Making quick decisions/responding to emergency situations

[LTDE]

Do you feel you are dumb and slow when it comes to those things, and then you look back and contemplate all the things you should have done or said?

 

[Words]

Before, yes. Now I plan things ahead. Studying every dangerous and quick possible emergencies and reflecting on them to react faster when it comes. or...Ne I think.

 

[warryer]

Emergency decisions?

I have been around when two friends (different occasions) have been seriously injured. Each time I went into auto-pilot mode and took control of the situation. It was really strange now that I think about it. It's like there is a giant lurking in the shadows that only bothers to wake up when lives are at stake.

I think in a high stress situation I could fare pretty well. Although it's hard to say because I haven't been involved in anything outside of accidents. If it was a robber or gunman or something? I have no idea.

In these kinds of situations time is a commodity, there is no room for thinking. You have to do it right and do it fast. Your instinct is a lot smarter than you may give it credit.

 

[LAM]

Whenever I feel or think something might go wrong I usually keep a constant really fast stream of possible problems and what to do if it does happen. I likely end up with hundreds of possibilities and a mental list of processes I might have to do. Otherwise I just go with what my instinct is telling me is the best thing to do. (my instinct is altruistic. It doesn't really tell me to run away :P )

 

[Decaf]

In an emergency I often take control simply because I run out of patience for someone more interested in being in charge to do so. Sometimes I feel a little reckless... more willing to sound the fool, but determined to get people moving. Even then though, I tend to count on the initiative of others, telling people what needs to be done rather than telling them what to do. If I start assigning tasks, its generally because I've lost respect for the other people in the group. Well, not entirely.... if I recognize that the group is largely passive I might do it just because they are receptive to it. Still, when I order people around, its almost always accompanied by some degree of anger.

 

[ashitaria]

I don't rely on my instinct. If I did, I would be a coward.
When it comes to dangerous situations, I rely on logic, and my brain works five times as fast. Cable car going to drop down? Everyone jump up and hang against the wires.

 

[warryer]

In an emergency I often take control simply because I run out of patience for someone more interested in being in charge to do so. Sometimes I feel a little reckless... more willing to sound the fool, but determined to get people moving. Even then though, I tend to count on the initiative of others, telling people what needs to be done rather than telling them what to do. If I start assigning tasks, its generally because I've lost respect for the other people in the group. Well, not entirely.... if I recognize that the group is largely passive I might do it just because they are receptive to it. Still, when I order people around, its almost always accompanied by some degree of anger.

Very true on the anger/respect thing.

I think its our ability to see the overall picture and then figure out what steps must be taken to get there.

 

[Trebuchet]

I haven't been in that many emergencies, though I try to be prepared for them (getting some training - a bit out of date this year though - and keeping supplies on hand).

The times that emergencies came up, the difference in my reaction was how clear-cut the situation was.

When my daughter choked on a grape at age 2, I whacked her on the back and it came flying out before I could think about it. The whole thing was over in about 3 seconds.

When I heard cries from next door, it was much less clear cut. First I wasn't sure where they were coming from, and then I couldn't hear well enough to know if my help was needed or wanted. I did intervene, which turned out to be the right decision, but it took over a minute to act. (My neighbor had a heart attack and his wife didn't think to call 911, in her panic.)

I have enough of a sample to be pretty sure of how I tend to act. If it is obvious what the problem is, and that it is urgent, I act immediately, and maybe freak out later. If it is not clear what is going on, I hesitate until I understand the situation.

Of course I second-guess myself afterward, and think of things I should have done differently, but I am pretty sure everyone does that. I've had firefighters tell me they sometimes do the same, and there aren't too many people more trained for emergency response.