Crisis communications is an area of ​​public relations that I find truly fascinating. I like to know the correct steps a professional takes when a company is faced with a serious crisis and what they do in the face of chaos to turn the situation around and exploit the crisis to their advantage. A case study that exemplifies the degree to which a crisis can be managed effectively and a company can gain more respect by doing so is the case of the Chicago Tylenol murders in 1982. The tragic deaths of seven people who died as a result of the potassium cyanide Tylenol capsules started out as a disaster for Tylenol manufacturer Johnson and Johnson. However, J&J communicated effectively with its public and the media, researched its products after recalling millions of dollars of Tylenol capsules from shelves nationwide, and developed adequate packaging to avoid further incidents. I believe the way Johnson and Johnson handled the situation should be an example for businesses to use when faced with a crisis and how to best handle it. A 12-year-old girl named Mary Kellerman was the first victim of the Tylenol murders. Kellerman, who lived in the Chicago suburb Elk Grove Village, was feeling unwell on September 29, 1982. She was given an extra-strength Tylenol capsule to relieve a sore throat, and her parents later found her unconscious. Kellerman died en route to the hospital and was presumed to have died of a stroke. However, three similar deaths soon followed. On the same day as Kellerman's death, 27-year-old Adam Janus of Arlington Heights was rushed to a local hospital where he died, suspected of a massive heart attack. The connection between Kellerman's death and Janus' death was that both... midway through the paper... articles were published further praising J&J and touting their great success. The way Tylenol recovered so quickly and successfully after such a traumatizing tragedy shows how J&J is an example of a successful case study in crisis communication. They reacted extremely quickly and did everything they could to demonstrate that they had great public interest and were willing to adapt to avoid a similar incident in the future. Works Cited Rowe, Vance. “The Tylenol Murders of 1982.” Bella Online: The voice of women. 2009.Minerva Webworks LLC. April 22, 2009Kaplan, Tamara. “The Tylenol Crisis: How Effective Public Relations Saved Johnson & Johnson.” Aerobiological engineering. April 23 2009.