Preparedness Is Not Paranoia: It’s Personal Responsibility

With ongoing issues across the United States and around the world—and closer to home, recent flooding, transportation disruptions, and weather-related events—I’ve seen a clear uptick in community members seeking CPR, first aid, and survival preparedness training.

Preparedness is not new to our region. Many communities already have CERT teams, Search and Rescue groups, and emergency action organizations. Washington State, in particular, has no shortage of motivated volunteers and responders. However, one concerning trend I’ve noticed is a lack of broad, foundational understanding among everyday citizens when it comes to risk mitigation, emergency preparedness, and even basic first aid.

We could spend hours debating why these gaps exist—lack of education, overreliance on systems, busy schedules, complacency—but that discussion isn’t particularly productive. What is productive is outlining the core principles that actually matter when it comes to being prepared for everything from minor everyday inconveniences to major natural or man-made disasters.

Below are several foundational concepts I believe every individual and family should understand and actively work on.

Ignorance Is Bliss — Until It Hurts or Kills You

A lack of awareness about your surroundings, your community, and the broader environment is far more dangerous than many people realize. This doesn’t mean living in fear or obsessively watching the news—but it does mean paying attention.

You owe it to yourself and your family to maintain a basic understanding of:

• What’s happening in your community

• Seasonal and upcoming weather patterns

• Infrastructure vulnerabilities (roads, bridges, power, water)

• Social or civil disruptions that may affect travel or safety

  
  

Situational awareness starts long before an emergency happens.

Examples of simple, high-value awareness habits include:

• Checking the weather forecast 7–14 days out for major rain, snow, heat, or cold events

• Adjusting travel plans or supply runs before storms hit

• Paying attention to planned protests, rallies, or large public gatherings so you can avoid them

• Monitoring major highway closures or ferry disruptions

• Noticing when local grocery stores are running low on essentials

• Keeping a loose awareness of global events that influence fuel prices, supply chains, travel restrictions, or disease outbreaks

Being able to “see the writing on the wall” and act before a problem occurs is invaluable. These small actions reduce stress, prevent emergencies, and allow you to move from a reactive mindset to a proactive one.

Preparedness doesn’t start with gear—it starts with awareness.

Situational Awareness ≠ Paranoia

There is a significant difference between being aware and being paranoid.

Situational awareness means maintaining an understanding of what’s happening around you while continuing to live your life normally. It’s about recognizing risk early and avoiding it whenever possible.

Examples include:

• Avoiding high-risk or poorly lit areas when alternatives exist

• Being cautious in dim parking garages or isolated stairwells

• Not walking with your face buried in your phone

• Trusting your instincts and leaving an establishment if someone’s behavior raises red flags

• Positioning yourself in public spaces where you can see exits and movement

  
  

The best defense against violence or injury is avoiding the situation entirely. Once you’re forced to react, your options become fewer and riskier.

You don’t need to confront every problem. Often, the smartest move is simply to remove yourself from the situation before it escalates.

Medical Preparedness: Skills Before Supplies

Medical preparedness is one of the most overlooked—and most critical—components of personal readiness. Too often, people assume that buying a large first aid kit or relying on emergency services is enough. In reality, you are the first responder in almost every emergency.

True medical preparedness starts with training, not gear. At a minimum, every capable adult should pursue Basic First Aid and CPR. From there, your knowledge and equipment should follow structured, evidence-based priorities—not guesswork.

Two widely accepted frameworks guide effective patient care in emergencies: MARCH and ABCDE.

The MARCH Protocol: Immediate Life Threats

MARCH is used to address the most immediate, preventable causes of death in trauma. These priorities apply whether the incident is a car crash, workplace injury, outdoor accident, or violent event.

M – Massive Hemorrhage

Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading preventable cause of death in trauma.

Focus on:

• Tourniquets

• Hemostatic gauze

• Wound packing gauze

• Emergency pressure bandages

Rapid bleeding control can mean the difference between life and death in minutes.

A – Airway

An obstructed airway kills silently and quickly.

Tools and skills may include:

• Manual airway positioning

• Recovery position

• Oropharyngeal (OPA) or nasopharyngeal (NPA) airways (only if trained)

Airway control must always match your level of training. Improper use causes harm.

R – Respiration

Once the airway is open, breathing must be assessed and supported.

Examples include:

• Chest seals for penetrating trauma

• Monitoring chest rise and respiratory rate

• CPR pocket masks

• Bag Valve Masks (BLS-trained or higher)

Respiratory compromise often follows trauma and must be identified early.

C – Circulation

After bleeding and breathing are addressed, focus on circulation and shock.

Key considerations:

• Checking pulses

• Treating for shock

• Preventing heat loss

• Monitoring mental status

This is where patients often deteriorate if left unattended.

H – Hypothermia / Head Injury

Trauma patients lose heat rapidly—even in warm environments.

Mitigation includes:

• Mylar or emergency blankets

• Insulation from the ground

• Protecting the head and neck

Hypothermia worsens bleeding and shock and must be prevented early.

The ABCDE Protocol: Medical Assessment & Ongoing Care

Once immediate life threats are controlled—or when dealing with medical emergencies rather than trauma—the ABCDE framework guides systematic assessment and reassessment.

A – Airway

• Is the airway open and clear?

• Can the patient speak?

• Are there signs of obstruction or swelling?

  
  

B – Breathing

• Rate, depth, and quality of respirations

• Chest rise and symmetry

• Lung sounds (if trained)

• Oxygen support if available and trained

  
  

C – Circulation

• Pulse rate and quality

• Skin color, temperature, and moisture

• Capillary refill

• Bleeding control

  
  

D – Disability

• Level of consciousness (AVPU)

• Pupillary response

• Blood glucose (if trained and equipped)

• Signs of stroke or head injury

  
  

E – Exposure / Environment

• Fully expose to assess injuries

• Prevent heat loss

• Protect from environmental hazards

• Maintain patient dignity

Building a First Aid Kit Around MARCH and ABCDE

Your equipment should support your level of training, and your priorities should mirror these frameworks.

Immediate Life Threat Equipment:

• Tourniquet

• Hemostatic gauze

• Pressure bandage

• Chest seals

• CPR mask

• Emergency blanket

• EpiPens (if prescribed)

  
  

Follow-On & Medical Care:

• Dressings and bandages

• Medications

• Glucose

• Splinting materials

• Irrigation syringes

Important Reminder:

Do not carry or use medical equipment you are not trained to use. However, if someone trained is trying to save you, it may pay to carry advanced items.

The purpose of first aid is to preserve life, reduce suffering, and avoid further harm.

Training Is the Multiplier

Gear without training creates false confidence. Training without practice fades.

Medical preparedness requires:

• Regular refreshers

• Scenario-based practice

• Familiarity with your own equipment

MARCH and ABCDE provide structure under stress. They prevent panic, reduce missed injuries, and improve outcomes—whether you’re treating a family member, a coworker, or a stranger.

Water: The First Critical Resource to Fail

In many emergencies, access to clean drinking water disappears quickly—sometimes within hours.

You can survive weeks without food, but only days without water.

Preparedness means:

• Storing drinking water

• Knowing how to locate, collect, and purify water

  
  

This includes:

• Water filters

• Chemical treatment

• Boiling

• Understanding water sources and contamination risks

  
  

Water isn’t just for drinking—it’s needed for cooking, hygiene, and medical care.

Food: Calories, Nutrition, and Redundancy

Food preparedness goes beyond buying a few extra cans.

At a minimum, I recommend:

• Three months of non-perishable, high-calorie food

  
  

Freeze-dried foods are an excellent option:

• Shelf life up to 25 years

• Lightweight

• Easy to store

  
  

But calories alone aren’t enough. Nutrition matters.

Additional considerations:

• Supplementing vitamins and minerals

• Learning basic food preservation

• Gardening and seed stockpiling (seeds that reproduce)

• Basic foraging or hunting knowledge (where legal when rule of law still applies)

• Ration planning

• Storing food in multiple locations, not all in one place

Shelter and Contingency Planning

Shelter may not be a concern if you can get home—but what if you can’t?

Preparedness means having a plan for:

• Being stranded at work

• Being unable to access your home

• Evacuating quickly

  
  

This can include:

• Emergency shelter options in your vehicle

• Tents or tarps

• Pre-arranged drop points at family or friends’ homes

• Alternate safe locations

Planning Before the Event

Preparedness is not just equipment—it’s planning.

Every household should consider:

• Evacuation plans for different disaster types

• Multiple route plans to get home

• Communication plans when cell service is down

• Call trees for family and trusted contacts

• Instructions for children

• Transportation limitations and alternatives

  
  

And most importantly:

• Practice

  
  

Buying gear, taking a class, and then never revisiting those skills is a false sense of security. Skills fade. Gear fails. Plans need testing.

Preparedness is a process—not a purchase

Final Thoughts

Preparedness is not about fear.

It’s about responsibility.

Responsibility to yourself, your family, and your community.

The time to prepare is before the event—not during it.

If you don’t train, don’t practice, and don’t plan, you’re relying on luck. And luck is not a strategy.

If your ready to make the next steps toward preparedness, checkout our upcoming classes and the rest of our blog posts.