Psychological Preparedness To Face Disasters, Here's How To Act Calmly And Effectively

Illustration of prepared disaster bags (Freepik)

Facing disasters requires careful readiness, not only physically but also psychologically. In disaster-prone countries such as Indonesia, this readiness is very important to minimize risks and bad impacts.

Psychological preparedness allows individuals to remain calm, understand emergency situations, and take appropriate steps without being caught in panic.

Psychologist from the University of Indonesia, Livia Iskandar, M.Sc., emphasized the importance of psychological readiness in anticipating disasters.

"When we live in areas that often experience disasters, such as Jakarta, which is at risk of experiencing large earthquakes, psychological preparation is very necessary," said Livia as quoted by ANTARA.

According to Livia, this kind of preparation helps a person to better understand what happens in an emergency situation and prevent panic that could hinder rescue measures. "If we are able to control ourselves, the evacuation process becomes easier, both to save ourselves and help others," she added.

The psychologist from the Pulih Foundation also explained that emergency situations often come without warning. Therefore, early preparation, including studying self-saving procedures, is an important part of disaster preparedness.

"For example, we have to know how to behave, where to go, and recognize the gathering point," he said.

Livia emphasized that learning the implementation of self-defense is not only physically helpful but also has a positive impact on psychological conditions. When someone already knows the steps to take, they tend to be calmer and able to think clearly when a disaster strikes.

For example, he suggests simple habits that can be applied daily, such as storing emergency bags near the bedroom door. That way, if something happens, we can immediately move, jump out of bed, and go out to a safe point. This is important to learn since childhood, so that a calm attitude and correct action can be done automatically," said Livia.

Psychological preparedness to deal with disasters is not only a matter of managing emotions but also a matter of training yourself to think strategically in the midst of an emergency situation. Thus, not only is self-security guaranteed, but also the ability to help others around us.