An emergency situation can occur when you least expect it.  When disaster strikes, you will more than likely be called upon to help out. This may seem impossible at first. However, it is possible to deal with any disaster by following this checklist.

1.      Don’t Panic

Whatever the issue is, giving way to mindless panic will not help in the slightest. On the contrary, it can make an already bad situation much worse. Panic drives away all rational thought, and will prevent you from looking at a situation objectively. When you feel that you are being overwhelmed by panic, just take a few deep breaths and try to calm down. 

2.      Make Sure That You Are in a Position to Help Rather Than Hinder Rescue Efforts 

The age-old adage “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” is as accurate today as it was when it was first coined. If you see guns being fired or a building engulfed in flames, there is no need to rush in like a comic book hero.  Always remember that the golden rule of responding to emergencies is to be the rescuer, not the rescued! Yes, it is difficult to stand by when the lives of your loved ones are on the line, but you will not be doing the EMRs any favors by increasing their workload. 

3.      Loosen Any Tight Clothing

If you see that any article of clothing is restricting the airways of an injured person or is increasing his/her discomfort in any way, you should immediately loosen all such apparel.

4.      Check for Bleeding Wounds and Other Injuries

In case the patient has been injured and is bleeding, you should apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth to stop the blood flow. In some cases, a tourniquet may need to be applied above the injury. This is particularly true of if it is an arterial wound and there is a chance that the patient may bleed to death. However, a tourniquet should only be used as the last resort since it can mean the permanent loss of a limb.

5.      Check for Any Fractures and Other Bone Injuries 

If the patient is not able to move the affected area and appears to be in excruciating pain, it is likely that they have suffered a bone injury. Do not attempt to move the patient at all, but keep them as stationary as possible

6.      Perform CPR

If you are not trained in CPR techniques, you should immediately acquire such training.  Having even the most basic knowledge of CPR and other first aid techniques is crucial in such situations. You have to know what to do in case the onus of saving a life falls on you. In an emergency situation, knowing what to do before EMRs arrive at the scene may be the difference between life and death.

o   Conclusion

In light of the above discussion, we can see that responding to emergencies is not that difficult, provided you keep your head and have elementary first aid training.