Don’t panic: How to keep your head in emergencies
Emergencies, by definition, are events that happen completely out of the blue. They will naturally cause high anxiety for anyone involved in the situation. Unfortunately, the stress of an emergency will often make your judgment and logic cloudy leading to decisions that only makes things worse.
So how can you prepare yourself for the unexpected and ensure that you will keep your head when you need to the most?
1. Make a plan
One of the best things that you can do for both your domestic life and your business life is to have an emergency plan. An emergency plan would, for example, tell your family or coworkers where to meet in the event of an emergency. This would be a common location that everyone would know to seek out in a crisis. Part of the plan should also include the escape routes to follow to reach the meeting place. You should also have a good idea of what items you would grab so you don’t lose precious time hunting for something when you should be leaving.
2. Keep yourself healthy
Maintaining a generally healthy lifestyle, including eating well, sleeping well, and exercising will carry over to how you feel during an emergency. If your body is rested and recharged it will be in its best condition when disaster strikes. You will also be less likely to be hungry right away, allowing you to carry on for several hours.
3. Don’t stop moving
There are endless scenarios where you may be on the verge of panicking in an emergency. One of the best ways to combat the descent into panic is to keep moving. By keeping busy, your brain will not have an opportunity to launch into panic mode. Tackle each problem as it comes up and keep yourself busy until the crisis has passed.
4. Hit the books
Studying up on what first aid protocols are useful will set you up to just know what you are supposed to do. Making sure that the items in the first aid kit are updated and appropriate can also help to make sure the kit is ready when you need it.
5. Ask for help
While sometimes you may be on your own in an emergency situation, there is a better chance that you are not doing it all alone. There will be someone else nearby to offer you help or guidance. If you are running the show during the emergency, delegate tasks to other people. Not only will it take the burden off of yourself, but you will know that everything that should happen is happening. If you don’t have to do it alone, then don’t.
6. Store some food
Depending on what kind of emergency you are trying to prepare for, you should have some cans of food on hand. This will buy you more time to ride out the situation. Having bottled water available is also beneficial to your preparations.
7. You can do this
One of the most important things that you have to remember in an emergency is that you can handle it. You have be able to trust your own judgment and do what needs to be done. There is no wrong way to act in a general crisis, so be confident that everything is going to be alright.
Remember: the absolute worst thing that you can do in the middle of an emergency is shut down and fall into a crisis yourself. Keeping your cool can not only help you stay healthy and alive, but it will help your those around you as well.
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