In an emergency, a person’s first instinct will always be to panic.

However, you can’t do that because panicking will only make the situation worse.

You need to stay calm and think clearly so you can take the necessary steps to stay safe.

There are some emergencies you should know how to manage and how you can stay safe during them.

Don’t be caught clueless and unprepared in an emergency! Here are some tips to help you stay safe during a natural disaster or emergency situation.

Here is How to Handle an Emergency:

Fire.

Witnessing a fire from afar is already scary enough, but when you’re right in the middle of it, it can be extremely frightening.

This is why you need to think about what you can do in case a fire breaks out.

What you should do: Make sure all doors and windows are closed to prevent the fire from entering through those places.

The last thing you’ll want is to inhale the smoke that’s already inside your home. And when outside, make sure to stay away from any open flame.

Where you should go: If you’re still standing outside, go as far as a few blocks away from the scene. If there’s a store or someone else that can provide shelter, go there instead.

Once you’re a safe distance away from the fire, call the authorities so it can be put out immediately.

Natural disasters.

Natural disasters can strike suddenly and without warning, which is why you should make sure you have a plan.

For this, you’ll want to check the weather forecast regularly so you can be prepared for anything.

What you should do: Prepare a first aid kit and emergency weather radio as you would for any sort of emergency.

Also, make sure to find out if your home is equipped with a shelter, just in case the weather forecast says that there might be a tornado or hurricane.

Where you should go: If you’re inside, get to the nearest basement or storm shelter. But if there isn’t one, go to a room that doesn’t have windows and take cover.

Then cover yourself with anything that can shield you from the debris. If there’s no time to do any of this, get underneath something sturdy like a desk or table.

If you’re outside, the safest place to go is inside a building. If there isn’t one around, you can crouch near a strong structure and cover your head. Be careful not to stand under any trees because they will most likely be pulled from the ground.

Car Accident.

An accident can happen to anyone anytime, anywhere, usually, it’s during the most inconvenient time.

That’s why you should never leave your house without being completely alert. And you shouldn’t treat it as if you’re immune to it either because it can happen to you too.

What you should do: If you’re the one involved in the accident, try to pull over somewhere safe. If you can, get out of your car and make sure everyone is okay.

If it’s not safe to do this, stay in your car and call the authorities immediately.

Where you should go: If someone is hurt or in need of assistance, take them to the nearest urgent care center.

However, if there are no injuries, but your car is damaged, you should call a tow truck as soon as possible to take the car to the shop.

Public Shooting.

You never know when you might be in a crowd of people when someone decides to aim randomly and pull the trigger.

If you find yourself in this situation, you must get out of the way as soon as possible because bullets can hit anyone.

What you should do: Immediately start running in the opposite direction of the gunfire. If you’re in a public place with crowds, get to a safe place immediately.

If you can’t, get on the ground and play dead. This will make you less of a target to avoid getting shot and allow for a quick escape.

Where you should go: Once you’re in a safe place, call the authorities and explain what happened.

This way they can come in and take care of the situation. But until then, you should stay in hiding because the shooter might still be around.

Animal Attack.

There’s no reason to believe that you’re immune to attacks by animals just because you’ve never been hurt by one before, especially when you’re in their territory.

Even if it’s a tiny little spider or rabbit, you’re not safe and should always be on the lookout for an attack.

What you should do: If there are glass windows nearby, break them and collect the shards. You can use these to protect yourself in case the animal comes near by trying to stab it with the pointy end.

Where you should go: Find a solid surface nearby and either stand on top of it or hold on to it. If there isn’t anything nearby, you can climb up the nearest tree and wait until the animal gives up.

What you should remember?

So, no matter what the emergency is, always remember to stay calm and think logically because your life depends on it.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to keep yourself safe in any situation and can get out of harm’s way.