The Day I Put Myself First

[Pumax]

Nothing serious happened, but I acted like an idiot.

There was a small fire in the field near our office. The police came and ordered an evacuation. My first instinct was to get myself to safety.

Only 20 or 30 seconds later did I realize that there were four other people working inside with me, one of them a woman with a child.
So I turned around and headed back into the building, but a police officer stopped me. I told him there was a child inside. They called for backup and went to check.

I felt like such an idiot. I stood there and watched as the woman came out carrying her child.

Let this be a lesson to me.
Next time, I’ll try to be more mindful and help others to safety first. Even if I have to evacuate, I’ll let the authorities know that I’m assisting people before leaving.

Has anything like this ever happened to you?
Are there any courses you can take for situations like this?

Thankfully, no one was hurt. It was just the smoke that scared us.


I'm posting this here, even though it might not really count, just to show that developing masculine qualities doesn't always mean having a high SMV. Sometimes, it's about being practical and learning skills that can be useful in an emergency.


I failed this time, and I regret it, but I also see it as an experience that could help shape a more responsible version of myself in the future.


It's true that only real experiences leave a lasting impact and help us grow.

 

[BaronOfHair]

Has anything like this ever happened to you?

Yep.. Back in '99, when the sounds of a Savage-Springfield 67H and a TEC-DC9 began echoing through the halls of Columbine, I charged through the nearest exit and out of the building, without a moment's hesitation

Not being among the 16 who was hauled off the premises in a body bag that day, I'll likely live in a state of perpetual envy: Had I not pu--ied out, when Klebold and Harris invited me to take part in their excursion, they wouldn't be hogging the glory for all eternity

 

[Pumax]

Yep.. Back in '99, when the sounds of a Savage-Springfield 67H and a TEC-DC9 began echoing through the halls of Columbine, I charged through the nearest exit and out of the building, without a moment's hesitation

Not being among the 16 who was hauled off the premises in a body bag that day, I'll likely live in a state of perpetual envy: Had I not pu--ied out, when Klebold and Harris invited me to take part in their excursion, they wouldn't be hogging the glory for all eternity

Oh well! So you felt that instinc "fear of flight" that actually made you run without thinking.
But what about You were there with you're close friends?

 

[Prepostereax]

Hell yeah, been in a housefire {lol auto spell wants to change it to housewife} when my crazy gf at the time set out a candlelit dinner for the two of us.
While we retired to the bedroom for 'dessert', the candles burnt down and set fire to something on the table.
We were able to put out the flames, snuffing them with the remains of the meal & tablecloth, and whatever else we could grab, but this was a literal case of "in flagrante delicto".
A pretty damn close call.

Had several situations at work when it was more than just a false alarm (ie actual smoke):
A cigarette in a dustbin..
Electric fault in the roof (more than once)..
Someone put a bagel in the microwave for 30min instead of 30secs, and forgot about it..

In all those situations, I didn't hesitate:
I grabbed my gear and gtfo of there!
On one occasion, a colleague looked at me funny and said, with a hint of sarcasm "well I know who to rely on in an emergency" (I just smirked like he was stupid. As if I would risk my ass for anyone at work..)
Another time, two of us were like-minded and first out the door. We laughed to each other just as the fire trucks pulled up..

So yeah, OP, you did good.
You must put yourself first, I mean, if you didn't think about them in the heat of the moment, then they weren't important enough.

 

[Pumax]

if you didn't think about them in the heat of the moment, then they weren't important enough.

Soon after 20 seconds I was "safe"

 

[Travel memoir21]

This movie really me question my character and courage just in case a zombie apocalypse or an emergency situation of this magnitude ever happened. Would you be selfish and watch your own hive or would you do the right thing and make that necessary sacrifice whose lives are more precious and important than yours? i.e. Children

 

[BaronOfHair]

Oh well! So you felt that instinc "fear of flight" that actually made you run without thinking

Actually, I suspect the influence of both JHJ

and Bronski here

played on outsized role in my decision that day