Mental Rehearsal Is Key to Survival

The two words that sum up the best thing you can do if you want to survive a disaster is "mental preparation." That preparation comes on different levels and besides thinking about it you also need to take actions to become better prepared.

Claire Rubin shared the link to how to survive a disaster, which is a good, quick summary. And, if you want to read more, I suggest you read the book The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why. Both publications have good information.  

The preparation I mention above involves being mentally aware of where you are and what your options are for survival. The following run through my head in these scenarios:

• When boarding an airplane I look at the exits and which way would I go, first primary and then secondary. For instance, if there is a back exit I'll go there because most people will try to get out the way they came in.
• On the commuter train: How do you open those windows and where are the emergency tools that they mention on the PA system all the time? Not sitting too near the front of the train is another good measure to take.
• When driving, if I have to stop suddenly, where can I steer to away from rear ending the car in front of me and to get away from the car behind me that is following too close?
• In Home Depot, in case of an earthquake, what shelves can I duck under?

Mental rehearsal is key to survival. Action-oriented movement and not sitting and waiting to assess what others are doing is another.

Hopefully I won't need any of the above, but you never know.