Being in an emergency situation has a great potential to throw you into a panic, and you might not know what to do at that moment. Fortunately, by following these tips, you will be able to survive in an emergency situation.

Have a Plan
Some people will be lucky enough to never experience an emergency situation in their lives, but this doesn’t mean that they should avoid planning. You cannot constantly be running through “what-ifs” in your head, but you can have common sense plans. For example, you should have an idea of what you will do if a fire breaks out in your home or someone starts shooting at the workplace. Having a plan can help you to feel more in control of the situation. This is especially true if you live somewhere prone to natural disasters, such as tornadoes or hurricanes.

Being Physically Prepared
You also need to have the right equipment to deal with certain emergency situations. For example, you should have emergency first aid kits in both your home and your car. If you are going to be walking around alone at night or in a dangerous place, you need to find someone to walk with you. Preventing emergency situations is obviously the most important goal here, but you can take additional preparations to ease the impact of the situation if something does occur. Smoke and fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and a security system are really must-haves in your home.

Quick Contact Numbers
You have speed dial on your phone, so be sure to utilize its power! If an emergency occurs, you are not going to have a ton of time in which to make a phone call. Having 911 as well as some emergency contacts on file ensures that you will be able to get the call in as quickly as possible. On top of being efficient about the process, you will also be accurate. In a really intense situation, it can be difficult to remember an important phone number. With speed dial, it is already there for you and ready to go.

Staying Calm
When you hear that you should stay calm in an emergency situation, you probably start to chuckle a bit. In theory, it’s an excellent idea; in the real world, it does not always work out so well. However, you must try your best to stay as calm as possible. Getting upset means that you are going to be unable to think clearly, and you may not make the best choices. As soon as an emergency situation breaks out, take charge if you are comfortable. Sometimes, just being in charge of the situation is enough to make adrenaline kick in and keep you from completely losing your cool.

Emergency situations can involve so many scenarios, depending what the circumstances are. No matter what type of situation you are in, it’s really important to follow the afore mentioned tips, and make sure they are customized for your situation. Being prepared and having a plan are always going to help you out.

Jeana Rodriguez writes about emergency preparedness and law enforcement. Her most recent work tells of her journey becoming a K9 Officer.