Every situation is different, so this is a guideline, not a checklist you follow off a card. But the order matters, and most people get it wrong under stress.
First: triage yourself. Breathing. Bleeding. Broken. Are you stabilized? Can you move?
That sounds selfish. It isn’t. You can’t help anyone if you go down. Then assess the situation and take charge. If you’re in immediate danger, move to a safe place. If you’re not, look around and rank the threats.
Other people will be panicking. Don’t get caught up in it.
Assume the situation will get worse, because it usually does. Earthquakes on the coast bring tsunamis. A terrorist attack can have a follow-on attack aimed at first responders. A hurricane breaks gas lines and gas lines bring fire. Check for smoke, gas, and fumes, and shut off the source if you can. Fires, quakes, and blasts leave structures unstable — the roof still being there doesn’t mean it’s staying. In a car wreck, kill the ignition and look for pooling fuel.
Second: call for help. Dial 911. Yell. Blow a whistle. Bang on a pipe. Whatever fits the event. If you’re doing CPR, point at someone and tell them exactly what to say.
Give the dispatcher a short, clean report: location, what happened, how many casualties and how bad, any remaining threats. If it’s a mass casualty event, say so immediately — a single unit rolling up on that gets overwhelmed.
Third: triage everyone else. Triage is French for “to sort.” The goal is the most good for the most people, which is not the same as the best care for each individual. Make sure the injured are out of immediate danger. Don’t move anyone unless you have to. Don’t treat past life-saving measures. Your job is to hold the line until the professionals arrive.
Fourth: assess the environment. Stay or go? If you stay, inventory water, communications, food, medical. If you go, grab your bag and know your destination before you move.
Fifth: once you’re safe, make long-term plans.
This is one of the 101 hacks in Life’s Little Black Book: Hacks That Save Time, Money and Your Life.
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