First Five Things To Do In An Emergency

Emergency

Every situation is different and this is a guideline. Always make sure your priority is safety for yourself first, then others. You can’t help others if you don’t take care of yourself.

First:

Do a First Aid triage of yourself. Breathing. Bleeding. Broken.

Are you stabilized?

Can you move?

Assess the immediate situation. Take charge.

If in immediate danger, get to a safe place. If you’re not in immediate danger, look around.

What are the priorities of threats? Other people will be panicking. Don’t get caught up in that. Be aware that any situation can get worse. In fact, assume it will. Also, having done your Area Study, you know there are after-effects of various emergencies and natural disaster. Earthquakes around the coast can lead to tsunamis. A terrorist attack could have a follow on attack for first responders. A hurricane can lead to broken gas lines which lead to a fire danger.

Check for smoke, gases and fumes. Locate and shut off the source if possible. Fires, earthquakes, bombs, etc. produce structural instability. Just because the roof is still there, doesn’t mean it will stay there.

If in a car accident, turn off ignition, look out for pools of gas or any smoke.