How to follow directions better
Why Following Directions Is Hard for Some People
By Amanda Morin
Quick tips to help with following directions
Quick tip 1
Get rid of distractions.
Get rid of distractions.
Make it easier to “hear” directions by limiting distractions. If possible, find a space that’s away from a lot of noise, movement, or clutter.
Many people — kids and adults — have trouble following directions. They don’t seem to “listen” when they’re asked to do a task, whether it’s taking out the garbage or taking care of a pet. Even if there’s a negative consequence, they don’t do what they’re supposed to do.
Why does that happen?
It might seem like laziness or a lack of respect.
But when people frequently don’t follow directions, there’s often something else going on.
A common reason is trouble with executive function, a group of skills needed to get through tasks. Some people also have a hard time processing information or tuning in to what others are saying.
When people have trouble following directions, the results are clear — things don’t get done, or they get done poorly. But people may also struggle in ways that seem confusing or not directly related.
For example, kids and adults might:
- Get easily frustrated when trying to do something
- Agree to do something and then not do it
- Look away or zone out when being given directions
- Get halfway through a task and then stop
- Say they did something when they didn’t
There are different reasons people struggle with directions. It's not a matter of intelligence, but rather challenges with specific skills.
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Related topics
Following instructions
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About the author
About the author
Amanda Morin is the author of “The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education” and the former director of thought leadership at Understood.
As an expert and writer, she helped build Understood from its earliest days.
Reviewed by
Reviewed by
Bob Cunningham, EdM serves as executive director of learning development at Understood.
How to become better at following directions
Credit: UNSPLASH
Reading time: About 4 minutes
Ever tripped up by directions? Learning to become better at following directions is a straightforward way to make yourself look smarter and to be more successful…
When I was setting up my first apartment more than 40 years ago, I can remember sitting in a sea of junk in my living-room: particle board panels, multiple Allen wrenches and IKEA-instructions on flimsy white paper. I stared at those instructions for hours, desperately trying to assemble my desk, but I just couldn’t do it.
The instructions might as well have been written in Greek or Swahili, for all I understood them.
I eventually called for help from a friend, and even he had difficulty figuring them out.
Following directions is an important life skill and one that’s especially hard for some people. Attention Deficit Disorder (don’t tune out now if you don’t think you have it — I’ll explain why in a moment) and learning disabilities run in my family. I was lucky enough not to get ADHD and my learning disabilities are all related to math so as long as you don’t ask me the square root of 45, I’ll appear just like a typical person.
But people close to me have faced all of these challenges, and I’ve learned how to help them. In fact, I’m convinced that while ADHD is thought to affect somewhere between five and 11 percent of people, the percentage is likely higher in any community of writers and artists. Why?
People with ADHD are much more likely to be creative. So, if you’re drawn to creative work, odds are essentially
higher you have ADHD. Now, I know many people believe that writing requires a great deal of focus and attention — attributes that people with ADHD aren’t likely to have.
But here it’s important to understand that for people with ADHD, attention is selective. In fact, it’s likely that people with ADHD have greater attention for the small number of tasks that truly interest them — just lesser attention for everything else.
When I worked in a newsroom for 10 years, I was likely surrounded by writers with ADHD, even though I never knew that at the time. This is because working at a newspaper gave them the chance for a multitude of very short deadlines on a wide variety of topics. A perfect breeding ground for ADHD! (Also, they could smoke and drink lots of coffee, both recognized as ‘treatments’ — albeit not necessarily healthy ones — for ADHD.)
If you’re interested in learning more about whether you might have ADHD, understand that it’s found in adults as well as children and that it occurs more or less equally in males and females — it’s not just a thing for boys! If you are concerned, you should get yourself assessed by a mental health professional.
Meanwhile, however, here is a quick test you can take, at no charge.
And whether you have ADHD or not, here is some advice on how to do a better job of following directions — as well as a better job of giving them:
How to follow instructions better:
- Ask for directions more often and ask specific questions about those directions. Make sure you fully understand the project and all the details of what you’re being asked to do.
- Get context for the task you need to do. Understanding the reason behind certain projects or tasks will help you make greater sense of what needs to be done.
- Understand your own learning style. Experts have identified seven different learning styles: Visual, auditory, verbal, physical, logical, social and solitary. In my case, I know I’m not a visual learner (those damn IKEA instructions!) and instead I’m much more comfortable with verbal and logical instructions.
When I get instructions, I make sure they match a style I feel comfortable with. - Look for distraction triggers. If you know you’re at risk of going down the Twitter or Instagram rabbit-hole at any time then, for goodness sake, turn off social media while you’re getting or following directions. In fact, turn off your phone entirely.
- Visualize yourself getting the task done. As you’re starting to follow a set of instructions, visualize yourself finishing them and, along the way, ask yourself questions like, “when will I be half-done here?” This kind of orientation will help keep you on track.
- Talk to yourself. Giving yourself a pep-talk will not only help you follow directions better, it’ll also help you stay focused on the task at hand.
- Practice by giving instructions to others. Teaching something is a great way to learn it. You’ll start to recognize tricks and techniques you can use to help yourself.
How to give better instructions
- Give directions in a helpful, non-aggressive way. Put yourself in the shoes of people who will be receiving your directions and figure out in advance what it is they need to know. Be cheerful and friendly, not dictatorial. Invite plenty of questions.
- Be specific, not vague. If something needs to be done in a specific way then tell people that for goodness’ sake! Don’t ever expect others to read your mind.
- Give context for the task you need done. Understanding the reason behind certain projects or tasks will help your employees/subordinates make greater sense of what needs to be done.
- Make allowances for different learning styles. Experts have identified seven different learning styles: Visual, auditory, verbal, physical, logical, social and solitary. Make sure you understand the learning needs of the people on your team and provide them instructions in a manner that’s going to best suit them.
- Don’t micromanage. It’s often tempting to think that everything should be done exactly the way you would have done it yourself. Instead, understand that people will respond best if they have room to use their own preferred styles and methods. And, hard as it may be, you also need to leave them room to fail from time to time.
There’s an enormous payoff for becoming better with instructions. Acing the act of following and giving instructions can simplify what you have to do, increase your effectiveness, eliminate confusion, and save time. All wins – no losses.
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Need some help developing a sustainable writing routine? Learn more about my Get It Done program. The group is now full but there is turn-over each month, and priority will go to those who have applied first. This would be a terrific program to start in the new year! You can go directly to the application form and you’ll hear back from me within 24 hours.
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My video podcast last week addressed how to deal with supply chain problems in publishing. Or, see the transcript, and consider subscribing to my YouTube channel. If you have a question about writing you’d like me to address, be sure to send it to me by email, Twitter or Skype and I’ll try to answer it in the podcast.
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How’s your skill at following directions? What tricks do you use? We can all learn from each other so, please, share your thoughts with my readers and me in the “comments” section below. Anyone who comments on today’s post (or any others) by Nov. 30/21 will be put in a draw for a digital copy of my first book, 8 1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better. Please, scroll down to the comments, directly underneath the “related posts” links, below. Note that you don’t have to join Disqus to post. See here to learn how to post as a guest. It’s easy!
How to take medicine before meals, after meals: rules for taking medications
author: DOC.
UA take any medications yourself, try to keep at least half an hour between doses."]]
[[blockquote text="Failure to follow a doctor's prescription can lead to poor health, longer recovery, unwanted side effects, psychoactive use disorders substances and other serious health conditions requiring intensive treatment."]]
[[doctor text="Make an appointment with the doctor"]]
If you are sick, medicines can help you feel better and get better. However, if you do not follow the instructions, medication can only do harm. By carefully adhering to the instructions in the medication instructions or the prescription that the doctor wrote out, you can avoid side effects and other negative consequences. About how to take pills correctly and about the main mistakes in 0014 how to take pills we tell in the article.
Basic rules for taking pills
How to take pills correctly?
- Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
- Follow a medication schedule.
- Read the instructions carefully.
- Take medicines with water only.
- Take the prescribed amount of medicine.
- Store medicines properly.
Before, during and after meals - how is it?
Before meals or after - is there a difference?
Medicines may be taken before, after, with or without food. Some do not understand while eating is like? Indeed, if in the understanding of the majority, food is porridge with a cutlet and compote, then for the doctor and our body, daily snacks in the form of a banana, apple or snack are also a full meal. After all, when they are used, the stomach secretes enzymes and hydrochloric acid, and all digestion processes occur in the same way as when digesting more “serious” food.
4.9
Olga Yurievna Krushenitskaya
Doctor of the second category
Olga Yurievna is highly qualified and experienced in clinical practice as a family doctor, so the doctor successfully copes with the treatment of pathologies and disorders in the activity of the heart and blood vessels, bronchopulmonary system, and digestive organs etc.
Faith Hope Love
st. Politekhnicheskaya, 25/29 on the map
Solomenskiy m. Polytechnic Institute
450 UAH
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Why some tablets should be drunk after eating, or between food, or between food, or between food, or between meals is how? Drugs that must be taken after meals usually irritate the stomach lining or are taken to normalize digestion.
How long after a meal are the tablets taken? Usually 30 minutes to one hour.
Therefore, if the drug is to be taken before meals, in most cases this means taking the drug on an empty stomach with a further interval of at least 30 minutes before meals. “Drink pills on an empty stomach” is how? Ideally, at least two hours after meals and one hour before meals. This is necessary so that the drug, upon entering the stomach, is not exposed to the action of gastric juice, and therefore does not lose its properties.
How to take tablets if written with food? Medicines that are taken with food have only individual exceptions related to the type of food with which they can be mixed. The doctor must inform the patient about them. For example, some antidepressants are forbidden to be taken with cheese, as it contains a substance such as tyramine, which, when interacting with drugs for depression, leads to a sharp increase in pressure.
Correct doses and amounts of medicines
It is important to take only the dosage indicated on the prescription or other instructions.
Dosage is carefully determined by your doctor and may depend on your age, weight, kidney and liver health, and other health conditions. Usually, doctors, when prescribing a treatment regimen, describe in detail which drug, when to take, from which it becomes clear whether they can be taken together. If your doctor has not told you this, be sure to ask him how to take the medicine.
Remember that if you are self-administering any medications, try to keep at least half an hour between doses.
This is necessary because, in our understanding, taking a handful of pills is absolutely normal, although even today medicine has not studied all the options for drug interactions. Moreover, vitamin complexes, dietary supplements and herbs are also pharmacologically active substances and can enter into various reactions with the pills we take for the same colds, coughs and other things. Such a "medicated smoothie" at best will simply be ineffective and "transit" will pass through your body.
Another option may be the development of adverse reactions, starting with allergies, ending with an ulcer or gastritis.
How long should I take the tablets?
When a doctor tells us to take medicine, such as 1 tablet 2 times a day, we take it as 2 doses within 16-17 hours of the time we are awake. Doctors mean 24 hours.
Check with your doctor about the exact time of taking the medicine prescribed for you, for example, 2 times a day, how is that? If the appointment sheet says 8:00 and 20:00 or 10:00 and 22:00 there will be no misunderstandings, the same is true with how to drink pills 3 times a day or how to drink pills 4 times a day.
And this is not due to the fact that taking medicines is more inconvenient for you, but the fact that the body works not only when we are awake, but also when we sleep.
Therefore, if the doctor prescribes the drug 2, 3, 4 times a day, the interval between taking the pills should be 12, 8 and 6 hours, respectively, and not the time when it is convenient for us or when we remember that we need to take a pill .
The most common mistakes when taking pills
Basic errors in the rules for taking medicines:
- Improper storage.
- Use of expired drugs.
- Use of pills in handfuls for other purposes.
- Using tea, coffee, juice to take medicine.
- Dividing drugs into parts.
- Incorrect combination of medicine and food.
- Wrong receive multiplicity.
Medication irregularity
Medications should be taken regularly to ensure that an effective amount is always present in the body. When medications are taken haphazardly without following the algorithm, their blood levels can become too low to effectively fight the disease, for example, stop the virus from multiplying. This gives the virus a chance to mutate and become resistant to the drug. How to take medicines correctly, what interval between taking the pills should be and the exact time of taking the medicines should be prescribed by your doctor.
Failure to follow a doctor's instructions can lead to poor health, longer recovery, unwanted side effects, substance use disorders, and other serious health conditions requiring intensive care.
Off-label dosage selection
When you are taking any medication, it is important that you stick to the correct dose as much as possible. There are several reasons for this drug rule.
- Overdose. Medicines are beneficial when used correctly, but harmful when taken in excess. For example, even a simple aspirin at very high doses can cause dangerous bleeding. An overdose can lead not only to poor health, but also to death.
- Speed of action. Just because the directions say to take one tablet three times a day doesn't mean you can take three tablets first thing in the morning and then forget about it for the rest of the day. Different drugs take different times to enter your body and begin to work.
Some take time to take effect, while others act very quickly. If you do not adhere to the dosage, the medicine can give away all its healing properties at once, or it can greatly harm your body. - Insufficient dosage. Taking too much medicine can be dangerous, but too little is not much better. The correct dose of the drug was designed so that a certain amount of the drug would give the desired result. If you take less, it may not work at all. How to take medicine? For example, if you take the wrong amount of painkillers, you may not have enough medicine to relieve your pain. If you are taking antibiotics, not taking enough can allow the bacteria to become resistant to the drug over time.
Unsolicited pills with your doctor
Taking over-the-counter or prescription drugs without first consulting your doctor may seem like it will save you time and money, but in the long run it can be much more expensive for your health. The consequences of self-medication can be potentially life-threatening.
These risks of self-medication include: incorrect self-diagnosis, delays in seeking medical attention when needed, serious adverse reactions, dangerous drug interactions, incorrect route of drug administration, incorrect dosage and choice of therapy, masking a serious illness, and the risk of addiction and drug abuse.
4.8
Bilous Maria Nikolaevna
Doctor of the highest category
Maria Nikolaevna - family doctor, therapist, gastroenterologist with a long work experience, sees adults and children from 10 years old. Treats such diseases as: hypertension, coronary heart disease, pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, gastritis, cholecystitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic colitis, chronic pyelonephritis, cystitis, type II diabetes mellitus, osteochondrosis, arthritis.
Private office of a family doctor, therapist, gastroenterologist Bilous M.N.
Consultation of a general practitioner (family doctor) - 500 UAH.
Consultation of a general practitioner (family doctor) online 500 UAH. Consultation of a gastroenterologist - 500 UAH
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Dneprovsky. Livoberezhna
500 UAH
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If you have any symptoms of illness or if you feel unwell, be sure to seek medical help. Only a qualified specialist will be able to explain how to drink the medicine correctly, choose the right medicines and their doses, and prescribe the treatment. Do not forget that trying to cure one yourself, you can ruin another.
Help DOC.ua : You can sign up for a consultation with a general practitioner on the website.
Instructions to the population on actions in case of emergencies and incidents
Home / Protection of the population from emergencies / Instructions to the population on actions in emergency situations and incidents
Instructions to the population on actions in case of emergencies and incidents
1.
Actions of the population at the signal: "ATTENTION EVERYONE!"
To protect yourself and your loved ones during emergencies, you must remember the actions to be taken when this signal is given.
Signal "ATTENTION ALL!" is served by turning on city and industrial sirens, industrial and transport beeps, as well as other signaling means.
Having heard the signal, you must turn on the TV or radio and listen to an emergency message about the current situation and the procedure for the population.
In places where, due to the distance, the sound of sirens is not heard and there are no loudspeakers of the central radio broadcasting, the ATTENTION ALL signal and voice information will be transmitted by special vehicles equipped with a public address system.
Having fully listened to and understood the speech information, it is necessary to follow all the recommendations. If you have not fully listened to the speech information, then do not rush to turn off the radio or TV, the information will be repeated again.
Remember that first of all you need to take with you documents, money and, if possible, a supply of food and drinking water for a day, packed in a waterproof package or bag.
Inform the neighbors - they may not have heard the information being transmitted.
Stop immediately any manifestations of panic and rumors.
2. Actions of the population during emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is carried out in fleeting emergencies, with a lack of time.
Time is the most important factor in this situation.
Having received a notice of the beginning of the evacuation, each citizen is obliged to: collect all the necessary documents (passport, military ID, documents on education and specialty, work book, marriage and birth certificates for children, insurance policies, money), a set of outerwear and shoes for the season ( warm clothes should also be taken in the summer), a three-day supply of food and immediately leave for the collection and evacuation point, the location of which will be indicated in the emergency information.
In all cases, with the most fleeting event, the withdrawal (evacuation) must be organized, not to allow a stampede, spontaneity.
2.1. Actions of the population during evacuation in wartime
Evacuation is carried out as soon as possible in a combined way (i.e. by all modes of transport, including in person and on foot) through prefabricated evacuation points (BOT) according to the territorial and production principle (evacuation of workers, employees and members of their families is carried out according to production principle, that is, by enterprises.The evacuation of the population not associated with production is carried out through housing maintenance bodies). Children are evacuated together with their parents (with the head of the family).
Preparation for evacuation:
It is necessary to clarify in advance the number of the assembly evacuation point, its address, telephone number, method of evacuation.
When going to the collection point after receiving the evacuation notice, you must:
close windows, vents, gas and water shut-off valves, turn off the electricity;
have a passport, and other necessary documents, money;
with you to have clothes for the season, linen, bedding, shoes are preferable - rubber, food and drinking water for 2-3 days, necessary medicines;
for young children, sew on white fabric tags (on the inside of the clothes under the collar) indicating the last name, first name and patronymic of the child, year of birth, place of residence and place of work of the father and mother.
The weight of luggage taken with you must be within 50 kg. per family member. Attach a tag with the name and address to each piece of baggage.
Upon arrival at the collection point:
Check in, clarify: the method of evacuation, the time of departure to the final destination, who is the head of the column.
Find out the place of landing on transport, the place of formation of a convoy of private vehicles or the formation of a convoy and the route of movement.
Follow the landing in an organized manner under the guidance of seniors.
En route:
When following on foot or in transport, follow the rules of conduct and follow the instructions of the elders.
When moving on foot, observe the discipline of the march during movement and safety measures.
When following transport, observe safety measures, do not leave it without the permission of the elder.
Upon arrival at the evacuation point:
Check in at the reception point and, accompanied by a senior, depart to the accommodation point.
Evacuees do not have the right to independently, without the permission of local evacuation authorities, choose points and places for residence and move from one area to another.
2.2. Actions of the population during evacuation in emergency situations of peacetime
Evacuation is one of the ways to protect the population during natural disasters, major industrial accidents and catastrophes.
Evacuation consists in the organized withdrawal (export) of the population from large cities, other settlements and its placement in safe areas, as well as the withdrawal (export) of the population from areas of possible catastrophic flooding, areas that are threatened, snow drifts, major fires and other natural disasters . The local administration of self-government bodies announces the beginning of the evacuation to the population.
Having received a notice of the beginning of the evacuation, each citizen is obliged to: collect all the necessary documents and things, a passport, a military ID, documents on education and specialty, a work book, marriage and birth certificates for children, insurance policies, money, available personal protective equipment, clothing and shoes adapted to protect the skin, an individual first-aid kit and other medicines, a set of outerwear and shoes according to the season (in summer it is necessary to take warm clothes), bed linen and toiletries, a three-day supply of food.
Put products and things in suitcases, backpacks, bags or wrap them in bundles for convenience, carrying and transportation, attach a tag to each carried item indicating the last name and initials, address of residence and final destination of evacuation.
The clothes and underwear of preschool children must be embroidered indicating the last name, first name, patronymic of the child, year of birth, place of permanent residence and final destination of evacuation.
When leaving the apartment, it is necessary to turn off all lighting and heating devices, close the taps of the water and gas network, windows and air vents. By the deadline, arrive at the evacuation point for registration and sending to temporary accommodation.
On the way, it is necessary to follow the established procedure, strictly follow the orders of the senior group, quickly and competently act on warning signals.
The public is warned about the threat of flooding. From places threatened by flooding, the population is evacuated in advance.
Before leaving the houses, everything that can be spoiled by water is transferred to the upper floors, gas and electricity are turned off. It is necessary to remove household equipment to safe places, close (upholster if necessary) the windows and doors of the first floors of houses with boards and plywood. Having taken with him documents (putting in a waterproof bag), money and valuables, a first-aid kit (medicines), a set of outerwear and shoes for the season, warm underwear, toiletries, a supply of food for several days (things and products should be put in suitcases, backpacks, bags), evacuees arrive at the collection points by the indicated routes (usually the shortest) by the set time for registration and departure to safe areas. Upon arrival at the final point of evacuation, registration is carried out and accommodation in places of temporary residence is organized.
In case of a flash flood, it is necessary to take the nearest safe elevated place as soon as possible and be ready for an organized evacuation by water using various watercraft.
During landing, the boat or other means must be secured. You should enter the boat one at a time, stepping on the middle of the flooring. Sit down - at the direction of the elder. During the movement, you can not change places, get on board the boat. Once in the water, you should immediately swim to the nearest unflooded place. It is better to swim at an angle to the current, gradually approaching the shore. You need to be very careful not to hit objects hidden under water or floating nearby. In water-filled bushes, thick tall grass, you should not make sudden movements - you can get confused. In this case, it is better to swim on your back. When a cramp appears in the leg, straighten it and pull the thumb towards you.
Seeing a drowning person, you need to swim up to him from behind, making sure that he does not grab his legs, arms, neck or torso and does not pull him into the depths. You can take it by the collar, head, forearms, arms or armpits, turning it face up. You should swim with a drowning person on your side or back, working with your feet and free hand.
On a boat, a drowning person is approached against the current, and it is best to raise him from the stern. If there are several people in the water, first of all they pick up those who need immediate help, the rest are given life-saving equipment.
It is important not to panic, not to lose self-control, to take measures that allow rescuers to detect in a timely manner the presence of people cut off by water and in need of help. During daylight hours, this is achieved by hanging a white or colored cloth on a high place, and at night - by giving light signals. Until the arrival of help, those who find themselves in the flood zone should remain on the upper floors and roofs of buildings, trees, and other elevated places.
It is necessary to stay in safe places until the water subsides.
For self-evacuation, you can use boats, boats, rafts made of logs and other improvised materials. In case of flooding, you should not continue driving in a car, on a motorcycle, a raging stream of water can overturn them, it is better to leave the vehicle.
After the water has subsided, beware of torn and sagging electrical wires, it is strictly forbidden to use food that has fallen into the water, and to use water without an appropriate sanitary check.
Before entering a dwelling after a flood, precautions must be taken: doors and windows must first be opened for ventilation, and before that, open fire must not be used (explosive concentration of gases is possible), it is forbidden to turn on lighting and other electrical consumers until the electrical networks are checked.
4. Actions of the population in case of fire
At the first sign of a fire (smoke, burning smell, reflections of flame, etc.), call the unified duty dispatch service by phone 01 or 112 and report the fire (in this case, you must give the address, the place of the fire and your last name).
When leaving the room, it is recommended to close all windows and doors in order to prevent the entry of fresh air into the room as much as possible.
To prevent fire from spreading to your apartment from the underlying or neighboring floors, it is also necessary to close all windows and balcony doors (especially if you leave the apartment for a long time).
In the event of a fire, get out quickly or to a safe place.
In this situation:
do not panic and correctly assess the situation;
try to determine where the fire occurred, if on the higher floors, then go outside along the stairwell, closing all windows and doors in your apartment. If there is a high temperature and dense smoke in the stairwell, get down on all fours and visually determine whether you can evacuate in these conditions or not. At the same time, try to protect the respiratory organs with a wet rag through which you need to breathe in order to avoid burning the lungs.
In the event that escape routes are cut off by smoke and fire, all possible measures must be taken to make you known. To this end, you need to go to the balcony or open the window and call for help with your voice.
If the TV catches fire, you must immediately disconnect it from the mains, and then extinguish it with water through the upper ventilation holes of the rear wall (stand on the side). You can first throw a thick blanket over the TV so that the fire does not spread, for example, to the curtains, and then extinguish the fire with water or a household fire extinguisher.
In case of a fire in an apartment, if there is no fire extinguisher, improvised means can be: a dense cloth (preferably wet) and water. Curtains that catch fire must be torn down and trampled or thrown into the bathtub, pouring water over it. You can also extinguish blankets, pillows. Do not open windows, as the fire with the flow of oxygen flares up more strongly. For the same reason, it is necessary to carefully open the room in which the fire started.
When leaving the apartment, you need to make sure that no one is left in it.
When evacuating from premises during a fire, never use elevators, as they are turned off as a result of a disruption in the normal operation of electrical networks.
If a fire caught you in a forested area, warn the people around you. Try to get out of the smoke zone immediately. If it is not possible to get away from the fire, enter a body of water or cover yourself with wet clothing while continuing to move away from the fire. If there is no body of water nearby, try to moisten a rag and cover your respiratory organs. When leaving the smoke zone, breathe closer to the ground (the air is cleaner below).
5. Public actions during a hurricane
Received a message about an approaching hurricane:
Close tightly windows, shutters, doors, attic (ventilation) hatches.
From loggias, balconies (if they are not glazed), remove objects that can be thrown off by gusts of wind.
Items located in the courtyards of private houses, fasten or bring into the room, put out the fire in the stoves.
If a hurricane caught you outside, take cover in a sturdy nearby building (shops, libraries, shopping centers, clinics, etc.
), in underpasses, ravines, gullies, and other natural shelters.
A hurricane can be accompanied by a thunderstorm, so avoid situations in which the likelihood of lightning strikes increases: do not take cover under isolated trees, do not approach power line pylons.
In the city, stay away from metal fences and anything made of metal.
Do not seek refuge in depressions among piles of stones.
Feeling the characteristic tickling of the skin, as well as the fact that your hair is standing on end, know that lightning will strike in your vicinity. Without hesitation, throw yourself face down on the ground - this will reduce the risk of your defeat.
If you are in a car, stay in it. The metal body of the car will protect you even if lightning strikes directly into it.
6. Actions of the population in case of snow drifts
Winter manifestations of the elemental forces of nature are often expressed as snow drifts as a result of snowfalls and snowstorms.
Snowfalls, which can last from 16 to 24 hours, have a strong impact on the economic activity of the population, especially in rural areas. The negative impact of this phenomenon is exacerbated by blizzards (blizzards, snowstorms), in which visibility deteriorates sharply, transport communication, both intracity and intercity, is interrupted. Snowfall with rain at low temperatures and hurricane winds creates conditions for icing of power lines, communications, contact networks of electric transport, as well as the roofs of buildings, various supports and structures, which often causes their destruction.
With the announcement of a storm warning (warning of possible snow drifts), it is necessary to limit movement, especially in rural areas, to create the necessary supply of food, water and fuel at home. In some areas, with the onset of the winter period, it is necessary to stretch ropes along the streets, between houses, helping pedestrians navigate in a strong snowstorm and overcome strong winds.
Snowdrifts are especially dangerous for people caught on the way far from human habitation. Snow-covered roads, loss of visibility, cause complete disorientation on the ground.
When driving a car, you should not try to overcome snow drifts, you must stop, completely close the blinds of the car, cover the engine from the side of the radiator. If possible, the car should be installed with the engine in the windward direction. Periodically, you need to get out of the car, shovel the snow so as not to be buried under it. In addition, a car not covered with snow is a good guide for the search party. The car engine must be periodically warmed up to avoid its “defrosting”. When warming up the car, it is important to prevent exhaust gases from flowing into the cab (body, interior); to this end, it is important to ensure that the exhaust pipe is not covered with snow.
If there are several people on the road together (in several cars), it is advisable to get everyone together and use one car as a shelter; water must be drained from the engines of other vehicles.
In no case should you leave the shelter - the car: in a heavy snowfall (blizzard), landmarks, it would seem, reliable at first glance, after a few tens of meters can be lost.
In rural areas, with the receipt of a storm warning, it is urgent to prepare the required amount of food and water for animals.
Before going outside, refrain from shoes with heels. Use shoes with flat soles, prepare them for ice. To do this, you must use special heels or stick an adhesive plaster on a dry sole. Move carefully, stepping on the entire sole, while the legs should be slightly relaxed. Older people are advised to use a cane with a rubber tip.
8. Actions of the population during a thunderstorm
In conditions of the beginning of a thunderstorm, close windows, ventilation openings (chimneys). If possible, turn off the power to household appliances and do not use them during a thunderstorm. If a thunderstorm caught you in the forest, then go to a stunted area of \u200b\u200bthe forest, do not approach and do not cling to tall trees (especially pines, oaks and poplars).
If you are in a body of water, go ashore immediately. In thunderstorm conditions, do not lie down on the ground, it is better to squat down. If a thunderstorm has caught you in the car, close the windows and lower the radio antenna, do not get out of the car.
9. Water safety measures
Every person should remember that swimming in unknown reservoirs and unexplored places is dangerous!
The bathing place should have a flat, sandy bottom, free from plants and silt, without sharp cliffs near the shore.
Those who know how to swim and dive well should make sure that there are no sunken trees, old piles, snags, sharp stones (both at depth and at the surface of the water) in the water and, moreover, close to the shore.
In the bathing area, especially on rivers, there should be no strong currents, whirlpools, cold underwater springs, which can lead to cramps in the legs and arms.
Attention! There are sunken trees, old piles, snags, sharp stones, stone ridges and individual boulders in unequipped recreation areas at water bodies, often hidden by a small layer of water and located in the most unexpected places, including far from the coast.
All citizens resting near water bodies must follow the basic rules of conduct. On beaches and other places of recreation, swimmers in water bodies are prohibited from:
swim in places where billboards (full houses) with warning and prohibition signs and inscriptions are displayed, swim behind buoys marking the boundaries of navigation and the sanitary zone of reservoirs;
swim up to motor, sailing, rowing boats and other watercraft;
jump into the water from cutters, boats, moorings, as well as structures that are not adapted for these purposes;
pollute and litter water bodies and shores;
drink alcohol, swim in a state of alcoholic and drug intoxication;
bring and bathe dogs and other animals to people's recreation areas at water bodies;
leave garbage on the shore, in places for changing clothes;
give false alarms;
play with the ball and other sports games in places not designated for this purpose,
to prevent actions related to diving and capturing swimmers;
swim on boards, logs, deck chairs, car inner tubes, air mattresses and other means not adapted for this;
to fish in swimming areas;
enter the recreation area for people at water bodies by all types of vehicles.
It is strictly forbidden to use small boats (including jet skis) in the bathing areas.
Swimming training for people should take place in specially designated areas under the guidance of a qualified instructor. In group training, the size of the group should not exceed 10 people. The group must be supervised by a lifeguard and a medical worker.
Every citizen is obliged to provide all possible assistance to people in distress on the water.
Adults should pay special attention to children while relaxing on the pond!
Adults are obliged to prevent children from swimming in unverified and unidentified places, swimming on unsuitable means, playing and pranks in the water and other violations of water safety rules. Bathing of children, especially minors, is carried out under the continuous supervision of adults.
In children's health camps and other children's institutions located near water bodies, a bathing area for children (beach) should, if possible, be selected from a gently sloping sandy shore without cliffs to a depth of 2 meters.
On the beaches of a children's institution, areas are equipped for teaching swimming to children of preschool and primary school age with a depth of no more than 0.7 meters, as well as for older children - with a depth of no more than 1.2 meters. Children who cannot swim must bathe separately. In places up to 2 meters deep, it is allowed to swim well for children aged 12 years and older.
Bathing of children is allowed in groups of no more than 10 people and a duration of no more than 10 minutes. The responsibility for the safety of children rests with the swimming instructor.
While bathing children on the site is prohibited:
bathing and finding strangers;
boating and boating on the beach;
host games and sporting events.
It is strictly forbidden to go out on the ice during autumn and spring. As well as the departure of vehicles on the ice during the freeze-up and off-season (autumn, spring). Movement on ice is carried out only in places of established, maintained ice crossings, information about which is specially published in the media.
When falling through the ice, try to get rid of shoes and outerwear. Take a deep breath, spread your arms as wide as possible and put them on the edge of the hole, call for help. When moving out of the polynya, make sliding movements on the ice with your hands, try to swim onto the ice floe. Don't stop moving until you're out of the water.
10. Actions of the population in emergency situations associated with the release (spill) of emergency chemically hazardous substances (AHOV)
Hearing the signal "ATTENTION ALL!" turn on the radio and TV for reliable information about the accident and recommended actions.
Close windows, turn off appliances and gas. Put on, if available, rubber boots, a raincoat, take documents, necessary warm clothes, a supply of non-perishable food, notify your neighbors and quickly, but without panic, leave the zone of possible infection perpendicular to the direction of the wind.
To protect the respiratory organs, use a gas mask, and in its absence, a cotton-gauze bandage or improvised fabric items soaked in water, a 2-5% solution of baking soda (to protect against chlorine), a 2% solution of lemon or acetic acids (to protect against ammonia).
If it is not possible to leave the contaminated area, close doors, windows, vents and chimneys tightly. Seal the gaps in them with paper or tape. Close the windows with sheets soaked in water. Do not take shelter in basements and semi-basements in case of accidents with chlorine (it is 2 times heavier than air). In case of accidents with ammonia, it is necessary to take shelter on the lower floors of buildings (ammonia is 1.6 times lighter than air).
11. Actions of the population in case of radioactive contamination
Upon receiving a Radiation Alert, do the following immediately:
Take shelter in houses. It is important to know that the walls of wooden houses weaken ionizing radiation by 2 times, and brick houses by 10 times! Deep shelters (basements) weaken the radiation dose even more: with a wooden coating by 7 times, with brick or concrete by 40-100 times.
Take protective measures against penetration into the apartment (house) of radioactive substances with air: close the windows, seal the frames and doorways.
Make a supply of drinking water: draw water into closed containers, prepare the simplest sanitary products (soap solutions for hand treatment), turn off the taps.
Carry out emergency iodine prophylaxis (only after special notification!). Iodine prophylaxis consists in taking potassium iodide or a water-alcohol solution of iodine. This achieves a high degree of protection against the accumulation of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland. Potassium iodide should be taken after meals with water once a day for 7 days:
children under two years old - 1-2 drops of 5% tincture per 100 ml of milk or nutrient mixture;
children older than two years and adults - 3-5 drops per glass of water.
Start preparing for a possible evacuation. Prepare documents and money, essentials, pack the medicines that you constantly take, a minimum of linen and clothes. Gather a supply of available canned foods, milk for children for 2-3 days. The collected things should be packed in plastic bags or bags and placed in a room that is most protected from external pollution (pantry, dark rooms).
Try to follow the following rules:
use only tinned milk and food products stored indoors and not exposed to radioactive contamination. Do not drink milk from cows that continue to graze in contaminated fields;
do not eat vegetables that grew in the open field and are plucked after the start of the release of radioactive substances into the environment;
do not drink water from open sources and from the water supply after the official announcement of the radiation hazard;
avoid long-term movements on a contaminated area, especially on a dusty road or grass, do not go to the forest, refrain from swimming in nearby water bodies;
change shoes when entering the room from the street (“dirty” shoes should be left on the landing).
In the case of movement in open areas, it is necessary to use improvised means of protection:
respiratory organs - cover your mouth and nose with a gauze bandage moistened with water, a handkerchief, a towel or any part of clothing;
skin and hairline - cover with any items of clothing, hats, scarves, capes, gloves.
If you absolutely must go outside, we recommend that you wear rubber boots.
Strict implementation of these recommendations significantly reduce the radiation load on the body. The experience of eliminating accidents at nuclear power plants has shown the high efficiency of the recommended measures.
12. Transport safety measures
Domestic and foreign experience shows that public transport is often attacked by terrorists. To avoid danger or reduce possible damage in the event of a terrorist attack, you must follow simple rules:
Notify the driver, police officers or station attendants of suspicious objects or suspicious persons found.
Those who are too flashy, wear a lot of jewelry or wear military-style clothing and camouflage colors are more likely to become the target of an attack.
In order not to make yourself a target of terrorist fanatics, avoid political discussions, defiant reading of religious or pornographic publications.
If your vehicle is hijacked, try not to draw the terrorists' attention to you.
In the event of an assault, it is safest to lie on the floor, and if this is not possible, it is necessary to stay away from the windows.
12.1. On buses
Carefully inspect the interior to make sure there are no suspicious objects and personalities, and also remember where emergency exits, fire extinguishers are located;
Pay attention to all suspicious persons and suspicious objects, immediately inform the driver or conductor about their discovery;
Do not use a mobile phone near suspicious items that could be explosive devices;
Try not to sleep while driving;
Do not talk about political, religious topics;
Dress neutrally, discreetly, avoid a lot of jewelry, camouflage uniforms;
Don't drink alcohol;
If an explosion or fire occurs, cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief and lie down on the cabin floor so as not to suffocate;
If you feel that an assault is imminent, try to stay away from windows so as not to interfere with snipers shooting at terrorists.
When assaulting, it is best to lie on the floor and not move;
If the bus is hijacked, follow all the instructions of the terrorists, don't look them in the eye, don't try to engage in conversation with them, BUT try to remember all the details of the event
12.2. Airplane
If possible, take direct flights with no stopovers.
Leave the plane at intermediate landings. During such a stay, as experience shows, terrorists can try to break aboard. It is better to travel with direct flights, without stops
Try not to draw too much attention to yourself: do not read religious, political or erotic publications, do not discuss relevant topics. Choose discreet clothing, different colors and cuts from the military, keep jewelry to a minimum, avoid alcohol
If the plane is already hijacked, remember that any pause or delay plays in favor of the hostages.
Do not try to resist - there may be an accomplice of terrorists on the plane who can set off an explosive device.
Follow the instructions of the terrorists, give them the things they require.
Do not look them in the eye, do not react to their behavior, even if it seems to you excessively defiant. Try not to draw their attention to you, especially those who seem to be the most dangerous.
Do not respond to provocative and defiant behavior.
Do not make sudden movements, do not raise your voice. If you are going to move or take something out of your bag or briefcase, ask permission.
If shooting starts, in no case do not run anywhere, lie on the floor, take cover behind the seat.
Assault, as a rule, occurs very quickly. In this case, it is important not to move, lie on the floor, and follow the requirements of the capture group. You should not rush towards the special forces - those who at such a moment remain standing or hold objects similar to weapons in their hands are perceived by the special forces as terrorists.
You can leave the plane only after the appropriate order, while you should not waste time looking for clothes or personal belongings - terrorists can leave behind an explosive device.
12.3. On the train
Try to buy tickets for the carriages in the middle of the train.
Provided that the seats on the train are seated, those located opposite the movement of the train are preferred.
If fellow travelers make you distrustful, try not to fall asleep.
Do not turn off the light in the compartment, keep the door closed.
General rules to help you minimize the danger are as follows:
If possible, it is better to take seats in the carriages in the middle of the train, as they suffer less in case of accidents than the rest
If you find things left by someone, do not touch them, but notify the police or the subway about this. In any case, it is better to stay as far away from suspicious things as possible. In addition, it should be remembered that it is better to stand than to sit in the subway car, as explosive devices can be hidden under the seats.
If an explosion occurs as a result of a terrorist attack and the train stops in a tunnel, the following rules must be used:
Open the car door, but in no case try to leave it immediately.
This can only be done after the contact rail has been disconnected. The fact that the voltage is off, and in which direction to move, must be reported by the driver.
Avoid touching the metal parts of the car. If the tunnel is filled with smoke, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth and try to lie down on the floor of the car. This will help keep you from suffocating.
If circumstances permit, wait for rescuers.
13. If they shoot
Unfortunately, incidents with the use of firearms have become more frequent on the streets of our cities. Shooting may not necessarily be related to terrorism: it may be criminal, domestic or hooligan actions.
Hearing shots in the street, we rush to the window to see what is happening there, forgetting that we ourselves may become a victim of a stray bullet or a sniper. So if you hear gunfire:
Do not stand at the window, do not let students near it, even if it is closed with curtains.
Do not rise above the level of the windowsill, even if you are carrying a child.
Do not allow students to enter a room where gunshots are heard from.
If you come across strangers, and then you stumble upon a wounded person, help the victim, call the police and an ambulance.
If the shooting caught you on the street, lie down on the ground and try to crawl behind cover (corner of the house, flower bed, stop), if there is none nearby, cover your head with your hands and lie still. When everything calms down, you can climb up and, by changing the route, get to your destination.
Schoolchildren should always have a label sewn on their clothes with their name, surname, and contact phone number, as well as medical contraindications, if any.
14. When traveling abroad
When preparing your trip, special attention should be paid to the history, religious practices and geography of your destination. Write down the phone numbers of the consulate, embassy and local emergency number in your notebook. Also ask if any mass celebrations are planned during your trip, or, on the contrary, mourning ceremonies in the country where you are going, if terrorist attacks are expected in connection with this.
Also keep an eye out for announcements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which warns citizens about countries that are not completely safe to visit.
At airports and train stations, observe the following precautions:
Take a seat in the waiting room with your back to the wall. So you can see everything that is happening around.
Don't take window seats.
Stand or sit near pillars, poles, or other obstacles that can provide cover in case of danger.
Look around, fix possible places where you can hide.
Lock your luggage so that no one can plant drugs or an explosive device on you.
If a stranger asks you to carry any object on board the aircraft, refuse and inform security immediately.
Never stand by luggage left unattended. It may contain an explosive device. Stay away from trash cans, telephone booths, and other items that could contain an explosive device.
If you have any suspicions, report them to the airport security staff without hesitation.
