COMIC: Don't panic! 6 strategies to keep you calm in a crisis

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How to stay calm in emergency situations

House fires, mass shootings, emergency medical procedures and mental health crises. Emergencies can happen at any time — and knowing how to overcome feelings of panic, stress and indecision can be a matter of life or death.

Ryan Fields-Spack, a veteran first responder who has worked as a paramedic, a fire captain and a firefighter, and Dr. Italo Brown, an emergency physician and assistant professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, share real-world tactics they use on the job to stay cool and focused.

"We all know it's important to remain calm in an emergency."

"Stress can make us panic and impair our ability to make lifesaving decisions."

"The good news? Anyone can learn to keep cool in a crisis. Emergency response professionals share strategies they use on the job."

“Fields-Spack has worked as a paramedic, a firefighter and a fire captain.”

“Freeze!” “Denial. Nope, nope, nope.” “WTF?!” “RUN!!!” “Throw stuff?????” “OK, hold it, sister. Let’s think for a second.”

A text box at the bottom of the Fram reads: “So instead of acting out of panic, he says, stop briefly and ask yourself: “ What is the best way to handle this situation.”

“You’ll be less scared and more prepared,” Fields-Spack says.

Hyperfocus. At the onset of a critical moment, tune into your breath and tune out distractions so you can hyperfocus on the task at hand, says emergency physician Dr. Italo Brown.”

Below are two bubbles illustrating different scenes. On the left, in a yellow color wash, is Dr. Italo Brown wearing scrubs and PPE as he works on a patient in the ER and engages in hyperfocus. On the right is another scene in a red color wash, with the woman leaning over a man who is passed out on the floor of a restaurant, listening for breath and feeling for a pulse, tuning out distractions and engaging in hyperfocus as his wife calls for help in the background. The woman is tuning

“If you’re a praying person, you can also say a prayer, he says. Both can ease the pressure of the moment and provide encouragement to press through.”

“Studies show that even five minutes a day can reduce anxiety, regulate emotion, and better equip us for high-stress uncertainties.”

“If you know what to do now, you’ve helped change the arc of that person’s life,” says Brown.

Anika Orrock is a writer, illustrator, cartoonist and author of The Incredible Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

This story was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

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