Border guard commander Mārcis Krams: families should prepare for crises in advance
Mārcis Krams of Latvia's State Border Guard explains in a podcast how families can prepare for crisis situations. He advises staying calm, gathering information and preparing a 72-hour survival bag in good time.
In the 16th episode of the podcast “Ziemeļlatvijas sarunas” (Ziemeļlatvija Talks), produced by the Latvian regional newspaper Ziemeļlatvija, journalist Inga Karpova speaks with Mārcis Krams, deputy head of the Vidzeme service of the Riga Board of the State Border Guard, a commander and a father of three. The conversation is about how families can prepare for crisis situations and how to act if one occurs.
The family “paranoid”
At home, Krams’s children and wife tend to call him paranoid. The reason is that he teaches his family to think not just three steps ahead in a crisis, but even more.
Krams suggests approaching the subject not only seriously but also creatively. He proposes that families play a game called “Hops!”: within three minutes, everyone must gather the necessary items and leave the home. Afterwards, they should assess what was actually taken and whether it was everything needed.
The main thing: do not panic
The most important advice he gives people in a crisis is not to panic and to find out what has actually happened. If the so-called X hour arrives, a 72-hour survival bag will come in handy. In Krams’s view, everyone should think about it well in advance.
Where to read and watch
The full interview is due to appear in the 23 October issue of Ziemeļlatvija. The conversation can also be watched and listened to as a podcast, and the editors say further episodes are coming soon.
