We never expect horrible things to happen to us. We watch the news or see the latest bad thing happen on Twitter or Instagram and we usually think, “That could never be me.” Why do we have this idea we are invincible? Often the unfortunate things that happen in life are completely out of our control.
This means it is important to prepare for the worst-case scenarios that could happen to any of us, no matter how unlikely you may think it is on the surface. This could range from how to prepare for a car accident to what to stock up on in case of a natural weather event. There’s no need to be some doomsday or apocalypse truther.
We’re simply going to talk about some of the bad circumstances that are possible no matter who you are or where you live. What are some of the small things you can do to prepare and protect yourself? What can you do to recover from them in case the worst actually does happen to you or your family? Let’s discuss the details.
Preparing for a Fire
Fire hazards are one of the top priorities that need to be attended to in your home. Make sure all sources of fire, especially stoves, are turned off when you leave the room. Turn fans on over the stove so you can prevent smoke buildup in the kitchen. If you plug in a lot of extra appliances while you are cooking, like mixers and blenders, unplug them after you finish.
Always have smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher in your home. Teach everyone in the house how to operate the fire extinguisher.
Ask your local fire department or even a real estate agent what their suggestions are on fire extinguishers and safety features for your home when you buy it. If you’ve lived in your house without an extinguisher, it’s never too late to fix that.
If you do have a fire that destroys part of your property, there are steps you can take to bring your house to life again. Talk to your insurance provider about the damage and how they can help pay for the expenses.
On a positive note, you can redesign the parts of your home you didn’t like much before they were destroyed. Get your interior decorator cap on and enjoy.
Preparing for a Family Death
Nothing rocks a family to its core quite like the sudden passing of a loved one. Whether it’s a parent or a child, the pain is intense no matter who is feeling it. The fallout from death can go in several different directions depending on the family’s living situation.
If you are a parent who loses a child, there is really no way to prepare for such a tragedy on an emotional level. There are a few steps you can take to try and prevent such an event from taking place.
If you have a child who is unfortunately diagnosed with cancer, try to get in contact with a children’s hospital like St. Jude’s. They don’t charge for any of the expenses that will be incurred during your hospital stay, and they have been trusted in pediatric care for decades.
Sometimes your kids will inflict pain on themselves. How can you help your teenager if they are developing a drug problem? What if your son or daughter becomes suicidal? Always call the suicide hotline if someone you love is showing signs they want to hurt themselves. Don’t wait until it’s too late to make a difference.
What if the shoe is on the other foot and you are a child who is worried that your parent is going to pass away? What if the parent is still financially responsible for their family? This is where life insurance comes into the picture.
Older adults who need to take care of their families in case of a worst-case scenario should look into life insurance.
They can also exercise, eat right, and stop smoking to convince a life insurance company they will not be a huge risk to their agency. These are heavy topics to discuss, but you’ll definitely feel more comfortable knowing you have done everything you can to help your family function.
Preparing for a Car Accident
Nobody prepares for a car accident. What you should be doing is preparing how to avoid a car accident. Driving safely and having good car insurance are the two most important things you can do to prevent a car accident from ruining your life.
Make sure everything in your car is up to date and ready to keep you safe. The seat belts and airbags need to be modern. You can even look into buying a vehicle with brake assists and extra cameras to show you obstacles in your blind spots.
You should also know what kind of accidents incur the greatest costs. Do deployed airbags mean a total loss? Not always; the cash value of your car and the estimated repair cost will have a much greater impact on what your insurance payment will be.
If an accident does occur, you need to know where your registration and insurance card are in the car. Get the other person’s information before the authorities arrive on the scene. If you talk with the other person about what happened, who is at fault, and what each person was thinking when they made the decision they did on the road, everything will go smoothly.
Preparing to Lose Your Job
This event is a worst-case scenario that will happen to a lot of people in this country at one point or another. In fact, it may have even happened during the pandemic. There is an initial shock factor that comes into play when you first get fired or laid off. Sometimes you could have done something to prevent the job loss, and other times it’s out of your control.
The thing you can control to mitigate the damage to your life is making sure you have a savings account with a decent amount of money to fall back on in case it takes a while to find work. This could mean putting away even spare change each day, a couple of dollars, or several quarters. The money will add up to thousands of dollars eventually.
Decide whether you have other skills you can highlight on your resume while you are still working. Constantly update your credentials on sites like LinkedIn so you are ready and employable in case the worst happens.
And that’s really what all of these tips are about. Address the variables you can control, and let nature do the rest. Humans are not all-knowing. They can’t see the future or stop bad things from happening sometimes. If you accept this fact, you will live a happier, healthier life.
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the legal site, FreeAdvice.com. He wants to help people understand the risks they come into contact with daily, and how they can overcome them before they occur.
