Emergencies;
no matter how careful we are, sometimes happen. It’s called an emergency
because it comes suddenly leaving us with little or no time to prepare ourselves.
If you have ever been in a burning building or car accident or even taken a
fall, you would appreciate the need to be mentally prepared for it. I will be
using a lot of emergency scenarios in this article to help you understand
better.
While
it’s true that many cases of emergency situations can be avoided; when they do hit they are totally out
of our control and they happen regardless of who we are or what we know. The
best thing to do is to know what to do when these unfortunate circumstances
hit. Here’s a list of the most important things to do in an emergency to ensure
your survival and that of others.
- Don’t panic
This
is perhaps the leading cause of death in emergency situations. If you find
yourself in a hostage situation or trapped somewhere, the best thing is not to
panic and make a run for it, because as much as you may get lucky and make it
out, others may not and you may be potentially putting yourself and others at
risk by merely panicking. Also, we tend to make a lot of mistakes when we panic
and don’t give ourselves time to assess the situation before acting. Of course,
we know Adrenalin takes over and compels us to act at that particular time, but
if you could take some time to think before you react, it might actually save
your life and that of others.
- Assess the situation
Are
you trapped in a burning building? Don’t make a run for it immediately you
notice. You need to properly assess the situation and figure out where the fire
is coming from so you don’t end up running in the direction of the fire. Always
take some time to think about your possible options and then work on executing
the best one. Of course, in emergencies, time is of the essence but that’s the
beauty of the mind. It forces you to process information faster in emergency
situations as long as you remain calm.
- Create a plan
Did
you take a fall in the house and there’s no one to assist? Are you trapped in
your car, building or maybe you are unhurt but someone close by is? You need a plan. After accessing the situation
and extent of injuries, then you need to devise a plan of escape. If you have
access to a phone, it is better to call for help immediately. If you are with
someone who is badly injured, it’s best not to move them until doctors can come
to assess them. If you are alone and you have planned your route of escape,
double check your plan to make sure it is a good one before you execute.
Remember,
they are called emergencies because they happen suddenly and are usually out of
our control. Make sure to stay calm and always carry with you a means of
identification and an emergency contact. This is very important. In the next
post, I will be talking about what to have in your emergency kit. Till then,
stay protected.
Apt!
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