The First 72 Hours – So What’s the Big Deal?
When a large geographic area or country is hit by a natural or man-made disaster one thing is certain: CHAOS WILL REIGN. Consider also that local emergency services will likely be overwhelmed, add to this the likelihood that many staff will not report for duty as they (not surprisingly) prioritize looking after their own families and loved ones.
Even with advanced planning and the best will in the world, there is a significant overhead in mobilizing supplies and transportation to an area that suddenly has a disrupted transport system. Worse still, it may be an area that is hard to get to on a ‘good day’.
The simple fact is it typically takes at least 72 hours for aid to reach survivors of a natural or man-made disaster.
It is well documented that the people who perish in a disaster scenario will most likely do so in the first 72 hours. This will likely be as a direct result of the event, an injury sustained in the event and subsequent lack of medical care or lack of shelter or safe drinking water.
Chances are, if you can get through the first 72 hours, help will have arrived or the emergent nature of the disaster will have passed.
Not surprisingly, the real work starts before a disaster strikes. Two things you can take responsibility for are:
- Your Preparedness
- Your Skills
These go hand-in-hand. As you prepare you will build your knowledge and skills, as you build your knowledge and skills you will be in a better position to take action in the likelihood of disaster striking.
Mental Preparedness is an often overlooked key survival skill. Being ready to commit to taking action, being flexible and maintaining a positive attitude, are all crucial life-saving skills. Your mental health is as important as your physical well-being in the event of a ‘Something’ Hitting the Fan scenario.
Do you live in an area that is at risk of natural or man-made disasters, have you taken steps to prepare for a sudden emergency…
Would you share your knowledge and experience below to help others?
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