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I have found that people who feel exposed, panicked, and afraid, feel more comfortable when everyone around them feels exposed, panicked, and afraid.

I have worked in healthcare for nearly forty years, and in that time, have seen the way people react in a crisis, such as a patient whose heart stops for some reason.

(My wife, who worked as a critical care nurse for many years, confirmed that in her line of work, the same behavior patterns express themselves)

When a “code” is called because someone’s heart has stopped, it is not uncommon to see a degree of pandemonium until someone takes control. Many people who don’t run codes for a living, and may not have a lot of experience in that situation, often do the best they can until the real code team shows up, but often, it is to a degree, not as well run.

The point is, if someone enters the room and is in charge, the first order of business is to find out who is running things temporarily, and immediately take charge.

This often involves at least three stages:

Getting control of the scene.

Getting control of the situation.

Taking care of the patient.

Getting control of the scene: When that person shows up with their team, they often size up immediately who is in charge and take over. With experienced people, that takes no time at all. I have heard on more than one occasion: “Okay. Everyone who does not need to be here, leave now.”

Getting control of the situation: Determining the status of the patient, what has been done, what needs to be done, appointing someone to record the actions of the team such as time stamps, drugs administered, and so on.

Taking care of the patient: These patients are often not in full cardiac arrest, and are often terrified. Those patients need someone to comfort and deescalate their fear. I saw my wife in action one time in this role, where she took over the room, immediately got control of the scene, and said directly to the patient in a calm and comforting (but familiar way): “So, you decided to have a bit of chest pain? We’re going to take care of you, you’re in good hands.” The look on this terrified patient’s face was just perfect. The strain left his face, and he looked hopefully up at her as the team formed around her and began work in earnest.

I was so impressed with her. Just that causal way she injected order, got control of the clinical situation, and calmed the patient, as she had been doing for years, and that was the first time I got to see it. I don’t believe we were married yet, but if we hadn’t been, that might have clinched it for me.

What was key in all of this was someone taking control. Someone in charge, who had knowledge and experience, and conveyed that calmness and purpose to everyone around them. Chaos frightens people. Order calms them.

And when you are calm, you are better able to be rational. My wife said her nursing team liked to say “In the event of an emergency, the first thing you should do is take your own pulse.”

I love that saying and keep it close.

So, I think most people are just afraid because there is chaos, and we don’t see anyone, anywhere at this current time who is going to step up and handle an emergency, someone who has taken that first step of checking their own pulse.