Comments on: Check Your Own Pulse First

By: blarcher99

blarcher99 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:25:23 +0000

So true. You need to check you are in control of the situation before you act. What great advice.

By: emily

emily — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:59:30 +0000

Interesting to see that it has worked in other situations as well. I actually use it in almost everything I do but don’t realize it most of the time.

By: Epijunky

Epijunky — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:32:16 +0000

Hey Emily!
This is the same advice my EMT-B instructor gave me. To the letter.
“Take your pulse. Take a deep breath.”
I forget to do that at times, but it’s some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten.

By: The T-Dude

The T-Dude — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:40:48 +0000

You know, it works in non-life threatening situations as well. In my past life as a political hack, I found myself in New York for the National Convention. One day, my boss was losing it. A common occurance when dealing with high strung, egomaniacal politicos. But my boss was really going ballistic at another person in the office. I stepped between the two, asked if I could have a moment, took him into his office and told him to get the F#$k out of the building. I believe the sentence went something like this:

“Take your Walkman and get the f#&k out of here before you do some real damage. Go sit on a bus stop bench, breathe deeply and calm down. If that won’t work, go scream at a stranger out on Broadway, it’s New York, their used to it, just don’t come back until you’re calm.”

Luckily he took my advice instead of firing me on the spot.

By: Greybeard

Greybeard — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:41:44 +0000

Is this universal in technical, dangerous work?
First order of business for a pilot with an emergency…
FLY THE DAMNED AIRCRAFT!
Flight 401 in Miami… a perfectly good aircraft flown into the swampy ground because two professional pilots forgot rule #1. Many died.
I tell my students, “Take a deep breath”…
Serves the same purpose.