Most important steps in response to an emergency
Posted by AppleJuiceBell@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 12 comments
Hey all, I'm writing a speech for a competitive speech and debate league, and I thought emergency reactionary principles would be something interesting to speak on. I know your cup of tea is preparing beforehand and that's great, but let's say they haven't. What are the most important things to do and mistakes to avoid in the first 72 hours following an emergency? I'd like to cover natural disasters, foreign invasion/attack (we'll include cyber here), and civil unrest/national instability. If you have any sources I could read up on I'd appreciate it.
Adventurous_or_Not@reddit
First and foremost in any emergency, your safety is top and most of the time should be your only priority. Even in trainings, you will be told "dont be a hero".
If you're a civilian, you're one less problem for the firsr responder. You're one less casualty to find/help.
Next is know your exit plan. Where is the evacuation center, which routes can you take to get there. What are the things you need to bring, which to leave. No, you cant bring your fridge or grill.
SparrowLikeBird@reddit
Learning to assess the emergency/triage/etc is vital.
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
Don't panic and simply react. Stop and think about the situation and outcomes of your actions. It's a chess game. Think 3-4 moves ahead and the results of those moves.
wulfwerks88@reddit
Very good words also the first 3 moves you make are the most important for a good outcome when things go wrong
barascr@reddit
Keep calm and be the voice of reason when everyone else is going crazy.
thumos_et_logos@reddit
The absolutely most critical number one thing is recognizing and acknowledging an emergency is actually happening. By far the most important thing. You would be shocked at the results into investigations into major disaster events. A stunning number of people continue to go about their ordinary business and casually maybe make their way to doing something about the situation. And then end up dead.
New_Fold7038@reddit
Don't expect the government to help. Make your own plan and supplies with neighbors. And as before, keep your cool. No need to rush off and get hurt needlessly.
RonJohnJr@reddit
First Responders in an area prone to unexpected natural disasters are probably the people you want to ask about that, since as you say the whole point of Prepping is to NOT be caught unprepared.
Otherwise, the answer is "keep calm; think rationally".
Your reaction to a regional natural disaster that cuts power regional is going to be different from a nationwide cyberattack that cuts power nationally (or at least super-regionally), even though they both cut power.
Kinetic foreign invasion will be different still, and depend on "How", "Where it happens", and "Where you are".
Likewise, what does "civil unrest" mean in practice? Because honestly, who outside the PNW was affected by the ANTIFA riots, and who outside DC was affected by the Jan 6th riots?
Ditto "national instability". I know what each word means, and I can visualize national instability in small countries, but not in large countries like the US, Canada or even Russia.
Perfect-Eggplant1967@reddit
All depends if you are staying put or going. Basically a flowchart. Life happens, need to be able to think and not panic.
house burning==the log chain goes around the gun safe and hooked to the truck, It makes its own hole. Important papers are inside it.
It helps to have the tools put away where they live not scattered all over. All the extra stuff just scattered around, boxes of stuff in the garage. Test yourself, can you walk into garage and find a hammer without a light? Can walk thru the living room and pick up the tv remote in the dark?
AvatarOR@reddit
As others have said do not panic. (Research the aviation mantra Aviate, Aviate, Aviate)
Having thought about the emergency ahead of time having a considered best course of action (Research PACE).
Having studied emergencies and recognizing when the best response is counter intuitive. This is most critical when data from previous fatal emergencies suggest that the best course action is opposite of what most folks did (Read Stick and Rudder).
Then practice the response so that your actions are automatic even when the higher brain functions are not working and the lizard brain is in charge. An example is a skid car, where you steer into the skid or as they say in Cars, Son turn left to turn right.
If the response is not purely mechanical, write down a checklist and complete the checklist. For instance, I have a list of items to take in addition to my go box, taped to my Go Box.
You could research "Emergency Checklist in Aviation" as an example of the purpose of an emergency checklist in aviation.
Pea-and-Pen@reddit
This may not be what you are looking for but this is my instruction sheet for what to do in certain emergency situations. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rJ2WflsqxbsS4eETelytlABJpuNMFnKZRGFoIW5vA9I/edit
ResolutionFew2976@reddit
Very nice!