One of the biggest mistakes that people make during an emergency is reacting instead of thinking things through. Assessing the situation gives us time to distance ourselves from making emotional responses that could lead to poor decisions that can have disastrous consequences. Here’s a simple technique to remember that can help you to approach a crisis with as much objectivity as possible.
Stop
The first thing to remember is to stop and assess the situation. Don’t go into autopilot and automatically react without taking a couple of moments to size up what just happened and the predicament you find yourself in. Countless people lose their lives every year because they didn’t take this important step. People get lost in the woods, but keep wandering around in the hopes of reaching civilization. People keep driving through inclement weather thinking they will be just fine as long as they take things slow. People administer the wrong first aid in medical emergencies before assessing the victim. Always take time to really evaluate what’s happening in order to minimize making wrong choices.
Think
Think of what kind of danger you are in at the moment. Are you injured? Are you lost? Has the immediate threat passed? How far are you from help? These are just a few questions to start asking as soon as the dust settles, and this gives you time to develop an appropriate response. Taking a few moments to think also helps to create a list of priorities, determine what resources are needed and identify what resources may be available around you.
Observe
Take time to look and take in what’s around you. What kind of threats may be present? What kinds of surprises may you encounter? What resources are at your disposal? This is the time to take stock and evaluate your options so that you know where you stand as well as what you need. It’s also a good time to anticipate potential problems and how you will address them when they come your way.
Plan
Once you’ve assessed the situation, identified potential problems and have a sense of what you need to do, then you can start to formulate a game plan. Start with your immediate needs and how you will accommodate them before thinking about things that you will need down the line. This will go a long way with helping you to avoid making unnecessary mistakes, wasting valuable resources or guessing your way out of trouble. While there is always a certain degree of uncertainty associated with navigating the challenges that lie ahead, taking time to develop a good game plan can minimize the impact of making wrong decisions along the way.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to spend a lot of time going through this process. In fact, you can probably get a sense of what needs to be done in less than a minute in most situations. The important thing is that you take the problem at hand, look at the big picture, and then start breaking it down into smaller steps that are easier to manage. Doing so will help you to have greater control over the situation, reduce risks and enable you to get out of harm’s way as quickly and efficiently as possible.
