WCB-Alberta teaches safety through ‘The Hunger Games’
Some topics are hard to tackle. Brand guidelines, casual dress codes and safety, for instance, all come across as finger-wagging, nagging stories.
Unless communicators at the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta (WCB-Alberta) are doing the writing, that is. These folks write about safety daily and are great at finding creative ways to tackle this tough topic.
My favorite series to date: Safety and the movies. In this popular package, WCB-Alberta writers scour popular films for safety tips.
These excerpts are from “Safety and ‘The Hunger Games.'”
1) Dress with safety in mind.
I’m aware that Katniss and Gale live in a post-revolution world where the Capitol forbids them to hunt. However, neither of them ever wears any sort of bright or reflective clothing while hunting in the woods. I know, they don’t want to be seen because then they could get caught. Although it’s unlikely that anyone else would also be hunting in the woods (since it is punishable by death), they should still take precautions to ensure they are seen by potential nearby hunters. Safety first, guys.
2) Don’t light your clothing on fire.
Cinna had wanted Katniss and Peeta to make a memorable entrance at the Hunger Games tribute parade, but igniting one’s clothing is a recipe for catching fire (yes, it’s the title of the second book, but it’s meant to be a metaphor). Sometimes safety may not always look the most striking (like wearing your goggles or helmet), but safety precautions should always take precedence over fashion. Sorry, Cinna.
3) When training, safety protocols are a must.
The training centre was riddled with safety breaches. There was no net under the ladder when Peeta fell, none of the tributes wore helmets or other protective gear while training, knives and arrows were flying through the training centre instead of in a designated range, and when Peeta went to lift the heavy weight, no one was there to spot him or ensure he was using correct posture for lifting. You’d think the Capitol would ensure safety protocols to protect their Tributes. At least ’til the games start.
4) Don’t shoot at people.
Katniss shot her arrow in the direction of the game makers to get their attention. Although she is a supremely talented shooter, this is very dangerous. You should never aim weapons toward people (except in the arena, of course).
5) Cuts need to be cleaned.
When Peeta is injured in the arena, he camouflages himself in the mud. Although this chameleon strategy prevents him from being spotted by the other tributes, he has an open wound which needs to be cleaned. Submerging it in the dirt could only lead to a serious infection (even a blood infection).
Did you notice other safety breaches in “The Hunger Games?” We’d love to hear them!
Whether you’re on the job or training for your own non-hunger games, remember to stay safe and “may the odds be ever in your favour.”
How can you use popular movies, TV shows and books
to make your point more creatively?
How can you tell better business stories?
Stories are so effective that Og Mandino, the late author of the bestselling The Greatest Salesman in the World, says, “If you have a point, find a story.”
Learn to find, develop and write stories that engage readers’ hearts and minds at Master the Art of Storytelling, our content-writing training workshop.
There, you’ll learn how to find the aha! moment that’s the gateway to every anecdote. How to start an anecdote with a bang — instead of a whimper. And how to use “the most powerful form of human communication” to grab attention, boost credibility, make messages more memorable and communicate better.
“’Don’t light your clothing on fire’ | Wylie Communications, Inc.” honestly makes myself think a somewhat further. I cherished every single part of it. Thanks for the post -Marta