No survival plan, strategy or resource will do you any good unless you are able to detach yourself from the immediate fear, noise and drama of the moment. Taking a few seconds to assess, evaluate and develop a response to a situation can save your life, and it is essential that you have rehearsed a number of different contingencies in your mind before you choose to act after a disaster. Facing horrific events, whether they are from a terrorist attack or an earthquake causes us to be fearful, stunned and shocked in to disbelief. Our bodies and mind often go in to survival mode automatically, and it is important to try and maintain a conscious state of alertness in order to make good decisions.
Everyone can learn to take a deep breath and assess their immediate surroundings, and this is something that comes from practice and confidence. Emerging from a building collapse, looking a wide-scale damage and taking in a scene of chaos and confusion can make us disoriented and full of disbelief. Panicking, freezing and making poor choices in the heat of the moment can have horrible ramifications, and this is why it is important to remain still for a moment if possible and come up with a plan.
The best survival kits, strategies and responses are completely useless if you do not know how to access them when they are needed. There may be a chance that your first choice is not available after a particular incident, and it is important to be able to automatically switch to a back-up plan that you have already worked out. Thinking quickly and effectively can save your life, and it will help you to ultimately make good use of your resources and your options.
Ask yourself some basic questions and note things that you see around your immediate surroundings. It only takes a couple of seconds to make a quick assessment. Here are a few random things to consider when faced with a catastrophe:
-Is it safe to go out?
-Are there hazards such as downed power lines, rubble or ruptures in the ground?
-Are there fires, gas leaks or other immediate life-threatening concerns that require you to flee?
-Is there a staging area, access to emergency services or a safe-zone nearby?
-Do you have enough food, water and proper clothing to protect you for the next couple of hours?
These are just some ideas that can be helpful, but you will have to come up with your own during the heat of the moment. Every situation is different, and every response will be based on unique factors and circumstances. Take the time to think, assess and plan a course of action that is oriented towards protecting you and your loved ones as quickly as possible. Thinking clearly will help you to see options, evaluate resources and make decisions that will go a long way when it comes to creating a strategy that can save your life.
