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FOGHORN
til the situation is fully resolved before making contact. 
Multiple crew members should attempt to communicate 
through every available channel simultaneously. Redun-
dancy saves lives.
Preserving scene integrity matters too, particularly if 
criminal prosecution will follow. Instruct crew and pas-
sengers not to move or disturb items unnecessarily. How-
ever, it is important to note that the preservation of life 
will always supersede the protection of evidence. Identify 
any witnesses who saw the incident and keep them avail-
able and separated where possible to prevent the natural 
human tendency for people to compare accounts before 
investigators can speak with them individually. Your crew 
should understand these expectations before they are ever 
in a position to need them.
THE TIME TO PREPARE IS NOW
I have spent a career watching organizations prepare for 
the emergencies they think are most likely to happen—and 
scramble through the ones they never saw coming. I have 
also watched crews who trained relentlessly navigate the 
unthinkable with a calmness that stunned bystanders, be-
 DON’T MISS THE BOAT 
 PVA EVENTS 
CALENDAR
PVA GREAT LAKES 
REGION MEETING
Oct. 14-16, 2026 | Chicago, Ill. 
Hotel booking link
PVA WESTERN REGION MEETING
Oct. 21-21, 2026 | Waikoloa, Hawaii
Hotel booking link
PVA ANNUAL CONVENTION 
AT MARITRENDS 2027
JAN. 24-27, 2027 | Tampa, Fla.
Registration and details coming soon
EVENT SITE
EVENT SITE
FOGHORN FOCUS
Train the plan until it is  
reflexive. Drill the medical  
response alongside the 
threat response. Review 
and update annually,  
or after any incident that 
highlights a gap.

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