Life often has a way of surprising us and emergencies often occur when we least expect them.
With the day to day stresses of life, the idea of spending our time catastrophising worst case
scenarios may feel like a particularly pessimistic and unfavourable task.
However, there are a few simple techniques and strategies we can adopt, that won’t overwhelm our
daily lives, yet can help us remain as calm as possible in an emergency.
Be Prepared.
The best tool we can use to keep ourselves calm in an emergency is to be as prepared as possible,
this could mean keeping a small first aid kit in your car, or attending one of our 1 day First Aid
courses.
Even though our bodies are wired to feel fear and adrenaline when sensing danger, studies have
shown that regular first aid training will provide you with valuable knowledge that, in an emergency,
can give you a sense of control to help you think clearly and respond calmly.
Emergency First Aid Action Plan
This may seem like an exaggerated response to a theoretical situation, however a first aid action
plan is a lot less intense than it sounds. Some simple things to consider could be: within a business or
family, identifying who would be responsible for specific tasks in an emergency, such as calling
emergency services or providing first aid. Or knowing where your nearest first aid kit is located and
the quickest route to it. Within large organisations a map can be provided, showing the quickest
route to evacuation muster points and first aid equipment.
Use the TDODAR decision Model
Typically used in aviation to deal with high stake situations where effective decisions are a matter of
life and death, however this model can be applied to any stressful emergency.
T – Time, assess the urgency and time available to decide
D - Diagnose, identify and understand the severity of the emergency
O – Options, create a list of all the possible course of actions
D – Decide, Choose the best option based on the information you have gathered
A – Act/Assign, implement your chosen course of action and delegate tasks if needed
R – Review, evaluate the outcome of your decision and adjust if necessary.
Prioritize Breathing
The importance of our breath in keeping us calm can’t be overstated. In an emergency our bodies
will naturally enter ‘fight or flight’ mode, which increases our heart rate and breathing. Consciously
slowing down our breathing can counteract this.
Box breathing can also be used to lower our heart rate and reduce panic. Think about practicing the
technique of breathing in through your nose for 4 seconds, holding for 4, then breathe out through
your mouth for 4 seconds. This technique allows the brain to focus on the breath rather than the
chaos of the outside world.
Public Access AEDs
Familiarise yourself with the nearest Public Access AED (Automated External Defibrillator), a
lifesaving device used to reset the heart following cardiac arrest. Helpful apps like Defib Finder can
show you where your nearest defibrillator is located; however in an emergency always phone 999,
the operator can guide you to your nearest AED and provide an access code if needed.
Keep a positive mindset
As panic sets in, many of us will have strong feelings of negativity and hopelessness about the
situation we are in, further accelerating the feelings of anxiety, stress and panic.
Trying to remain positive, calm and confident will not only help ourselves but also have a knock-on
effect on the mood of others around us and their ability to help.
Photo by
Ian Taylor on
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