We think we are safe. We never think anything will happen to us at a trade show. Fortunately it seldom does, but when it does it can be distareous.

WHAT TO DO?
Accidents happen quickly. You cannot plan but you can be prepared. Here are 7 TIPS to consider when attending any event in a large venue -

BE AWARE OF WEATHER PATTERNS -
Tornadoes are rare in Utah, but it happened. Who expected the levees to break in New Orleans? Heat waves, droughts, hurricanes, wildfires and floods are more prevalent this year in the US. Weird weather can happen anywhere in the world.

KNOW WHERE THE EXITS ARE -
You check them on the plane and the hotel. But when was the last time you seriously looked for the exits at the trade show facility. Close your eyes do you have a mental map of how to get from your space to at least two exits. Why two exits? One may be blocked.

KNOW ENERGENCY INFORMATION
No sense in calling 911 if you dont know exactly where you are. Make sure everyone on your staff has correct information about your location hall, space number for the trade show. Name and address of off-site venues restaurants, etc.

KNOW CPR and AED
As medical devices become easier for the general population to use, it helps to know CPR Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation - http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/quickcpr.html Also have a general understanding of AED - Automated External Defibrillators. Increasingly you will see AEDs in airports and public venues. Your Red Cross chapter teaches both.

CHECK FOR EMERGENCY INFO
Its boring but read the emergency info in the hotel. Check the Exhibitors Manual for details, venue floor plan and who to call.

GET A MAP
When you are off the floor, it helps to have a map so you know where you are in relation to major intersections, your hotel, the venue, restaurants. You dont want the taxi that takes you on a road trip through the city for the restaurant five blocks away. Read the map before you go and keep it in your pocket.

TRUST YOUR GUT
When in doubt, get out. You have intuition for a reason - trust your gut feeling. It is always right whether dealing with people or situation.

Julia O'Connor

In one way or another, Julia has always been in sales. From the time her mortified mother found out that, as an enterprising 5-year-old, she was peddling homemade pot holders to the neighbors, to her current expertise in trade show marketing, she has been interested in results. And in order to get the results she wants, she will guide, train and teach.

Her careers range from public and professional education design, to freelance advertising-public relations, to real estate investment portfolio management.

Since 1982, Julia has been working with clients in trade show marketing. And, when she asked clients, "why are you going to that show?", she found most did not know. Time to teach.

After years of informal instruction, Trade Show Training was incorporated to provide structured training ranging from trade show basics to the ergonomics of exhibit design. She designed Camp Sho-M-Sel-M to improve sales staff performance in the trade show environment.

She holds degrees from The University of Georgia in Advertising, an MA in Mass Communications from The University of Iowa, and an Indiana University MBA in Marketing. She is a frequent speaker on marketing, networking, entrepreneurship and trade shows.