Keep Calm and Carry On My Wayward Son
What is it about a crisis, big or small, that makes us panic and freak out? Why does the unknown cause our hearts to beat faster and the little people in our brains to yell “Abort! Abort!” as they hit the big red self-destruct button?
I’ve seen people jumping up and down freaking out about a little stove fire, completely forgetting the need to put it out, let alone the how.
I’ve seen those afraid of the dark forget they own candles and flashlights the moment the lights start to flicker.
I’ve seen a sober person at a party panicking as they try to locate someone to drive an injured individual to the hospital, completely forget that they themselves are qualified to drive.
The solutions are staring them in the face but they are momentarily reduced to the same frozen response a deer suffers when caught in the headlights.
A person can be the most level headed, logical person you’ve ever met, they could even be the most prepared for a situation, but when actually faced with that very instance….well, I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying fight or flight.
It is important to remember that everyone reacts differently.
When I was a Resident Advisor in college, my colleagues and I often faced situations that required we remain calm and remember our training. There were even instances where training simply hadn't covered them and we had to make the best of some terrible circumstances, some quick decisions, and a little improvisation. We quickly learned how our minds, and that of our partners, worked when faced with a crisis. We learned who could easily take control and delegate tasks, and who was better suited for taking the notes and making calls for backup.
Both roles were crucial to the job in order for circumstances to be diffused and resolved, but it was only accomplished by understanding who reacted well to what, and what type of circumstances were a trigger for each RA.
There’s no shame in being the type of person who reacts poorly under severe stress, it can’t always be controlled and can require a great deal of effort and training to shift from frenzied thought to confident action. It is however, important to find out and acknowledge our default reactions to this type of stress. To know how best to contribute to the situation, either by taking control, taking directives, or simply staying out of the way.
This being said, even if we are the type of individual who can keep calm and take control, we must also be willing to cede to those even better qualified than ourselves.
Yes, I may have my First Aid and CPR but if there is a doctor or paramedic present, it is then in the best interest of the situation that I step down to the role of taking directives. If there is someone already present in this role, I must then contribute by getting out of the way. Too many cooks in the kitchen makes for spilled soup.
I think it also important right now to point out, and respect, just how much stress emergency response teams go through. Where myself or others may only have to deal with an emergency situation now and again, they deal with it hour after hour, night after night. They face incredible stress with little respect or thanks, and often very little cooperation. They do so with courage and a level headedness that comes from not being able to afford to panic because peoples lives are at stake. They deal with the level of stress that can't always be left at work, the kind of stress that most people neglect to realize follows a person home and into their waking thoughts, restless nights, and haunted dreams.
They face these sometimes traumatic ordeals again and again. They do so despite the foolish individuals who would give their teams a bad name. They do so despite the fact that the media has the power to turn things around on them in an instant. They do so despite criticism received from people who would break down and cry themselves to sleep at even a fraction of the stress endured.
So to all the paramedics, ambulance drivers, police, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and other emergency response teams out there; Shout out! You are making a huge difference, even when you feel like the rest of the world is ignorant to it.
Kudos to all those who fight the scary situations, and to all those willing to face themselves when scary things happen.
I’ve seen those afraid of the dark forget they own candles and flashlights the moment the lights start to flicker.
I’ve seen a sober person at a party panicking as they try to locate someone to drive an injured individual to the hospital, completely forget that they themselves are qualified to drive.
The solutions are staring them in the face but they are momentarily reduced to the same frozen response a deer suffers when caught in the headlights.
A person can be the most level headed, logical person you’ve ever met, they could even be the most prepared for a situation, but when actually faced with that very instance….well, I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying fight or flight.
It is important to remember that everyone reacts differently.
When I was a Resident Advisor in college, my colleagues and I often faced situations that required we remain calm and remember our training. There were even instances where training simply hadn't covered them and we had to make the best of some terrible circumstances, some quick decisions, and a little improvisation. We quickly learned how our minds, and that of our partners, worked when faced with a crisis. We learned who could easily take control and delegate tasks, and who was better suited for taking the notes and making calls for backup.
Both roles were crucial to the job in order for circumstances to be diffused and resolved, but it was only accomplished by understanding who reacted well to what, and what type of circumstances were a trigger for each RA.
There’s no shame in being the type of person who reacts poorly under severe stress, it can’t always be controlled and can require a great deal of effort and training to shift from frenzied thought to confident action. It is however, important to find out and acknowledge our default reactions to this type of stress. To know how best to contribute to the situation, either by taking control, taking directives, or simply staying out of the way.
This being said, even if we are the type of individual who can keep calm and take control, we must also be willing to cede to those even better qualified than ourselves.
Yes, I may have my First Aid and CPR but if there is a doctor or paramedic present, it is then in the best interest of the situation that I step down to the role of taking directives. If there is someone already present in this role, I must then contribute by getting out of the way. Too many cooks in the kitchen makes for spilled soup.
I think it also important right now to point out, and respect, just how much stress emergency response teams go through. Where myself or others may only have to deal with an emergency situation now and again, they deal with it hour after hour, night after night. They face incredible stress with little respect or thanks, and often very little cooperation. They do so with courage and a level headedness that comes from not being able to afford to panic because peoples lives are at stake. They deal with the level of stress that can't always be left at work, the kind of stress that most people neglect to realize follows a person home and into their waking thoughts, restless nights, and haunted dreams.
They face these sometimes traumatic ordeals again and again. They do so despite the foolish individuals who would give their teams a bad name. They do so despite the fact that the media has the power to turn things around on them in an instant. They do so despite criticism received from people who would break down and cry themselves to sleep at even a fraction of the stress endured.
So to all the paramedics, ambulance drivers, police, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and other emergency response teams out there; Shout out! You are making a huge difference, even when you feel like the rest of the world is ignorant to it.
Kudos to all those who fight the scary situations, and to all those willing to face themselves when scary things happen.
Cheers to everyone who takes the time to know who they are and how they react so that when something happens, they know how best to contribute. Because really, it isn't the zombies that scare me come the apocalypse, it's the fearful people who panic and freak out.
Keep calm my fellow Bros and Bras, keep calm and carry on.
The Bra Street Rambler
P.S. Due to a new work schedule, the blog will now go live on Monday's rather than Thursday's.
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