Emergencies can arise at anytime, anywhere, when you least expect it. That is why it is always good to know how to handle an emergency, so that, despite being unforeseen, you can quickly take certain actions that can help you be safe and even help other people.
An emergency can happen from one moment to another, without prior warning. Chaos is the most common, since no one expects to live a crisis moment. But if you take into account certain safety measures and know how to act, not only will you save time, but you could also save your life and other people’s lives.
How to act in an emergency
The main thing is to keep calm, although this type of situation can make anyone desperate. The truth is that desperation worsens any situation and, in the case of an emergency, can cause irreversible damage. For this reason, you should avoid starting to panic at all costs and call the emergency number as soon as possible.
In this type of situation, it is best to have the support of experts in the area who know what to do. That is why the first thing you should do is to call the emergency number and explain briefly and clearly the situation and location.
But this situation should not be handled only by adults, because it is very important that children from an early age know about how to make an emergency call and the situations in which they should make such call. Therefore, children should be educated about certain situations that can get out of control, whether it is a health emergency or a strong natural phenomenon.
When calling the emergency number, it is important to listen to what the professionals say, answer each of their questions and do exactly what they indicate in order to stabilize the situation while they arrive on the scene.
What to do in emergencies
Everything will depend on the type of emergency you are facing, so here you can find some of the most common cases and what you should do in each of them:
Cardiorespiratory arrest
If a person collapses or is on the ground, you should check if she/he is conscious or not, if her/his eyes are open, if she/he responds to the questions asked and if her/his answers are coherent or not.
In the event that the person does not react, check if she/he is breathing. To do this you must place the person face up, tilt her/his head back a little, so that her/his mouth is open, and check if air comes out of her/his mouth. In the worst case scenario, if the person is not breathing, it is important to notify the emergency services, ask for help and find out if there is a defibrillator nearby. Here there is a video showing the maneuvers to perform while waiting for help.
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Choking
Did you know that every year about 20,000 people die from choking. This emergency is more common than you can imagine, so it is recommended to act quickly.
In case the person is conscious, encourage her/him to cough, but if you see that she/he cannot do it, hold her/him firmly and give her/him 5 blows on the back between the shoulder blades; if she/he still continues choking, ask someone to call the emergency services and meanwhile continue attending the affected person. Hug her/him from behind, wrap your arms around her/him and place your fist on the epigastrium (mouth of the stomach) and give 5 compressions. In the case of pregnant women, this last maneuver is done at the level of her thorax.
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If the person who has the trapped object becomes unconscious, you will need to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
What can I do in the case of fire?
Try to call the emergency services immediately. In the case of a small fire, use a fire extinguisher. If you do not have access to it or the fire continues, try to get out of the place.
If the fire reaches you and starts to burn your clothes, lie down on the floor and turn from one side to the other. In case it happens to another person, put a jacket over her/him, as the fire disappears without oxygen.
It is best to move crouched down, covering your nose and mouth with a damp cloth. The denser fire will be above, so you will have fresh air below. In this way, you will avoid fainting and you can continue handling the situation.
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In case you are locked in a room and the fire is about to enter, cover the door opening with wet cloths to prevent the fire from entering. Call the emergency services and ask for help while you try to get out.