October 9, 2004

Sometimes an event takes place around us, which disturbs the everyday routine of our lives. The peace and calm is disturbed by a situation that is both scary and sometimes, even sad.

Emergencies can be a natural or a manmade situation or can even be the result of a mistake. For example, a natural one would be an earthquake, a storm or a hurricane, or a personal injury like fire, fainting, a fall, a broken bone, etc. A manmade occurrence could be an accident in the house or on the road, electrical failure, injury as a result of a fight, a blast, bomb scare, etc. If such a situation does occur around us (God forbid), or if we hear about it, what is one to do?

The first and time proven formula is to stay calm and not panic. Sometimes our fear can make the situation seem worse than it already is. Moreover, anxiety can itself cause an additional emergency situation, making one useless to help anyone else. In case of a natural disaster, stay close to an older person and listen to what they say. Do not run around causing more confusion.

If you are locked somewhere, call out for help. Make a mental note if there is a small child, a sick or an elderly person in your house and seek help. In case of a storm, close the windows and stay indoors. Keep candles and torches ready and stay near a phone.

In case of a hurricane or a situation where people are being evacuated from their homes, take only what is necessary and do not linger and waste time. Most of all stay calm. Keep emergency numbers handy and make a copy for anyone who might need them.

Anger, too, can worsen the situation. Often when there is a fight or an accident, people get so angry and are busy fighting and shouting while an injured or shocked person lays around in need of help or if on the road, the vehicles involved stand in the middle of the road blocking traffic, leading to yet more reasons for chaos. It is a good and noble act to try to help if anyone needs it but just to go and stand around for the show is hardly going to help. Agreed that we are quite starved for entertainment around these parts, but come on, what enjoyment can be achieved by just standing around, crowding an already bad situation?

The same goes for a bomb scare or an explosion. It is better to leave the place of panic and get appropriate help rather than staying around or near the area of danger. If you are asked to leave by the authorities or people in charge, do so without unnecessary arguments. Sometimes there are more explosions in store, so it is not very wise to stick around. Do not touch any suspicious looking or unattended package or container. Alert the concerned people and move away.

If one is asked to evacuate a public place like a hall or a hotel or even a school, do so in an orderly manner. It is dangerous to push and shove others while trying to run out as not only will it cause more panic but also a stampede, in which people can fall down and be trampled — making the situation even worse.

It has been witnessed many times that if a person faints, everybody gathers around to revive the person. It is actually no use to the fainted individual, who actually needs more fresh air than anything else, to have twenty people yelling around him or her. Raise the legs on a pillow, sprinkle some water on the person’s face and if the breathing is difficult, call a doctor. In case of a broken bone, do not move the person. Call an elder or a doctor. In any injurious emergency, seek the help of a person who knows how to give first aid and call a doctor.

Stay away from the beach or at least the water during high tides. Unless one is an expert swimmer, it is highly dangerous to swim in rough seas. Which brings us to another important factor to bear in mind. There have been many unfortunate cases in which not only the person who is drowning but the one who goes to save him has also lost his or her life. It is a pity that we do not have appropriately positioned coast guards on the beaches even though it is the most popular place to be visited.

If a person seems to be drowning or calling for help, alert others and see if there is someone capable of swimming in high seas. Do not jump in to endanger your own life unless you are a gold medalist or feel you are an expert swimmer. Remember that many excellent swimmers have lost their own lives in trying to save others.

Prevention is better than cure

Wise words and true, even though one hears them so many times, it is easy to forget that to avoid a dangerous situation is better than having to deal with it after it has occurred. Though, of course not all emergencies can be avoided, some can be prevented if one is careful in certain situations. For example, it is a common sight that too many people cross the road too carelessly. It is better to take a few extra seconds to see the oncoming traffic than, God forbid, be the victim of a fatal injury. Unfortunately we do not have adequate zebra crossings but still, there are spots where it is safer to cross.

Another common sight is a person behind the wheel who is too young to drive. In this matter, blame also lies with a parent who allows an underage youngster to take to the road. This endangers not only the child but also others on the road. If you are legally allowed to drive, make sure that you have sufficient practice and drive with an elder sitting next to you. Recently, an inexperienced driver was practicing on the main road and hit a young man who was driving to work. The man had a brain injury as a result and died. He had been married just four months back. A sad story indeed.

Most accidents in the home happen in the kitchen. Keep away from a lighted stove when wearing nylon or silk and do not operate electrical gadgets without the supervision of an elder. If there are toddlers and small children in the house, keep sharp instruments, medicines and pesticides in a place where they cannot reach. If a child accidentally swallows something dangerous, call a doctor immediately or have him or her taken to a hospital.

Keep a small first aid box in the house for small accidents like minor cuts and burns. Clean cuts with an antiseptic like Dettol before applying any ointment. If you smell a gas leak, check the stove knobs, open the windows and alert an older person. Do not light a match. It is pure common sense but sometimes in an anxious state of mind, people do foolish things. If a glass breaks or a bulb shatters do not walk around barefoot. You will be surprised how many people actually forget to wear slippers and start sweeping the place. Children specially should be kept away from the area.

If you are a very conscientious person, find out the procedures to deal with specific emergencies and make a note of them. Though, they might not be avoidable, the way we deal with them can make them manageable to some extent. Lastly, if a situation has occurred which has had a negative impact on a person like recurring fear and anxiety, seek help and counselling from an elder or speak to a professional. We are all human and have our weaknesses. There is nothing to feel embarrassed or ashamed about for having feelings.

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