ICE – In Case Of Emergency
Imagine you are stuck alone in the lift between two floors and there is no electricity. The doors are closed and your mobile has lost network. You press the call or emergency button, but get no response. Your first instinct is to shout out for help, but it's close to midnight and the chances of someone hearing you are slim.
What should you do in such an 'emergency' situation?
DON'T PANIC
When faced with an emergency, the worst thing you can do is go into panic mode. It does not help the situation and wastes precious time. This is what happened when a couple went to visit a park with their son and another relative. Suddenly, they realised that the child was missing. When they could not locate him after a cursory look around, the boy's mother literally had a panic attack and went hysterical.
At this point, when all three adults could have spread out to look for the child, the relative had to sit with the mother to calm her down, while the father went looking for the child.
He did ultimately find him, but the search took extra-long, which added to the anxiety. The situation could have even become even more dangerous if the child landed in the wrong hands.
ASSESS THE SITUATION
Making a proper assessment of the situation helps figure out what action should be taken. For example, if you are indeed stuck in an elevator like mentioned above, don't panic and pass out. Bang the doors and make noise, it will catch someone's attention sooner or later. Even if it does not happen for a while, rest assured that a stuck elevator will most definitely be noticed, and you will be rescued.
Keeping calm and being patient is the key in this situation.
However, if your house or building is on fire, you cannot afford to be patient, you need to act fast. Do not dilly-dally in calling the fire department. If the fire is spreading fast, don't waste time collecting your valuables. None of it will come to use if you cannot escape the fire. So whether you need to act fast or be patient depends entirely on the situation.
PRESENCE OF MIND
To overcome an emergency, you need to be able to make best use of the resources available to you. The following incident took place on-board an Air Canada flight from Spain.
Dr Khurshid Guru saved the life of a 2-year-old toddler having an asthma attack. The child's parents were not carrying any medication on board with them. His oxygen level was dangerously low and he needed oxygen along with his asthma medication. Dr Guru managed to make a temporary device, which acted as a nebuliser and administered the child with medicine. The child was soon feeling well. The doctor's presence of mind saved the child's life.
MAKE USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Social media has become a great boon in helping with many emergency situations, especially that of missing people. Facebook, in particular, is one of the best mediums to spread the word. You can share a picture of a missing person, with details of who to contact if found. In case you find a lost child or adult, you can upload their picture with the hope of finding someone who recognises them. Numerous children and adults have been located in this way. However, informing the police should always be the first step in trying to locate a missing person. Social media helps speed up the process. Also, carrying some kind of an ID on you is very useful in case of accidents.
HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF
The importance of having faith in yourself and your abilities in an emergency is paramount. A classic example of this is the 'Miracle on Hudson' incident. US Airways flight 1549 was struck by a flock of geese just 15 minutes after it took off from the New York Airport on January 15, 2009. Its engine lost all power and since the flight was unable to return to the airport, the pilots were forced to make an emergency landing on Hudson River, which they did perfectly, saving all passengers and crew.
Emergency situations can be taxing, but it is only by overcoming them that we become aware of the strength we possess.
By Samina Hossain
Photo: Collected