In the Event of an Emergency

This is my celebratory one hundredth blog posting. 

I’ve addressed my childhood; my wonder at psychological phenomena; the elusive emotional states of the living moments; external conditions affecting my well being; and cherished values and perception.  In these I mentioned my spouse, family, pets and attitude towards life. 

It’s been a hoot thus far.

   My wife started vacuuming my study as I was writing this. I paused and told her that she lit me up.  She smiled; then told me to get out of her way.  I think that’s a great example of the disparity between what is expected and what is delivered.  I’d say the same is true with formal plans to deal with the unexpected. 

   I was cleaning out my school file and found the University Procedures in the Event of an Emergency pamphlet.  It addressed the many contingencies that might happen during the school year and provided instructions on how to deal with each and every conceivable possibility.  They were detailed and complete; with subordinating divisions to each of many critical stages that transpire during an Emergency. 

   The introduction began with the simple stuff; defining accidents and injuries.  I was grateful for that.  I’d hate to think my life devoid of knowing what those were.  I was being spoon fed the purpose for instructing me on what to do in every possible emergency, accompanied by the name of the threat and the proper procedures I was required to follow.  Just awesome. 

   Not only would I be educated in what an accident and injury were, but I was also meant to learn the procedures for reacting to bomb threats, building and ground structural distress; (not to be confused with pre-final student distress) fire and/or explosions (as if there really is any difference in the degree of panic between the two of them); Laboratory Emergencies, (my all time favorite as most often caused by student goofing off with dangerous chemicals like…well….me). Then the award winning, need to know at all cost, Medical Epidemic emergencies, (I consider that as close to Zombie Apocalypse as they dared get.) Then bringing up the rear of the dread parade were Mental health crises; (We’re in school, could there be worse? Oh yeah, post degree employment searching) physical/bodily harm (seemed redundant to me); Rape/Sexual assault, (roll over and play dead) then closing with important twin necessities of Suspicious packages or envelopes (not money from home) and lastly weather-related emergencies, (get out of tunnel clouds they are not harmless toys.)

  I read through all those dire events and the very wise instructions with calm reason, nodding my agreement; they all made sense.  Then I realized the nature of Emergency was encompassed in the earlier definition of accident; ”…unforeseen incident during which a person or persons sustains physical injuries” yes, where TRAUMA is involved.  Because the unexpected surprises and injures.  So then the actual instructions should be far more simple:  “Stay calm, try not to panic.”  Everything else is ‘nice to have’ in the afore mentioned situations.  If panic cannot be overcome, then I’m going to resort to my son’s gaming Wizard’s rule; which is,  “Passion rules reason”  So duck and cover.