3 Easy Ways to stay calm in an emergency

Let’s face it - not all of us are trained to remain as cool as a cucumber in an emergency. Emergencies are stressful situations, and when we experience this, our brain triggers our emotions and our body to act on impulse as a quick way to react and remove ourselves from the dangerous situation. The body and mind go into fight or flight mode in emergencies, but over-reaction or impractical reactions can cause more damage and distress.

Why is it vital to stay calm?

Staying as calm as possible in the face of an emergency helps to de-escalate a situation. Yes, you need to act quickly, and yes, you need to get out of the dangerous situation immediately. However, a frantic person can end up harming someone else, or worse, prevent emergency services from doing their jobs.

Staying reasonably calm can also help you assess the situation you and the people around you are in. It helps your mind focus on things like exit signs, the source of danger, how to remove yourself from the source of danger, how to use available https://www.sammedical.com/ emergency medical supplies, or even help someone who needs urgent medical attention.

It helps to practice these easy ways to stay calm should you find yourself in an emergency:

#1 Take a step back.

Removing yourself from the situation can help lower your heart rate and increase blood flow. Stop what you're doing, take a deep breath, and exhale deeply. Repeat this a few times as it will help you relax. Inhaling, counting to three, and then exhaling slowly counting to three can increase blood flow and slow down your heart rate, enabling you to focus better.

#2 Close your eyes.

If you're not in immediate threat or danger, take a few seconds to close your eyes and shut out the noise and clutter around you. Try to picture yourself in a calmer scenario, such as your own bedroom or in a peaceful mountain. Whatever visualization helps you calm your nerves, just do it.

#3 Stay prepared.

Staying prepared isn't only about having the emergency kits and plans available and ready when the moment comes. It’s also about mentally acknowledging that emergencies can arise and how to react to them. Being mindful about not getting angry, not rushing out and pushing people, or even listening to the emergency announcements being made is one way of staying prepared. For instance, taking a ferry to cross an island and preparing yourself by wearing your life jacket, reading the safety manuals, and looking for exit signs are some of the ways to stay prepared.

Staying as reasonably calm as possible when you're in an emergency is one of the best things you can do, especially if you don't know how else to help. Granted, there are times you feel like crying or screaming, and this is normal. Scream and shout for help when you need to, but if you're in a more controlled situation and the risks aren't heightened, staying calm can help you find the solution to your problems quickly.