1.2 STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan

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STOP is a mnemonic widely used by search and rescue teams for people lost in the wilderness, and it works just as well in an urban emergency. It fits the central principle of the military manual: haste makes waste.

S - Stop. As soon as you notice something is wrong, stop. Don't keep driving toward water, don't run out of the building without checking, don't keep walking if you're lost. Sit down if you can.
T - Think. What happened? What threat is immediate? What do you have on hand (kit, car, neighbors, phone)? Who is missing?
O - Observe. Look, listen, and smell: smoke, gas, rising water, downed wires, cracks, weather. Check people: bleeding, breathing, cold or heat.
P - Plan. Come up with two or three options, pick one, and act. If no option is clearly better and there is no immediate danger, stay where you are and reassess. If you are lost in the wilderness, night is falling, or you are hurt or exhausted: stay put.

The Army manual's SURVIVAL acronym

The Army manual sums up the survival attitude in the word SURVIVAL. It works as a self-assessment checklist:

The Army manual's SURVIVAL acronym
Letter	Meaning	In practice
S	Size up the situation	Your surroundings, your physical condition, your equipment. How urgent is it?
U	Use all your senses / Undue haste makes waste	Observe before you move. Don't act on impulse.
R	Remember where you are	Always know where the exits, routes, and your position are.
V	Vanquish fear and panic	Acknowledge fear and don't let it decide for you.
I	Improvise	Use what is at hand in new ways: trash bags, tape, blankets.
V	Value living	A stubborn will to go on, even when all seems lost.
A	Act like the natives	Learn from people who live in the environment: in your area, people avoid the midday sun and respect low-water crossings.
L	Live by your wits / Learn basic skills	Skills are learned beforehand, not during.