How to escape 4 common disasters

By: Health Local Staff Jun 21, 2013
Losing passport

A little preparation and knowledge can go a long way in helping you avoid common disasters.

Unexpected things happen to people every day, some of which can lead to disaster if you lose your cool or don’t know what to do. Knowledge is power, they say, and this is especially true when it comes to knowing how to escape disasters. Here are a few potential and somewhat common disasters and ways to get through them.

Avoiding a Car Crash
Yellow lights at an intersection leave you with only a split second to decide whether you should stop or keep going. Escape disaster by paying attention to the car in front of you and behind you when nearing an intersection regardless of the colour of the light. And, don’t rely on your sense of distance when trying to decide if you can make the light or not, because it has been proven that the majority of people aren’t good judges of distance. Prepare to stop safely by not just gunning it because the car in front of you does and by remembering that most yellow lights only last 3 to 6 seconds. A quick glance to make sure that the person behind you is slowing down will also help you decide whether or not to go to avoid being rear-ended.

A Deer Jumps Out in Front of Your Car
With road trip weather here, it’s important to know that deer can run out in front of you at any time of the day or night, though high-risk times seem to be dusk and dawn. Scan the roadside as you drive and remember that there’s rarely ever just one deer as they tend to travel in groups. If you see one in your headlights, don’t swerve because you risk losing control, veering off the road and hitting other cars or even trees. Instead, try to come to a controlled stop and stay in your lane. If you do end up hitting one, don’t panic. Pull off to the side of the road with your flashers on, stay in the car, and call the police.

You Lose Your Passport While Overseas
Losing your passport overseas can throw a wrench in your holidays and get costly if you miss your flights. Before leaving the country, scan copies of your passport pages, Visas and other travel documents and I.D. and email them to yourself so you have access to them and can print them off wherever you are if you don’t want to carry photocopies with you. Take along the phone number and address to the nearest Canadian consulate and embassy where you will be and get in touch with them as soon as you realize your passport is missing. Keep the number to Passport Canada handy as well in the event of a lost or stolen passport.

You Need to Evacuate a House or Plane or Any Other Enclosed Space
Whether a fire, some kind of threat, a medical or other emergency that can cause panic and require you to evacuate the area immediately, there are things that you can do to be prepared and escape. When travelling by plane, train, or bus or spending time in an enclosed and crowded space like a concert or night club; take note of the closest exit points. On a plane or train you can do this by counting seatbacks as you walk to your seat from the door so in the event of a power outage or smoke, you can find your way out. To avoid being injured by others who are rushing around in a panic; keep your footing the best you can, even if you have to get low to the ground to avoid smoke inhalation. Walk in a crouched position if needed, but do not crawl or make yourself vulnerable to being stepped on or trampled. Always take note of stairs and other potentially dangerous obstacles as well.

