, preparation is essential to safeguard student welfare and minimise operational, reputational, and academic disruption.

Stage 1: Establish Crisis Governance and Oversight Structure

Objective

Create a formal crisis management structure with clearly defined authority, accountability, and escalation pathways.

Actions

1.1 Establish Crisis Management Team (CMT)

Identify and appoint:

Deliverables

• Crisis Management Team structure
• roles and responsibilities matrix
• delegation of authority
• escalation framework

1.2 Define Crisis Escalation Criteria

Examples:

Level 1:

• Minor injuries

Level 2:

• Hospitalisation

Level 3:

• Multiple casualties

Level 4:

• Fatalities involving multiple students

Establish activation authority and thresholds.

Stage 2: Conduct Overseas Travel Risk Assessment

Objective

Identify threats and vulnerabilities that may affect students travelling overseas.

2.1 Conduct Destination Risk Assessment

Assess:

Environmental risks

• earthquake
• flood
• typhoon
• tsunami
• extreme weather

Transportation risks

• chartered bus incidents
• ferry accidents
• air travel disruptions

Security threats

• terrorism
• political instability
• civil unrest
• kidnapping
• crime

Health threats

• infectious disease outbreaks
• food poisoning
• healthcare capability
• endemic diseases

Infrastructure risks

• accommodation safety
• transportation standards
• emergency services capability

Deliverable

Develop:

Overseas Travel Risk Register

Sample fields:

• Risk

• Likelihood

• Impact

• Existing Controls

• Additional Mitigation

Stage 3: Establish Student Information Management

Objective

Ensure rapid access to accurate information during emergencies.

3.1 Collect Student Emergency Information

Collect:

• passport details

• emergency contacts

• next-of-kin details

• medical conditions

• allergies

• blood group

• travel itinerary

• accommodation details

• insurance details

• medication requirements

3.2 Secure Information Repository

Requirements:

• encrypted storage
• restricted access
• real-time availability
• backup repository

Stage 4: Medical and Insurance Preparedness

Objective

Ensure students are medically covered and supported overseas.

4.1 Verify Medical Coverage

Review:

• travel insurance coverage

• hospitalisation coverage

• emergency evacuation coverage

• repatriation coverage

• accidental death coverage

4.2 Establish Medical Support Contacts

Identify:

• nearby hospitals
• trauma centres
• emergency clinics
• ambulance providers
• medical translators

Deliverable

Country Medical Support Directory

Stage 5: Establish Overseas Stakeholder Contact Network

Objective

Build external support channels before travel.

Develop contact directories for:

Singapore stakeholders

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Education
• Singapore embassies
• Singapore consulates

Local country stakeholders

• police
• hospitals
• emergency agencies
• disaster agencies
• local university partners

Support stakeholders

• insurers
• travel agencies
• airlines
• transport providers

Deliverable

Overseas Emergency Contact Directory

Stage 6: Conduct Travel Safety Briefing

Objective

Prepare students before departure.

Provide a briefing on:

Country-specific risks

• political sensitivities
• local laws
• cultural expectations
• prohibited activities

Personal safety

• movement restrictions
• travel precautions
• safe transport usage

Emergency procedures

• emergency hotline
• reporting requirements
• assembly locations

Medical guidance

• health precautions
• disease prevention
• emergency treatment access

Deliverable

Student Travel Safety Handbook

Stage 7: Prepare Communication and Notification Procedures

Objective

Enable rapid and controlled information dissemination.

Prepare templates for:

Internal communication

• SIT leadership notifications
• crisis activation messages

Family communication

• next-of-kin notification scripts
• hospital updates

Government communication

• embassy notifications
• regulatory reporting

Public communication

• media holding statements
• press releases

Deliverable

Crisis Communication Pack

Stage 8: Establish Student Accountability Process

Objective

Enable rapid tracking of student status during emergencies.

Develop accountability categories

Category

• Safe

• Injured

• Missing

• Hospitalised

• Evacuated

• Deceased

Define:

• accountability reporting process
• tracking ownership
• verification procedures

Deliverable

Student Accountability Tracker

Stage 9: Conduct Training and Exercises

Objective

Validate readiness and improve crisis response capability.

Conduct:

Tabletop exercises

Scenarios:

• transport accident
• earthquake
• ferry sinking
• mass hospital admission
• terrorist incident

Simulation exercises

Test:

• student accountability
• next-of-kin notification
• media response
• embassy coordination
• hospital management

Deliverable

Exercise Reports and Improvement Plans

Stage 10: Establish Crisis Operations Infrastructure

Objective

Ensure operational capability during activation.

Prepare:

Crisis Operations Centre requirements

• dedicated room

• communication equipment

• video conferencing capability

• secure data access

• crisis management software

• contact databases

Alternative arrangements

• remote activation capability
• secondary command site

Deliverable

Crisis Operations Centre Activation Guide

Stage 11: Pre-Position Family Assistance Capability

Objective

Prepare for family and next-of-kin support requirements.

Prepare:

• Family Assistance Centre procedures
• counselling arrangements
• liaison officer assignments
• accommodation support procedures

Develop:

Family Support SOP

Stage 12: Conduct Final Pre-Departure Review

Conduct a review before departure:

Checklist

• destination risk approved

• student data verified

• insurance confirmed

• emergency contacts verified

• Travel advisory reviewed

• communication tested

• crisis team on standby

• briefings completed

Approval

Programme leader sign-off and SIT management approval

End-State of Pre-Crisis Phase

Upon completion of the preparedness activities, SIT should possess:

• established governance structure
• destination risk awareness
• emergency response capability
• verified student information
• stakeholder contact networks
• communication readiness
• hospital support arrangements
• accountability mechanisms
• trained crisis teams
• exercised response procedures

This preparedness phase forms the operational foundation that enables SIT to respond rapidly and effectively in a mass-casualty crisis involving students overseas.

The objective of the Response, Recovery and Resumption phase is to protect life, provide immediate assistance to affected students, establish situational awareness, coordinate stakeholders, support next of kin, manage communications, and minimise disruption to SIT operations.

During a mass-casualty incident overseas, SIT must rapidly transition from routine operations to a structured crisis-response mode capable of operating across multiple jurisdictions, agencies, hospitals, and stakeholders.

The response phase should be executed through a coordinated crisis management structure and guided by pre-established escalation procedures.

Click the icon for the crisis management playbook for the three stages: Pre-, During-, and Post-crisis for the Managing Mass Casualty Crisis Scenario for Student Overseas Trips

Introduction	Pre-Crisis	During Crisis	Post-Crisis
Managing Mass Casualties	Preparedness and Prevention/ Reduction	Response, Recovery and Resume	Recovery, Restore and Return Home

Reference Guide

Goh, M. H. (2016). A Manager’s Guide to Implement Your Crisis Management Plan. Business Continuity Management Specialist Series (1st ed., p. 192). Singapore: GMH Pte Ltd.

More Information About Crisis Management Blended/ Hybrid Learning Courses

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the  CM-300 Crisis Management Implementer [CM-3] and the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer [CM-5].

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