The Thing You Forget When Planning for an Emergency
An often overlooked yet important aspect for survival is one you probably haven't considered.
Making plans for emergencies is a required part of adulting, but many things can be overlooked or even overdone.
There are a million Bug Out Bag and Emergency Kit plans online, and a thousand you can buy pre packaged. But most don't mention one very important thing that could mean the difference between life and death.
When you are in a survival situation, you need things to keep you (and your family) alive obviously. First aid, high calorie food, water, shelter, firestarter, etc, and of course there is a limit to what you can carry. But in a high stress situation you also need something that will keep you sane.
Some people use comfort foods in periods of high stress. Some watch Dirty Dancing repeatedly, or re-read a favorite book..
But everyone has a little thing that comforts them.
For a child, it may be a fuzzy stuffed animal or a dog eared blankie.
When making your emergency plans, take this into account. You will need something to comfort you in a time of high stress.
It might be a bag of favorite hard candies or packets of Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa. It may be a well worn paperback that's comforted you nicely over the years. Perhaps it's an oversized shirt you like to sleep in, or a stone or talisman whose weight in your hand is comforting. For some, the Bible or other religious text brings hope, and for others a notepad and pencil to sketch in is their happy place.
You will want to take into account weight and mass when considering certain plans.
The psychological aspect of having something familiar to comfort you cannot be implied enough. For it is when one loses hope that they begin to fail.
Image via Pixabay
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@arbitrarykitten mam...
Smart ideas again..useful and great ideas...I'm appreciate ur work mam..
Actualy I think In an emergency, time and space are limited. You need to focus on the essentials and be prepared for the idea that you might never be able to come back to your home. I was in a mandatory evacuation once. My daughter was three-weeks-old, it was the middle of the night in the pouring rain, and we were forced to leave our house because of an approaching hurricane.
Regardless of the circumstances, an emergency evacuation is scary. Your mind is racing so fast it’s hard to think clearly, and you only have a short window of time to act. Since the most important thing is to get yourself and your family out safely, planning ahead can help ensure you are focused on what’s most important. And, if you are fortunate enough to have had the foresight to create a digital archive of all important documents, the less you will need to worry about grabbing in the event of an emergency.
Keep it up...
It's important to have an emergency bag packed and ready for each member of your family- including pets- and have practiced drills.
The first family drill I held was very educational, and showed us where our weak points were. The ones after that went smooth.
Actually, I'm going to write about it...
Another wonderful and useful discussing topic by @arbitrarykitten mam...
Due to their unexpected nature, emergency situations are often chaotic. People react to different situations in different ways, and it is very common for an individual to lose his or her composure during a crisis and forget the appropriate actions to take. Although it is necessary to have a detailed emergency plan, one should also have a very basic concept of what to do in the event of an emergency. By making a “First Things To Do” list, whether at home, school or work, you can be confident that everyone involved will know how to handle themselves in an emergency. Each emergency situation is different, but there are basic guidelines that can help you through any incident that might occur. The following list of the first things to do in any emergency contains overall tips that could fit most situations.
First Things to Do in Any Emergency
Wel done and perfect work mam...
Besides making the emergency plans, the entire family should practice them twice a year.
You are very correct @arbitrarykitten. Nobody thinks of that stuff. I do though. Anytime, I am going on a journey, I always take a book with me. I feel comfortable having a world I can delve into when the strain becomes too much, as I am a poor traveller.
People should put such things into account. Especially for children.
Absolutely especially for children, as they cannot take boredom and stress lightly. But it's super important for the adults who must care fur the themselves AND the children, too :)
Hmmm! Never thought about this aspect.
The situation in the east of our country and living very close to the Russian border makes us always be ready. And when I think about emergency plan, the first things that come into my mind, you are right, they are the documents, medicine, food, water and fire. But to have something that will remind you about home and keep your spirit is no less important for surviving. Great idea!
First you must care for your physical health, then your emotional health. It's just as important :)
Interesting thought. I have a bin full of emergency stuff, and a few other things that may be important. Reading this, I may have to search around for something that fits that category. And repack things all in one place. Thanks for the eye opener. And maps, never forget a map with directions to a safe place to meet, and that the whole family knows where that is, in case of separation.
We have two meeting locations- one near and one a couple towns down- just in case.
Oh, had not thought of that. Prob due to being able to get anywhere. Now I will think of a back up place.
Having something that reduces stress or is emotionally comforting is good advice because in emergencies there usually is a lot of idle time that can just lead to more worrying, keeping the mind occupied or at least pacified is great advice. Thanks for sharing the thoughts.
With the PTS I'm having, I like to call my thing "a distraction."
When my mind takes over my body produces the same chemicals as when actually in a stressful situation. I use my "thing" to help distract my mind in an effort to remain control of the situation.
Thanks for sharing this. I can see why many people would overlook that sort of thing while preparing. Like you said our mind immediately goes to the practical when we are planning and we don't think about those other factors. This was a great post!
Thank you!
Very true people often think practically but as you say in an emergency we need comfort too 💯🐒
Precisely :)
Text book error haha 💯🐒
Strongly agree with you
Today I live surrounded by people who have a very fashionable life plan.
and it is to leave the country in search of a better future. Leaving his family.
They work in another country for their family ... It is difficult, but many do it. For life or death.
It is difficult to make decisions, but I think reading the Bible fills us with hope, and those who decided to stay to fight in this place are for the reason that they cling to the word of God
Remember to always have a backup plan, too :)
This is interesting and something that I have never thought of. Like you say you need stuff to survive but you'll need something to keep you sane too.
Exactly!