Hmmmm – ‘emergency’ what exactly is an emergency?  We use the term so loosely these days.

So I looked up some of the definitions.

A sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action.

A situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative care for the aftermath.

So when you’re sitting in a meeting and that oh so familiar knock at the door comes (your time-of-the-month) and you say, “Excuse me, I have an emergency” … is it really an emergency?  Is there really any danger lurking around the corner?  No, but it does require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, right?

And when the boss calls for an emergency meeting?  It’s not like the office is a blaze (if that were the case sister I’d be hitting the stairs not congregating in a closed office), but there ‘may’ be an unforeseen crisis that requires immediate action – like the printer is out of ink!  

No wonder we don’t take emergency preparing seriously. 

We use almost as a catch phrase for any crisis, big or small.

So then what is a crisis?

Well let’s see.

It’s an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty.

An event that is, or expected to lead to, an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, community or whole society. Crises are deemed to be negative changes in the security, economic, political, societal or environmental affairs, especially when they occur abruptly, with little or no warning. 

I guess this means a crisis can be the root of an emergency.

An emergency in a survival situation or a “poo hits the fan scenerio”, is a major crisis requiring urgent intervention or action on your part. 

You can’t or shouldn’t wait for someone to come to your aid.  You must be prepared and able to fend for yourself.

Grant it, there are tons of crisis that may become an emergency.

Think about it, a job loss, home foreclosure, soaring food costs, escalating gas prices, consumer costs rising, extended power outages, unpredictable weather (ice storms, snow storms, hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes, flooding, drought), foreign and domestic threats.

So as you can see, just because the sky is not falling doesn’t mean it is not an emergency.  What if gas prices got to the point where it would cost more to drive to work then what you were paid to work?  How would you buy anything?  That is a crisis that turned into an emergency.

This is why I stress all the time you need to be prepared for the unknown (as its right around the corner).

Crises are happening all around us every day.  Some of these have already hit home to some of you and to others, your loved ones, friends or neighbors.

If you were not able to go to work, would you be able to feed yourself, have shelter and warmth?

The government may be dealing with its own crisis should the poo hit the fan so don’t expect them to come to your rescue.

You need to have your basic provisions in order and ready for any crisis …er … emergency when life's most basic of services such as electricity, water, gas and phones are all out of service and you are cut off from the rest of the world.

I’m having a crisis!!!  I mean emergency! I mean …   Oh just get prepared!

- Survivor Jane

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Survivor Jane is not intended to be expert, legal or even medical advise - just one girl sharing with others.