When danger happens or we are faced with an emergency it is easy to get lost in the situation and to become overwhelmed especially if the situation involves people or a person that is injured and they are close to you. Being faced with a sudden emergency can be stressful and difficult to handle so what can you do to help cope in the event of this happening?

As first aid trainers, we are used to training people to deal with emergencies so we thought we would share some tips on how to stay calm in the face of an emergency or dangerous situation.

How to stay calm

During an emergency or dangerous situation, it is normal for your heart rate to increase and your breathing to quicken so these are a few things you can do:

• Slow down and deepen your breathing – slowing down your breathing and inhaling deeply and expanding your breath through your diaphragm can help to calm your breathing and lower your heart rate as well as focus your mind.
• Focused phrase – picking a phrase to repeat to yourself can help you to focus on the situation especially if you pick one that is positive, such as ‘it’s going to be ok’ or ‘I can do this’.
• Mindfulness techniques – using mindfulness techniques can help calm you and reduce stress which can assist you in all kinds of situations as well as emergency ones. This can include stopping what you are doing, taking a breath and recognising your feelings before tackling the situation, doing some mindfulness breathing or meditation.

Knowledge is power

Often knowledge is the most powerful tool so arming yourself with the knowledge you need to handle an emergency or a dangerous situation is a good way to manage how you react to it. One of the key skills you can have is first aid training and undergoing regular refresher training to keep both your skills current and retain your confidence in those skills. Through having current first aid training you will be equipped with the knowledge and feel confident in providing first aid in a range of medical situations.

We offer a range of first aid courses at different levels and refresher courses that are designed to arm you with the practical skills you need and build your confidence in using these skills when you are faced with a medical need. Contact us for further details.

Recognising the signs of medical distress whether that is a heart attack, stroke, asthma attack, allergic reaction or something else is an important part of being confident to handle the situation at hand. Being able to support the person in their time of need and keep them calm is an important part of first aid. It is also important to know when to call for help and who to call for help, whether that is 111 or 999.

Whatever situation you face we hope you feel equipped to face it calmly and confidently with the knowledge we have shared.