PREPAREDNESS QUICK TIP #14:
KNOW YOUR EXITS
Typically, you hear this kind of talk from those in the military, police or some guy on the run from the mob. You know, that guy who always sits alone in a restaurant, back to the wall, facing the exit? But it’s an important Preparedness Quick Tip you can do without having to make friends with Vinnie the Shark.
No matter where you are, you should always know where the exits are. Not so that you can run from Vinnie when he shows up with his associates (and what exactly did you do to get their attention!?), but in case an emergency arises where you need to be able to escape a room quickly. One of the biggest causes of injury during an emergency is the panic that happens when people don’t know where to go, and they race around and are injured, or escalate their injuries.
If you are in an office building and there is a fire, if you’ve familiarized yourself with where the exits are, you have a better chance of escaping the chaos. If you’re in a crowded room and a shooter enters, you have a better chance of escaping if you know where to go instead of freezing. This is one of the reasons you get the big speech during pre-flight on airlines, and they make sure you know how to find the exits.
And, if you’re the kind of person that has a man named Vinnie the Shark wanting to become your shadow, knowing where the other exits are so you can run. Run really fast.
• READ MORE: PREPAREDNESS QUICK TIPS COMPLETE LIST
Katy Willis is a writer, lifelong homesteader, and master herbalist, master gardener, and canine nutritionist. Katy is a preparedness expert and modern homesteader practicing everyday preparedness, sustainability, and a holistic lifestyle.
She knows how important it is to be prepared for whatever life throws at you, because you just never know what's coming. And preparedness helps you give your family the best chance to thrive in any situation.
Katy is passionate about living naturally, growing food, keeping livestock, foraging, and making and using herbal remedies. Katy is an experienced herbalist and a member of the CMA (Complementary Medical Association).
Her preparedness skills go beyond just being "ready", she's ready to survive the initial disaster, and thrive afterward, too. She grows 100% organic food on roughly 15 acres and raises goats, chickens, and ducks. She also lovingly tends her orchard, where she grows many different fruit trees. And, because she likes to know exactly what she's feeding her family, she's a seasoned from-scratch cook and gluten-free baker.
Katy teaches foraging and environmental education classes, too, including self-sufficient living, modern homesteading, seed saving, and organic vegetable gardening.
Katy helps others learn forgotten skills, including basic survival skills and self-reliance.
She's been published on sites such as MSN, Angi, Home Advisor, Family Handyman, Wealth of Geeks, Readers Digest, and more.