When an emergency occurs

How does one prepare for an emergency? For, such preparation means accepting the fact that an emergency can occur, and I have met some individuals who are even against the thought of an emergency even occurring, like it might just lead to something happening. So, I would say the first step towards preparedness is the acceptance that an emergency can occur whether you think about it or not. 



A year back, an apartment had caught fire and I could see it from the terrace of my house. What I realised was that reality can be more overwhelming than what we have seen or read about. But at the same time, one needs to act hence being overwhelmed beyond the scope of practical thought and action can become a risk that one would like to avoid at such time.



The most strenuous part of any emergency is reaching out for that feeling of safety or trying to reach a position where further damage can be stopped. Some things are within our hands while some things aren’t, so focussing on what can actually be done with the available resources at the moment can lead to one of the best outcomes of the situation.



Our education system provides us with a sufficient amount of learning to deal with various forms of emergencies, yet people can lack confidence in their knowledge of what is to be done when something does happen. Yes, there are smartphones with internet, but when the mind is in a state of panic and a satisfying or trustworthy answer doesn’t show up, we all know which direction things can go from there. It can happen; in the kind of busy lives we have become so accustomed to doubts can occur. So, an effort towards going through that valuable piece of information can actually be quite integral.



There are more elaborate details with technicalities for being prepared for emergency situations. But I think the most important part is what goes on within our minds and the path to dealing with anything in life begins from there.

Written by Anuran Chatterji