Public safety messaging during super bowl LVI: A pilot study and modified framework

OBJECTIVE: The Super Bowl is one of the most widely attended sporting events and requires proper communication to ensure emergency preparedness for everyone in the city. This pilot study used Super Bowl LVI as a setting to inform future research evaluating the effectiveness of the public health messaging during mass-gathering events. METHODS: This pilot study modifies past theoretical frameworks and research tools to create a novel survey instrument focused on public safety message effectiveness. This survey was sent to all of those that opted-in to the Joint Information Center’s notification platform during Super Bowl LVI. RESULTS: The results show that message comprehension, source credibility, and perceived risk might not be associated with proactive behavior for public safety messaging. However, modality preference results showed that individuals might prefer to receive public safety and emergency alerts by text message. CONCLUSIONS: Factors that influence proactive response towards public safety messaging might differ from emergency alerts. This pilot study has yielded results from a major mass-gathering event that can be used to understand errors that arise during public health and emergency preparedness and strengthen future disaster planning and research.