‘In times of emergency, panicking is not the solution’

This learning is based on a real scenario my father encountered. He is a mariner and this incident occurred while he was onboard a vessel crossing the Atlantic Ocean, thousands of miles away from shore. It was well past midnight, and my father was attempting to get some rest in his cabin. Suddenly, the fire alarm blared to life, followed by an announcement over the ship’s PA system, indicating that the generator room was on fire.

Instantly, he leaped out of bed and rushed down to the engine room. The crew was swiftly assembling at their designated muster stations, preparing to battle the fire. When my father arrived in the engine room, he quickly assessed the situation: if the fire doesn’t extinguish promptly, it could spell catastrophe for the vessel. The crew members tackling the fire appeared disoriented.

My father took quick action. He identified and closed the fuel line that was leaking and fueling the fire. He guided the crew members to tackle the fire from the opposite side, targeting its source. Through their combined efforts, they managed to steadily bring the fire under control and eventually extinguished it. My father had saved the day!

From this incident, I learned a valuable lesson: In times of emergency, panicking is not the solution. With careful thought and observation, there is mostly a way to find a solution.