Learning can take any form, shape and dimension. It can happen now. Or never. That is totally on you! It doesn't stop at the gates of the schools. Or can be defined by a degree. For learning to happen only one thing is required - a willing learner. A curious heart. An inquisitive mind. A dogged pursuit. Shamelessness to ask questions and seek directions.
Most of what you
learn up to your teens does not apply in life directly! But it creates a
foundation on which you can build a fortress
of knowledge. These testing times have revealed that conventional education is necessary but not sufficient at all.
There are essential survival skills that can prove to be game changer when
needed. You can be a life saver. A leader. The Alpha whom every one would
follow.
Nutrition
& Cooking
You may need to
leave your hometown. For work. Job. education. After marriage. Vacation.
Official tour. Imagine that you get stuck due to a lockdown! That’s not good.
If you have dependents. That’s even worse. It doesn’t get better if any of you
have special nutritional requirements.
Like an infant or a child. Or an aged person. Or a patient.
Understanding
about nutrition, foods, and spices can save you a lot of trouble, money and
pain! ‘Dadi Ma ke Nuskhe’ are concoctions of readily available items
in our kitchen. Nutrition comes from a balanced
diet. Having vitamins, proteins, fats, sugar, water, fiber, carbohydrates,
and minerals is necessary. Nothing should be left out. Supplements do not make a meal.
Learn to cook. Whole grains,
coarse flour, raw salads, milk, poultry, eggs, fresh juices, fish, whole fruits
& vegetables are great sources of taste,
variety and nutrients. How you cook/process your food matters. Healthy cooking can be tasty cooking.
Indulge yourself once in a while. Not daily. As Hippocrates has said “Our food should be our medicine and our
medicine should be our food.”
Eat in moderation. According to
the guidance of a nutritionist or doctor. Have small meals spread over the day. Don’t gorge. Work out regularly. If you are not in professional
sports, then exercise in moderation.
Maintenance
What happens when
your PC breaks down. Do you fix it? Or hand it over at the service center? When
your bike doesn’t start, do you clean the spark-plug yourself or push it to the
mechanic? When the toaster doesn’t pop that crunchy toast in the morning, do
you just throw it away and buy a new one? If yes, then you are very high maintenance.
Tooling,
maintenance and repairing basic appliances is a must have skill. These skills can be as varied as gardening,
landscaping, housekeeping, carpentry, plumbing, sewing, etc. In most developed
countries vocational training is part of
the High school curriculum. Students take up summer jobs in auto-shops,
cafes, electronic shops, tailors, etc. to learn the trade skills.
A stitch in time saves nine, the
age-old adage is the best way to put it. Next time your mother complaints of a
washing machine not working, and its not in warranty, don’t call the mechanic.
Try isolating the problem and fixing it. Change the filters and membranes of RO
purifier. Make a schedule of monthly
maintenance at home.
Your craftsmanship will come handy when you
will pursue your engineering course.
Or when you are in the field supervising your workers. Best engineers build their own bikes! Or homes. Or anything for
that matter. Start sewing simple things like
face masks, gloves, minor repairs of garments. You don’t have to be a master
seamstress! Unless of course, If you want to pursue fashion designing.
First
Aid and Trauma Management
Anyone can fall
sick. Anytime, anywhere. Doctor or ambulance may not be available in the
crucial golder hour. Being a first responder in any emergency will
fill your heart with real purpose, warmth and jubilation. It will make you a hero for all to emulate. Most
importantly it can save the life of
your own loved ones.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that combines
chest compressions often with artificial ventilation (or MTMR - mouth-to-mouth-respiration). It is the Silver Bullet for patients
of heart attacks.
Heimlich
manoeuvre is used for relieving someone of choking.
It happens when some food gets stuck in the windpipe. BE FAST - Check the balance, Eye coordination, face drooping,
hanging arms, slurry speech to identify patients of Brain Stroke. Early detection and medical aid can save most
patients.
Similarly
first-aid for patients of Burns, Heat Stroke, Bleeding, Nose Bleeding,
Electrical Shock, Hypothermia (freezing), and Accidents have different needs.
Learning them will make you more Learn
these procedures for adults, for kids and infants, for senior citizens. All have different requirements.
Survive
the Disaster
Disasters cause
serious disruption in the functioning of society. Have widespread human, material, economic and environmental
impacts. The impact exceeds the ability of the affected society to cope
locally. Disaster management is how we
deal with these impacts. The process of how we “prepare for, respond to and learn from the effects.”
Natural Disasters:
●
Geophysical (e.g. Earthquakes,
Landslides, Tsunamis and Volcanic Activity)
●
Hydrological (e.g. Avalanches and
Floods)
●
Climatological (e.g. Extreme
Temperatures, Drought and Wildfires)
●
Meteorological (e.g. Cyclones and
Storms/Wave Surges)
●
Biological (e.g. Disease Epidemics
and Insect/Animal Plagues)
Man-Made Disasters:
●
Environmental Degradation
●
Pollution
●
Accidents (e.g. Industrial,
Technological and Transport usually involving the production, use or transport
of hazardous materials)
No one can
control them. But we can always mitigate
their risks. If we prepare, support vulnerable communities and learn
survival skills. These can be the difference
between life and death.
Every disaster
has its unique characteristics. And,
therefore, unique survival skills.
But some Survival skills come handy in
multiple disasters and also in daily life but also.
Follow
Government Guidelines
With better weather forecasting and alert
systems, the government can timely issue warnings
and advisory for precautions and safety. Follow them to the tee. Note down
and keep the rescue helpline numbers. Sew waterproof tags on clothes of family
members with name, phone number and address.
Be
Ready
Keep the phones and emergency lights charged. Keep supply of emergency medicines. Keep at least 15 days supply of medicines for
patients in the family. Have sufficient supply of bottled water, packaged
ready-to-eat food. Essential items like candles, waterproof match box,
lighters, sleeping bags, tarpaulin, ropes, life jackets should be in the
kits. All important documents, jewellery, cash must be in a waterproof bag.
Keep knives, hammers, gloves, batteries, and other such important items.
Rule
of Three
Remember this golden rule. Always. A person cannot live three minutes without
air, three days without water, or live three weeks without food. Find a way to
swim to top and breathe, find safe water to drink, and find food to survive.
Learn
to Filter your Water
Unavailability of safe water can lead to
dehydration and later many more infections. Keep bottled water. Portable water cleaning kits. Alum and
chlorine to treat water. Learn how
to collect water from rains or dew using available resources. Make it potable as much as possible to
avoid future complications.
Identifying
Safe Food
If packaged and safe food is not available,
then you’ll have to survive on whatever is available. Identifying what can be
eaten and what to avoid is of utmost
importance. Food becomes scarce and even carries infections during disasters.
So it is very important you learn about foods.
Swimming
A very good
exercise and a lifelong skill. If you live near rivers, waterbodies, seas,
it is a must. Even in cities heavy rainfall in very small time with
insufficient drainage systems can lead to flood like situations. Remember
Mumbai in 2005 and 2017, or Bengaluru in 2019, Chennai of 2015, Kerala in 2018.
Swimmers not only saved themselves but were the Godsents for many more.
Tying
Knots
Having ropes and not knowing how to use them
can be the worst thing. Ropes can be used in fire accidents to escape, to
rescue people fallen in ditches or wells, to air lift, to climb, to reach to safety. Learn different knots
and ways to fasten people, patients,
pets and items.
Star-gazing
If the mobile phone is not charged or the
network is down there is no way we can find
the right direction. Right? Wrong! Only until 20 years back people used
landmarks, the Sun, the Moon and various stars to find their general direction
and position. Simply using your hands
and approximate angles of different celestial bodies one can find his current position and the
desired directions to a safer place.
Climbing
pipes/ropes/rocks
In times of disaster like earthquakes,
avalanches, landslides, floods, etc. if you know climbing, then you can rescue
not only yourself but your loved ones too. After the initial devastation, more
people die due to the fact that they could not reach safety.
Stress
Management
Stress is the silent killer. Of career, mental peace,
health, and relationships. Studies, college choices, career options, digital
overload, expectations of family, money troubles. Many reasons are attributed
to causing stress.
Stressful person
can never be in the moment. Cannot concentrate, or even breathe properly. The
brain is wired to handle extreme pressure for short bursts. Our environment
gives us continuous stress for longer durations.
This can alter biochemistry of the brain and neural activity in it.
Physical work out can release
toxins accumulated due to stress and relax the brain. A good night’s sleep always refreshes and recharges. Muscle relaxation by stretching,
massage, hot bath or shower also help. Yoga
and meditation provide both the needed exercise and focus. Pranayama or deep breathing can
saturate oxygen in the brain, relieving it of any toxins.
Eat light and healthy. Heavy
food causes troubles and increases susceptibility to stress. Don’t skip any
meal, neither indulge in stress eating. If there is an urge then have fruits or
salads. Have plenty of water - warm
water for releasing toxins, cold water for refreshment, sparkling water to
enjoy a drink. Smile, giggle and cackle with laughter. It is infectious, spread
it.
Avoid stressors.
Manage and plan ahead. Set watch to
10 minutes ahead. Be on time, better reach
early. Drive in the slower lane to enjoy the drive and avoid road rage. Take breaks. Treat yourself with
soulful music, chat with a friend, or a comedy clip. Develop and nurture hobbies - reading, gardening, sports, puzzles,
collections - that demand time and effort.
Don’t hesitate, talk about your
problems. Listen to others, empathise and relate. Never set too high expectations - from yourself and others. Tell
yourself “All is well” and go easy
on yourself. Try and eliminate triggers
from your life and schedule.
Money
Management
Cash is King!
Taxing times test
everyone.
Taxes and death are
unavoidable.
Unless you are
immortal, you need life insurance.
The big money is
not in buying or selling, but in waiting. ~ Charlie Munger
A Budget is telling
your money where to go, instead of wondering where it went. ~ Dave Ramsey
Never loan any
money to family or friends that you are unable to write-off entirely. ~ Emily
Yoffe
Compound Interest
is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it. He who
doesn't, pays it. ~ Albert Einstein
The above quotes
highlight the importance of understanding our most obedient servant and our
most vile master - money. We use it
everyday, and yet its ways are alien to us. We need it but don’t want to understand it.
Keeping a tab of
expenses is boring. Running budgets is difficult. Controlling credit card use
is stressful. Investments are not giving super-returns in a month. Insurance is
the money I won’t be around to enjoy. These are only some of the misgivings about money matter.
The best way to
dispel them is education. Learn
yourself. Start with some great blogs like SafatNiveshak.com that describe each concept
with graphs, diagrams and cartoons. Take
charge of the money. Don’t let it put you on a leash! Then you can make money work for you, instead of you
working for money.
Comments