How to Buy Time in a Family Crisis: Is Intervention Needed?

Have you ever been in the midst of a family crisis, wishing that you could buy some time?

A family crisis can happen at any time and in any place. Time is of the essence when that happens. The question of how to buy time in a family crisis becomes a critical issue.  

One meaning of the idiom to buy time is “to postpone an event hoping that the situation will improve”. This focuses on the event and triggers hope with respect to needing or buying more time. “To obtain a longer period before something happens”, suggests the possibility of somehow bartering for, bargaining for or buying time.

Unfortunately, time is not a commodity one can buy or sell, Buying time refers to saving time, making time or stalling, so that a crisis can be resolved.

What can you as a family member do in order to buy time in a crisis?

Consider the following:

Assess the crisis realistically:

In a family crisis, there could be immediate intervention required. You may be the person in a position to intervene. A call to 911 for assistance is appropriate in many situations. Are there family members who can assist you or others? Anyone with basic, emergency response training will be able to do a crisis assessment and determine these factors which can save valuable time.

Assume proactive leadership immediately:

Valuable time can be lost if there is no leadership during a family crisis. Assuming positive, proactive leadership immediately, allows those who are natural followers to turn to someone who is able to assume some degree of control in a crisis. Giving appropriate directives for them to follow can save or buy time.      

Do not panic:

Family members who tend to panic during a family crisis waste their time, plus valuable time of others, knowingly or unknowingly. The situation at hand may not allow room for wasted time in a crisis scenario. Be aware that a panic response to a family crisis is rooted in fear and needs to be resolved, as soon as possible in order to save time.  

Encourage everyone to stand together:

Taking a stand together and actively engaging everyone in a positive, crisis resolution role proves beneficial in terms of buying time. It helps to avert the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness that many experience during a family crisis, as well as the wringing of hands, as each one asks, “What can I do?”    

Draw upon the skills, expertise and ability of family members:

Every family member has certain skills, expertise and different abilities that can prove valuable in a crisis. For example, a grandparent can assume the care of a small child, while an older sibling can run errands for him or her. A teenager may answer the telephone and relay messages. This frees up other family members to deal with the actual family crisis and buys time, so to speak.

Buying time in a family crisis is vital and can save lives. Being instrumental in crisis resolution sets a positive, proactive example for other family members in terms of effective time management during a family crisis.