How have you prepared to respond in an emergency?
When was a time you had to take immediate, decisive action? Did you? What happened?
Have you ever been unprepared in the face of a crisis—lacked knowledge, confidence, or courage? Has a news item, or knowing a victim, prompted you to prepare for natural disaster, crime, illness, or some other emergency? Why did this make you take action?
Are you a professional first responder? When has someone impressed you with his ability to manage a situation? Do you prepare others for any kind of first response? How do you talk to your children about what an emergency is, and what they should do in case of one? What minimum standards of preparedness are appropriate for adult community members? How can we cultivate men who are able to act quickly, knowledgeably, and with courage?
How has past trauma affected your ability to respond to current danger? What has handling a crisis taught you about your strengths and weaknesses?
What is masculine about being reliable in an emergency? What expectations do people place on you, to protect others from harm? Are these fair or reasonable?
What attributes, networks, knowledge, and other resources do you cultivate that have helped you through an event? How are you a part of other people’s safety nets?
Submissions on the topic of First Responders are now being solicited for an upcoming series on The Good Life. Send your true stories and nonfiction articles to Justin Cascio at justin@goodmenproject.com by Saturday, May 25 [NOTE: CALL EXTENDED] for consideration. Word Docs, Google Docs, and submissions sent in the body of an email are preferred. For more guidance, email Justin with your questions.
Read more Calls For Submissions on The Good Life.
Image credit: Elvert Barnes/Flickr
The post First Responders: 5/11 appeared first on The Good Men Project.
