If you too scared, just exchange your coin to another coin.
Also, like you said, exchanging simply to another coin simply douses the fear if the person does not know what to do, but I feel for most part it is not necessary as long as you have your funds in a secured location and you have full control.
Nonetheless, the important thing with a fork is to know that you have a full control of your funds or at least you know that you are safe where you are keeping your funds.