Who Will You Become During A Crisis?

How will you react in a crisis? Freeze? Fold? Flee? Fight?



I have survived three potentially life extinguishing events: a head on car collision at high speed ( the other driver unlawfully crossed unbroken lines onto my side of the road, while he was overtaking a stream of cars approaching a hill crest that I was on the other side of); A near drowning in a heavy surf at an unpatrolled beach; and as a pedestrian I was hit at a pedestrian crossing by an SUV (fortunately not resulting in broken bones or more serious injuries). I also saw the beginnings of a structural fire (a junk shop which soda bottle refrigerator malfunctioned, thereby
causing an electrical fire), and took immediate action to warn neighbouring properties, dial 000 to summon fire, ambulance and police services; and once police had arrived, proceeded to evacuate the occupant living above the shop. Once emergency services took control of the incident, I spent some time directing traffic along a side lane away from the incident scene. The shop and residence above it were severely damaged, but both adjoining properties were unaffected, and nobody was injured on account of the fire. People heard me 100 metres away, calling out Fire!

 

I have nets, Gill nets and a 18' express hull with a 24v trolling motor, It will also run on 12v if needed.
Main engine is a Yamaha 4stroke 115, Big 12 v solar panel I can lay on the top. Should have no problem with a few that are hungry and will work for fish?
I lost count of the number of helicopters I've been in that almost pancaked, Plenty is a good number.
Ton's of near misses working in the Gulf to get the oil and gas inland for you folks.

 

Spent some time in the sandbox. Also run INTO burning buildings for fun as a volunteer firefighter. Been in a few situation where my life was in danger. For me my default reaction is fight. Sometimes my logical mind has to over ride my agressive lizard brain when a flee is more appropriate.

 

I also should be dead...a couple of times. One time that I constantly remind myself of was of my own making, totally my fault. It wasn't an accident. I used to rock and alpine climb a lot, mostly Europe since that's where I resided, and a couple trips to the Himalayas. I was actually well trained in first aid, navigation and climbing technics and was, of course, in excellent physical condition and had lots of experience. I was adamant about not doing arrogant, stupid stuff like arguing with the weather, climbing safe, going off rope, etc. because that's how one's gets hurt...but one day... I was taking a couple of newbies up a climb, a rock face, and of course was leading. I had done it numerous times and most of it wasn't terribly difficult, about a 5.10, in American grading but had a long, rough portion then with the crux of probably 5.11, honestly can't remember, and was a little tricky if you got off route because the sides were baby butt smooth, extremely difficult, no holds or places to put protection and far beyond my ability.

Day was beautiful, one of the newbies arrived with no climbing helmet. So, rather than leave her, which I should have because I told her she must have one, I gave her mine, since I was leading and had less of a chance of getting hit by rockfall caused by my colleagues, since they were behind me. That was my first mistake...

For some reason, I got complacent, probably from being there a couple times before, not taking the route serious and the weather was nice, warm and... got off route. It is much more difficult to climb downwards than upwards; nevertheless, that is exactly what you're supposed to do, stop and reverse, unless you got the gear to drive pitons or drill anchors (bolts) like one would have when opening a new route so while reversing still would have been difficult, I would know what to expect so...so what did I do? Yeah, I climbed farther...but nothing. WTH? Maybe a bit more? Shit. It's worse...God help me!

So, now I am way beyond my protection. Yeah, I did have a couple of chalks/cams, but they were useless in this stuff. So, here I was, without a helmet, before the time of cell phones, with a good 3+ hours of hiking for help, about 600-800 feet up on the face with two complete amateurs and I was way beyond my last protection, well over 100+ feet so, yeah, I was losing strength and I knew was going to die.

Honestly. I knew it was over. The idea just popped in my head, and I accepted it as there was nothing I could do about it. Strength was almost gone, I was probably about 135+ feet out by now, it was impossible to reverse, and I remember thinking, "Well, either you die trying to climb out of this or... wait, strength drains, fall and die." Strange as it sounds, I wasn't afraid because I knew this was it and had accepted it. Very hard to explain...but I think that is what saved me, I'd accepted it and wasn't afraid for if I froze they I surely would be dead. Strength was fading fast, I mean REALLY fast, and I had seconds... I saw a tiny ledge ahead of me about 20 feet, kept my eyes on it the entire way and how I manage to get my right hand to it before I was completely blown, I still do not know, because I was blown - completely.

Anyway, I barely had enough rope left to make it, so I was indeed out a long way without protection (60 meter climbing rope), then the rock had much better holds, traverse over to the route, connected into an anchor and shook like a leaf from shock then brought up the newbies and finished the climb - carefully. They didn't even know what had almost happened and I never told them. LOL! And, that is how I almost killed myself through stupidity, arrogance and complacency...the first time. LOL!

EDIT: Thankfully, I tend not to freeze in nasty situations. I think it's simply to do with my belief that 'God helps those that help themselves' so I will not depart this earth without trying, without a fight.

 

I should be dead…..no question. I have had so many “near misses” I have lost track. Between motorcycles, 4x4s, water sports - drowned unconscious twice and I AM a great swimmer - angry wildlife, mountains abe, especially here in Aus, the environment and they are only the things for fun. When I add in “dodging a bullet”, both figuratively and literally, professionally I have used up more than my share of “9 lives”. Professionally I have seen things and been in situations most will never see, thankfully, and the crowd is often split between the freeze, flee and act groups. The one’s that scare me most of those is the “act” when they have no clue and should be taking orders not giving them. Those people have gotten more hurt than the scared or coward crowd.

 

Lets see here, Pankacked in a few Heli's, none were limp away affairs, one cost me nearly 9 months in rehab, and almost cost me my left leg, something I still fight! A gun fight that lasted nearly 11 hours, requiring several air drops of ammo and water as well as twice needing medical! i've been Blown up, Burned, Drowned, Hypothermic, Heat stroked, Water logged, Crushed, Concussed, Fallen ( Like several hundred feet) Ran Over, Chewed up and Spat back out, Cussed out, and Cursed in at least 7 languages!
I'm a fighter to the core, I run to the sound of gun fire with a great big grin on my face, I am a predator, but more then that, I am a protector with an absolute moral code that I cannot and will NOT break, and boy, you better not break it either! I am a life saver, through training and experience, but more then that, it goes to my protector genetics, which makes me all the more dangerous! I am a killer, I don't enjoy killing, but DAMN, some times, it sure feels good!

I am a Dangerous Man, not bad, but not exactly good either!

 

Almost drowned once, found the ass to keep going. Almost electrocuted in an attic. Hit a 69 Dodge Charger at 70mph on a CB 175 Honda, still suffer from that 43 years later. Had a .45 pointed at my face and the guy pulled the trigger and it didn't fire. I still have his .45 and it has fired fine since. And I had just stepped off the crosswalk over Hwy 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway when the thing collapsed. I turned down a ride home with Phil Brown in his new jeep in high school. He ran under a Food Lion trailer and was decapitated. So unlike Uri-Ki, I never went looking for it but it has always been close. I suppose God has left me here to irritate as many people as possible.