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The world isn’t all sunshine, rainbows, and cuddly pandas. Neither is it as scary and on the verge of collapse as some news channels might tell you. Either way, we think that most of you might agree that our safety and the safety of our loved ones should be our top priority.
We shouldn’t live in fear that something bad is bound to happen when we least expect it, however at the same time, we can’t be naive and think that accidents don’t happen or that bad people don’t exist. So we shouldn’t scoff when someone shares some advice on how to stay safe.
Redditor u/directinLA asked people to open up about the safety tips they think absolutely everyone should know, and they were more than happy to share their pearls of wisdom. From the fundamentally basic to the surprisingly genius, you’ll find their best safety tips below. Scroll down and make sure you have a notepad, dear Pandas.
Bored Panda reached out to the author of the thread, redditor u/directinLA, to get their opinion on safety, as well as which tips they personally found to be the most important.
"Among the many replies I got, I think one from u/CharlieMike12 was most helpful. Not to take away from all the other responses, but as a firefighter the tips shared were relevant to everyday safety, and I think that is the epitome of a safety tip that is useful to know," u/directinLA said.
"As far as most poignant responses, u/LamarB said, 'It is better to correct an unsafe friend than to bury one.' We all have to look out for each other regardless of our differences. Everyone is living a life that is meaningful to someone. So if any of these tips actually save a life, I can retire my account successfully!" they stressed how important community is in helping keep each other safe. Scroll down for our full interview.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
For women especially. If someone is making you uncomfortable or just giving off weird/creepy vibes, you never should worry about being "rude." You don't have to be nice/polite, your safety comes first.
Bored Panda was interested in getting u/directinLA's opinion on the role that local communities play in helping keep people safe. Here's what they had to say: "I believe community is a very important thing, as we all live in our own respective bubbles. We rely on each other to keep each other safe daily, whether it be driving a car, crossing a street, trusting our children in a school system, or even wearing a mask. Without our communities, what are we?" they mused.
"Community is so important because it gives us all a sort of tribe to be able to lean on when things become tough sometimes. Whether it be from family, friends, or even kind strangers, we all rely on help because ultimately we are doing our part to try to lead a fulfilling life."
RELATED:
#2
One for knowing what to do when encountering bears:
When it’s brown, lie down. Brown bears are pretty aggressive. The first thing to do is put your arms above your head and stand as firm as possible to make yourself look big. When the brown bear is still coming to you, don’t run! Lie down, curled in a ball with you backpack still on; it’ll protect you. The bear will paw you, see that you’re no longer food and move along.
If it’s black, fight back. Black bears are less aggressive and can easily be fought back. Just like with brown bears, make yourself look as big as you possibly can. It’ll see you as a threat and move away.
If it’s white, say goodnight. Polar bears are the biggest species of bears on earth. If you’re running away from one, throw your pack to the side; polar bears have a short attention span and will go to the parcel you threw to the side. If that doesn’t work, and the polar bear is still gaining on you, there’s unfortunately nothing left but to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior because it’ll un-alive you in minutes.
#3
Firefighter here;
Sleep with your doors shut at night (helps prevent fire spread/smoke inhalation)
Be able to crawl, blindfolded, out of every room in your house.
Make sure everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of a fire. Where to meet afterwards, etc.
If you have kids, explain to them that firefighters may look ‘scary’ in full turnout gear, but they can not be afraid of us.
Friendly reminder while I have your attention; check the batteries in your smoke detector. They truly are life savers.
snipergun 3 years ago
Have smoke detectors. As it's not yet everywhere obligatory, you can get combined ones for carbon monoxide too. I know it costs some money, but trust me, burned house, loss of life or family mamber costs a lot more.
two feetitis 3 years ago
CO detectors should be installed near the baseboards. Smoke & CO detectors are useless, as CO is heavier than air & smoke is lighter than air.
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Diane Rice 3 years ago
From the EPA website: "Because carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and also because it may be found with warm, rising air, detectors should be placed on a wall about 5 feet above the floor. The detector may be placed on the ceiling."
Laugh or not 3 years ago
Where I live, it is mandatory to have one in each room, except the kitchen and bathroom. The one in the hallway (closest to the bathroom) went off at night a few months ago. I realised later that the constant humidity coming from the bathroom caused the issue, but at the time it was scary.
Neill Powell 3 years ago
Know the parts of the house with an actual firewall. In the literal sense. USA homes are made of rubbish, but for the rest of the world, the main bedroom is usually the room with the concrete firewall to the roof. Fit the main bedroom window with tempered glass with a tool nearby. Gather the kids, close the door. Break the tempered window (breaks like a car window, much safer), get out.
Dilly Millandry 3 years ago
They've been law in the UK since July 2000 for any new builds/renovations as well - makes so much sense.
Tamara Hoops-King 3 years ago
Most new builds in US also are required to have fire suppression/sprinkler systems built into the home. MUCH safer as well as our Firefighters are also much better equipped & trained then ANY other country!!
Robert Truslow 3 years ago
The combo detectors should not even be made.Carbon monoxide detectors go down low.If the carbon monoxide gets up as high assmoke detectors you won't need them anyway.
Sabrina Bowen 3 years ago
As a home-fire survivor: Do everything you can to prepare BEFORE a fire. Have insurance. Have plans. Have an ICE file in a fireproof box/safe. You're not paranoid, you're safe!
Dilly Millandry 3 years ago
Also have fire extinguishers and fire blankets - had a home fire as well. Fortunately did have these things and it made all the difference.
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Tamara Hoops-King 3 years ago
Good advice! As a trauma nurse & Red Cross volunteer the TWO biggest/best things to protect yourself/family....HAVE FIRE DRILLS & GET INSURED!!! Trust me there's no insurance(both Homeowners or Renters)"too expensive" over losing everything w/no financial way to replace EVERYTHING. Think you can't afford even basic coverage...cut out expensive daily coffee, eating lunch out, cut back on subscriptions, clubs, & unnecessary monthly items. Nobody thinks bad things will ever happen to them but, those who blow off insurance end up living in public shelters, having to take up donations even for the most basic of items. BE PREPARED!!!
ZAPanda 3 years ago
- Smoke inhalation kills more than actual burns. Stay close to the floor, cover mouth with damp rag. - Do not buy a wooden house, it's basically a bonfire waiting to happen. - Electricals must be checked regularly and joints must be completely insulated with a box, not just tape. Tape unwinds spontaneously over the years and a short can cause a fire. - Never coil extension cords while in use, induction is the result followed by heat. - Sometimes you can save yourself by running thru a fire to the ground it has already burnt rather than away from it. Assess your situation and see whether your escape route is a big fire trap or whether it's clear. Eg in our country the veld (prairie) is dry grass. If you run you might get trapped, rather jump through the fire to the side that is already burnt black, but beware of smoke and cover your mouth. 2020-07-27...fe4a08.jpg 
Leland Fisher 3 years ago
And regularly clean your dryer lint trap and exhaust? 🤷🏻♀️
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Kimberly Wilburn 3 years ago
Very good advice I myself will take heed to it, I think the thing really is to keep presence of mind while in these situations. Some people panic some people freeze in fear and others well they wait too long.
Little Wonder 3 years ago
I have a friend who is a firefighter and they often go into kindergartens and primary schools to show the kids how they put on their safety gear. It's so the kids know inside that scary mask and suit, there's a human who is there to help.
Monica Rogers 3 years ago
That's an amazingly wonderful idea. Young children are visual learners. Tell your friend thank you for his/her service.
zazou_verboten 3 years ago
yeah, sounds reasonable. but, how on earth will I keep the doors closed? my cats will go on strike...
Tamara Hoops-King 3 years ago
Makes sense. I mean who wouldn't value the "happiness" of their cat over the safety & lives of themselves and their family.🤷🏻♀️
Julianne Hannes 3 years ago
I'd LOVE to sleep with my door shut but my damn cat needs it open and tears the carpet if he can't open the door
Electric Mayhem 3 years ago
"If you have kids, explain to them that firefighters may look ‘scary’ in full turnout gear, but they can not be afraid of us." The first time I read this, I interpreted it as "Tell your kids not to scare the firefighters"
pmsfo 3 years ago (edited)
Same here. It's phrased a bit awkwardly. This might be better: ""If you have kids, explain to them that they shouldn't be afraid of firefighters, even though they might look scary in their fire fighting gear." (As for the actual suggestion, I think it is meant to prevent kids from hiding from firefighters in case of fire. I think all members of the family can benefit from learning more about fire safety. See if your local firehouse offers an "open house," so that the whole family can learn what to do in case of fire or other emergencies, fire prevention, when to call 911, etc. When my kids were young, they each took field trips to the local fire station. All the kids loved it. 🧑🚒 👩🏼🚒 👩🏾🚒
Load More Replies... Tamara Hoops-King 3 years ago
Great...a "two-fer"! An excellent & very important message from a Firefighter & a "grammer lesson" Goodness...which is more important here???🤔
Izzy Curer 3 years ago (edited)
Firemen should have programs where they help teach nervous dogs that firemen are okay. It could be like a pot-luck situation, where everybody brings food to the firemen while they play with all the dogs
Heather Vandegrift 3 years ago
If you live in an apartment, check your state laws to see what the rules for the leasing company providing for extinguishers and smoke detectors. If your apartment is not compliant with the law, tell them to fix it immediately or you will contact the fire marshal... Them DO IT if they don't comply! Most complexes will fix the issue if it's brought to their attention rather than suffer massive government fines or possible shut down. My apartment in GA didn't have fire extinguishers either in the units or outside in a coming area when we moved in. They have smoke detectors, but I looked up the law and they are required to provide fire extinguishers either in each unit or in all easily accessible common area. I mentioned it to them, no threats, and the following week every building got fire extinguishers! Considering how many massive apartment fires have happened in Atlanta alone in the last few months, this is timely advice.
Steve Broderick 3 years ago
"If you have kids, explain to them that firefighters may look ‘scary’ in full turnout gear, but they can not be afraid of us." It is amazing how many kids will hide in the closet, afraid of Firefighters and the fire itself. Sort of make the FF's finding them difficult.
Amy Stone-Chandler 3 years ago
Fire extinguishers should be lawfully mandated to be provided by rental property owners. We keep one in our kitchen but most people do not. Rental places must provide smoke detectors and some places, carbon monoxide detectors where I live. They come once a year and change batteries etc.
Ein Steinbeck 3 years ago
Make sure your delivery people know not to block your doors with packages.
Mine Truly 3 years ago
Change your smoke detector batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings time.
Kiryn Silverwing 3 years ago
Our smoke detectors are hard wired into the house's electrical system. It's nice not to have to deal with the random beeping when one runs out of batteries.
Dilly Millandry 3 years ago
They are not expensive, the loss of your home will be. Depending on your country's laws it might even invalidated your home insurance.
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
We just make it a habit to change the batteries in the smoke detectors & the furnace filter when we turn the clocks back/forward.
suzanne van Doorn 3 years ago
How about having a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and on every floor of your house. Also: do NOT have a bag full of old batteries laying around somewhere. They cause a lot of fires!
Aneta Balounová 3 years ago
But what about the other 99,999999999999999% of cases when there is no fire? I wake up suffocated at night when I fall asleep with closed door to mi litle bedroom. I change the air in whole flat before bedtime and want to have more than just a piece of it available.
Lee Wheeler 3 years ago
1- IF YOU HAVE TO OPEN A DOOR DURING A FIRE, TOUCH IT FIRST. IF IT FEELS HOT, THERE COULD BE FLAMES ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT COULD CATCH YOU ON FIRE. 2- HAVE FAMILY FIRE DRILLS, EVERYONE GO OUTSIDE AND STAY OUTSIDE.HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO MEET AND STAY THERE.
Wendy Buffett 3 years ago
A 30 year career firefighter told our CPR class that he never responded to a fatal fire that had working smoke detectors. If they're working, you live. Check your batteries.
Kimberly Wilburn 3 years ago
Thank you for reiterating on checking the smoke detectors, it really does save lives and I guess we just don't think about closing doors to our rooms I myself have to get up to go to the bathroom and have had to since I was a child at most twice a night but I will heed this morning and try my best to keep doors closed I certainly don't want fire coming in and surprising me in my sleep.
Mahogany Eclipse 3 years ago
We were getting carpets cleaned once and the carbon monoxide alarms went off. We had no idea the fumes were entering the house in such quantities through the front door (left open for hoses and stuff). Needless to say, our cleaner stopped everything and parked his machine further out from the house.
Bobby Edler 3 years ago
I would add....keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen and bedroom. I also hve on by the front and back doors
Klaatu Verrata (Cough) 3 years ago (edited)
On a second floor, keeping a stowable fire ladder, a mallet or hammer, and a thick quilt in either a central/easy-access location or in each bedroom is really helpful too. We also do this for our second story law offices and I even created a "safe room" in case we ever have an active shooter situation or a fire. It has a thick metal door, 10" concrete walls, a large window wide enough to accommodate larger people, and an emergency escape kit with an emergency ladder, mallet, blanket, etc included. The heavy comforter is to place through the window in order to avoid glass shards while you climb out the broken window to safety. Better safe than sorry these days.
Cpt. Robert Christian 3 years ago
As a fellow Firefighter, we are always trying to get this message/information across, to everyone, especially our customers. To my wife's chagrin, I even bring this up at dinner parties. Wait... *sighs*, that was Pre-SARS-COV2/COVID-19. Now I just bring it up to my cats, and the community cats. Seriously though, this is important.
Al Jameson 3 years ago
I learned not long ago that smoke detectors -- the detectors themselves, not the batteries -- should be replaced every 10 years.
Jessica Macklemoore 3 years ago
I didnt even know smoke detectors that dont beep annoyingly when running low on batteries even existed.!
Doug the Special one 3 years ago
Try to get detectors that don't go off when making toast or doing a fry up. Good luck with that.
Jaekry 3 years ago
And in addition to smoke detectors, add fire extinguishers as well. Otherwise after being alarmed, and no extinguishers around, ... well you can watch it burn... :( (Obviously only for small fires, but most start small.)
Zephyr Anthem 3 years ago
My flat is so lousily build that if i close my bedroom door when i'm sleeping, the air if foul by the end of the night, like filled up by CO2, it's impossible to sleep well with the door locked. we keep the door open to keep fresh air coming in
Summer Mason 3 years ago
Also it helps to keep a window breaker in every bedroom with a window. All my kids have been trained to break windows incase of a fire so they can escape with out crawling through the house. This is huge in mobile homes. They go up like a God damn piece of paper when on fire.
Kiryn Silverwing 3 years ago
In our area, every bedroom is required to have a window that opens to a certain size so the person inside can climb out in a fire. It was a huge pain when we replaced the single-pane windows in our 90-year-old house. We had to cut a bigger window in one of our bedrooms in order to get the permits, but the peace of mind is nice.
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
You don't need to check the batteries in your smoke detector. If they run low the smoke detector will start beeping. And don't forget to install a carbon monoxide detector if you're cooking or heating on gas.
Gaby Almodovar 3 years ago
I'm living in a one-room-apartment.So, I guess, I'll die in case of fire, because I have 2 doors: the entrance one and the bathroom one. Luckily, I'm living on the 2nd floor, with a large balcony, and I can jump any time....
The author of the thread also opened up about what inspired them to ask the question on r/AskReddit. "Being on Reddit, you see lots of videos of people getting injured, whether it be comically or seriously. I've seen my fair share of trampoline-related injury videos to want to put out the message that they are not a safe thing to play with, and could be rather dangerous. Then I wondered what other safety gems exist in life, so I created a prompt that could best be answered by people from all walks of life," they told Bored Panda.
"When you make these questions it's usually meant as a little bit of an exercise in boredom since you have an idea in your head and want to see what other people think about that topic. In this case, I figured it could be useful. Never do you imagine these things taking off the way they do. It got to the point where I was getting more replies than I had time to read them, so I had to turn off notifications!"
Very recently, Bored Panda spoke to psychologist and wellbeing consultant Lee Chambers from the UK about our need for safety and resilience to traumatic experiences.
"As human beings, we have a desire for certainty and routine that keeps us feeling safe and able to plan what lies ahead in an organized manner. When unpredictable situations or accidents impact us, it can be traumatic, and we will likely feel a sense of disappointment, frustration, and loss," he told us.
#4
If you ever find yourself in possession of a firearm:
1. All guns are loaded, even if you just unloaded it.
2. Do not point the gun at anything you’re not willing to shoot kill/destroy.
3. Do not put your finger on the trigger unless you are trying to fire the weapon at that moment.
#5
Don't merge back in front of a semi truck until you can see where its steer (front) tires meet the pavement, then keep going.
Truckers don't leave big gaps in front of themselves in traffic out of the kindness of their hearts. They do it because trucks are hard to stop even with powerful air brakes, and the kinetic energy in an 80,000 truck/load combo traveling at 65mph would turn you into a fine pink mist if they hit you.
WAY too many drivers don't know how to act around semis, at their mortal peril.
Source: am trucker
"It is important however that we embrace the fact that the world can be unpredictable and uncertain, and become more tolerant of this being a reality,” the psychologist told Bored Panda.
“Understanding that things are sometimes out of our control helps us to accept that not everything goes to plan, and accept when things happen to us that are negative. This acceptance allows us to embrace the change and difference, and manage our expectations so we can become more resilient to the ups and downs that all our lives lead."
#8
Worked in a machine shop. I was told the top three rules were these: 1) Know where the emergency stop button is on every machine. 2) If you wouldn't touch it with your penis, don't touch it with your finger. 3) If something falls, let it hit the floor (don't try to catch anything falling).
DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
That falling rule was so hard for me to stop, I played soccer a lot so whenever things fall I try to catch it.
#9
As a life long Floridian, I see this all the time here, and else where in the news. In the event of a disaster, stay the [hell] away from downed power lines!! Don’t walk along the street with them, don’t drive your car over them, don’t take selfies with them. They’re thunder noodles and have been known to kill.
According to the expert, we can grow from our struggles, but this requires acceptance and taking ownership.
"Post-traumatic growth isn't always simple to explain or utilize, but often the adversity we face can create a precedent for what we can overcome, help us to see what we need to be grateful for, and give us an understanding of the support we do have. A big part of opening the door to grow from our struggles is finding acceptance and taking ownership over what you can control and finding healthy ways to express the negative emotion that comes with challenges that test us," he said.
#10
When walking down the street with a one-shoulder bag, keep it on the building side of your body — not the side on which people pass you. It makes the bag harder to slash/snatch.
If asked for the time on the street, don't check your phone. Check your watch, but do so by lifting your wrist to within your field of view - don't look down at your wrist. If you don't have a watch, then say you don't know the time.
Be cautious if a person asks you to look at something, like "that car behind you".
Collectively these tips will help avoid some basic mugging tricks.
#11
Don't say, 'Someone call an ambulance.' Do it yourself, or directly tell one person to do it.
Don't move someone injured unless there is an imminent danger to the victim.
Puncture wounds, the puncture object acts as a cork, leave it in until medics arrive and let them deal with it.
Learn cpr for adults and children, the same goes for choking techniques like heimlich.
#12
If you are the passenger, never put your feet on the dash. With or without airbags, don’t do it. Level 1 trauma hospital worker here. Seen a fatality of a passenger who had their legs on the dash during the collision. It literally shoved their (broken) leg back into them and their own leg bone (shard) pierced their chest cavity and heart.
Tapio Magnussen 3 years ago
Image of X-RAY from a person with feet on the dash in a SIMPLE collision.
Just image a hard one... pies-salpi...153270.jpg 
"Using journaling and talking about how I felt played a significant part in my recovery when I had to learn to walk again, and gave me the space to grow to become mentally stronger as a result. It is also important to reflect on all the hurdles you've overcome, so you can see what skills and lessons you've learned to apply in the future, and adversity often helps us to see what really matters, and gets us closer to knowing our values and purpose,” Lee said.
#13
Wear safety glasses when working. Wear safety gloves when working. Wear safety boots when working. Do not make excuses — one mistake can cost you your finger, eye, toe.
#15
Be gross if you’re being kidnapped. Men don’t like gross girls. Force yourself to throw up, rip your hair out, pee yourself or defecate. Try to fight back and scratch as hard as you can. Leaving physical evidence everywhere at the very least helps identify your body and get him prosecuted for the crime. Not to be morbid but. If it looks like you’re about to die then make sure you leave as much evidence as you possibly can.
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago
I probably wouldn't need to force myself to do most of those things.
#17
Around any body of water:
- Feet first first time - never dive unless you know how deep the water is.
- Drowning looks like climbing a ladder, and it's silent.
- If you get into a dangerous current swim perpendicular to it.
- If you're in water over your head, or in a dangerous current, flip, float, and follow.
#18
In these cold times. Don’t drive wearing anything you couldn’t walk a half mile in.
#19
NEVER mix cleaning products.
Ristina Nielsen 3 years ago
And NEVER EVER store cleaning products, or garage products, in "re-purposed" food packages. You don't want to her someone say "urgh, this lemonade tastes weird". (at least not for the reason it being nail polish remover)
#20
The really bad people who want to do really bad things look for weakness. They test and probe.
It's awful that the best we can hope for is that we avoid what some other person might be victimized with. But that's nature.
Pay attention to your surroundings. Watch to see if anyone is watching you. Any stranger that offers you something or has a question that doesn't feel right, that's the moment to keep yourself vigilant. Don't put on a false front, but don't be weak. Have good body posture. Speak clearly. Use short simple statements, and be rude if you have to. No thanks, I'm good, or firmer if you think it's necessary.
Don't let anyone stop you from walking.
No is a full sentence.
If they get physical, f**k, if they even touch you, scream and yell and don't let them get you away from the public area, away from light and people. We often have the impulse to not make a scene- f**k that. Make the biggest fuss you've ever made.
Learn to listen to your instincts and intuition. They aren't always right, so you should evaluate them, and then proceed.
Steffen Rehm 3 years ago
I still feel bad for that on person in Monastir back then. Maybe he just tries to sell us overpriced bracelet to make a living. But on the other hand, never ever touch strangers without their permission.
#21
Never plug in space heaters to power strips! ALWAYS plug them directly into wall outlets. This is one of the most common fire starters in home fires.
#22
if your being followed (Car or walking) dont go home, rather head toward the nearest police station and park/sit there for a bit.
also craigslist deals can be done in police parking lots, it can be a bit awkward asking someone to meet there to sell you their old ps4 but if they are honest then they will have no reason not to.
#23
Uniforms (especially of high function, such as doctors, fireman, army...) can trick your mind. Just because someone wear one doesn't mean they are kind and safe, and can't hurt you. Even if it's a real one or during work hour/on duty.
#24
Oh I have a really good one. In the event of a disaster, such as earthquake or flood, The drinking water system frequently becomes contaminated.
Therefore you need to shut off the intake valve to your water heater.
Then your water heater becomes an emergency drinking water tank.
#25
When boiling a pot of water, turn the handle inwards towards the center of the stove / counter. That way somebody (especially a kid) won’t come by and knock it over or grab it and pull it over on themselves.
#27
Sharp tools are safer and easier to control than dull ones. This goes for basically anything with a blade, whether it’s a saw blade, utility knife, chisel, or simple kitchen knife. You’re more likely to slip, lose control, or kickback with a dull blade.
Amy Stone-Chandler 3 years ago
Sharp knives don't slip off food. Keep your fingers in proper cutting positions
#28
If you have been on the fence for a while about being too cold to continue, in a backcountry situation, you are already too cold. Immediately make emergency efforts to get warm. Being hypothermic severely clouds your judgement.
#29
If you get bitten by an animal that you even think is rabid get vaccinated RIGHT AWAY.
Rabies is a brutal way to go out and if you miss your window there’s not much nothing that can be done.
snipergun 3 years ago
This one I'd change a little bit, to if you get bitten or scratched by animal you can't prove doesn't have rabies (can't catch it or don't want to kill it) just get a vaccine (unless it's a neighbor's dog/cat with fully up to date vaccinations). And be aware that for example hedgehogs use their saliva against parasites by spreading it on their spikes, which mean that if you grab it (take it away from road for example) you can already get infected. Luckily it's rare in parts of the world, but it's way better to take the vaccine than to go out with rabies. Except for anti vaxers I guess...
#30
Walk against traffic so you can see what’s coming, not with your back to it!
Susie Elle 3 years ago
But if you walk on a road that has curves, I'd advise to walk on the side of the road that has traffic coming from behind you; a driver going into a curve will see you too late if you're walking against traffic (becasue they can't see around a curve). Someone coming from behind you will have to slow down until you pass the curve. At least, I'm convinced this is the case :')
#31
Do NOT put objects in the driver's foot space. Even things as small as a tennis ball. It's very unsafe for the driver.
#32
You're more likely to be attacked in a transitional space. Going into and out of buildings, cars, and especially between the two. You let your guard down because you're thinking about what you're going to do when you get there, not what you're doing right now, and not what's going on around you. Stay alert, stay safe.
#33
F.A.S.T. For strokes.
F = Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
A = Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred?
T = Time to call 911
#34
Check and clean out the lint collector in your dryer regularly.
T. D. Bostick 3 years ago
Just clean it out every time you use it. Make it a habit. Then it's a no-brainer.
#35
There's a principal in safety called Heinrich's Pyramid, and while the precise numbers are open for debate, the general principal is that after a certain number of unsafe acts you will have a serious injury or fatality. This is typically used for workplace safety, but the point is, every time you decide that you don't need that piece of safety equipment, or you can skip that one step even though the book says to do it, you're ticking down the clock until a serious accident happens. In Heinrich's original, he posited that for each serious accident (major injury/fatality), there would be about 30 accidents with minor injury, and 300 unsafe acts. So eliminate those minor unsafe acts, shortcuts etc, and significantly reduce or eliminate the corresponding number of serious accidents.
#36
No matter how cute the wild animal is...don't approach it! It's NOT worth it!
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Please leave wild animals alone. Forget the f*****g selfie and just stand back and simply look at them. If you HAVE to take a picture, stand back at a safe distance and use your zoom function. Also, don’t try to be a hero and “save” a baby wild animal. You do not know what the hell you’re doing—-and may be doing way more harm than good. If you see a baby animal in obvious distress, call the park rangers if in a national park, or whatever relevant professionals apply. Then wait for them. Try to keep predators at bay if you can until the pros arrive, especially if the baby is from an endangered species, but don’t risk your life trying to keep a bear or mountain lion at bay. It may be distressing, but Nature can sometimes be cruel to the small and weak.
#38
If you have a skin mole that has blurry edges, isn't symmetrical, is a weird shade of red, weeps fluids, or acts like an open wound that won't heal, you might have skin cancer. Go to a doctor IMMEDIATELY. Melanoma kills fast.
#39
If your child goes missing in your home, first check any spots that would be dangerous for them to be (near water heaters, sump pumps etc…) then check their common hiding spots.
Robin DJW 3 years ago
My daughter went missing in our home when she was still just on all fours. I eventually found her sound asleep on the floor, in the far corner under her crib, rolled up in her blankie. She wanted her nap, so she took it on herself to get it. To this day I wish I had had a camera.
#40
If you're confronted, it's far better to run away if at all possible rather than try to fight your attacker. Even if you think you are a badass.
What do you think ?
wowbagger 3 years ago
One I read recently: honest people are generally happy to provide verification and eager to build trust. It's dishonest people who get resentful and offended: "What, don't you trust me?" and "Why are you so suspicious?"
Joyce Blodgett 3 years ago
You just described my abusive ex-husband to a T. His second and third wives said the same thing that I just did after putting up with him for a time.
Jo Choto 3 years ago
A lot of trouble in life can be avoided by simply thinking for a moment before making decisions. Much of these are common sense that everyone would agree with, but still, people make rash decisions that cost them.
John L 3 years ago
Too many people just aren't "aware" (as I like to put it) and go through life on auto pilot.
Load More Replies...
Soggy Crumpet 3 years ago
Many of these situations are urgent moments and it’s very hard to think in the midst of that anxiety filled adrenaline rush. The fight or flight response kicks in making the thought process secondary and slow. Don’t be so judgmental.
Monique Reed 3 years ago
Another good one: Don't eat wild plants or fungi unless you are prepared to die if you are wrong about the identification. There are things that look like carrots, onions, and edible berries and mushrooms that can kill you with a **very** small dose. And don't go by photos in little "edible plant" guidebooks. They will show you edible plants, not the dozens of potentially lethal look-alikes.
Mine Truly 3 years ago
If you think you might have to eat plants to survive, get a field guide to edible plants in your region. There is a process to test plants to see if it's edible. Do not do this with fungus. Mushrooms can kill you very quickly and there's no good way to test.
Load More Replies...
Leah 3 years ago
There are two main rules I follow when I'm driving in winter conditions. The first is when I hit ice and start to slid I always tell myself "hands off, feet off." That means I take my hands off the steering wheel and my feet off any pedals. It's only for a split second but it stops you from overcorrecting or slamming on your breaks and fully losing control. It gives your brain a moment to think logically and safely handle the situation. The other one is the winter proverb "it's better to be driving too slowly and wishing you were going faster than to be going too fast and wishing you could go slower."
MaggieWest 3 years ago
There's a Gavin De Becker book, "The gift of fear", that talks about trusting your gut. Also "Protecting the gift" about protecting your kids. Great read, highly recommend.
Cynthia Drabek 3 years ago
Having spent over 20 years as a zookeeper, I immediately noticed the posts about animals. If you have to go around the back of a horse (if you are already next to them), pass as close as you can to their backside. That way if they kick, there won't have as much momentum. With the advice about approaching wild animals, keep your distance. If the animal starts backing up, you have invaded it's " escape bubble" an animal that feels like it has no escape may panic and flatten you to get away (or charge- I think that we all remember the lady in Yellowstone who was VERY lucky to have only lost her pants) Also, I know that the prairie dogs are adorable, but don't try to feed them. They are technically rodents, and when rodents bite, they mean serious business. I have been bitten by rodents at work over the years (not prairie dogs), but it can go through the acreage leather work glove- very ouchy!
Joyce Blodgett 3 years ago
I'm nearly 70, have spinal arthritis, walk with the assistance of a cane, have had two serious/major injuries that pretty much wrecked my entire right side, and am overweight (due to not being able to get out and exercise). While I live alone, and drive my car without difficulty, do all my own errands without help, I know the one weapon I always have at hand, should anyone be stupid enough to come for the fat old woman, is my quad cane. It's very strong, and I'm not afraid to pick it up with both hands and swing it hard, as if I want to get a homerun. I might die in the fight, but I won't go down without one! Of course, I do practice safety constantly, including doing all my errands in daylight hours, having my fully charged phone on me at all times, parking where I can see everything around me, and within site of at least the entrance of whatever building I'm going into. Also, I never, ever shop or go out at night unless I have an adult male whom I trust with me.
Jimmy Lewis 3 years ago
There are a lot of people who have no idea what's going on around them.
Emma Booth 3 years ago
Trust your gut. If something feels off it is. Don't be scared to just run
Justine Queequag 3 years ago
Most of these tips are hardly useful more likr common sense which i guess isn't all that common
Mine Truly 3 years ago
So much of it isn't. Like, you'd like to think "don't touch wild animals" is obvious. It's not. Some people are really sheltered and dumb. And a lot just don't think, such as thinking to be more alert when in transitional spaces or to do basic things to prevent muggings.
Josh Gilland 3 years ago
So true, it's more like uncommon. Uncommon sense and uncommon courtesy. Too many times have someone said to me how'd I know that, why'd I do that and I'd reply common sense/courtesy, they'd just stare at me and some say I never thought... In my head I'm like that's your biggest problem, you don't think.
Gavin Johnson 3 years ago
What’s common to you isn’t common to me and vice versa. I’ve worked in some dangerous environments and I’ve seen some toe curlingly bad sights, my self preservation meter is pretty well tuned and I know I can rely on it, it’s been trained and educated to assess and react to dangerous situations, vehicles and machinery, I can’t say the same for all the folks I know, I’ll never totally rely on common sense or even worse, someone else’s common sense.
wowbagger 3 years ago
One I read recently: honest people are generally happy to provide verification and eager to build trust. It's dishonest people who get resentful and offended: "What, don't you trust me?" and "Why are you so suspicious?"
Joyce Blodgett 3 years ago
You just described my abusive ex-husband to a T. His second and third wives said the same thing that I just did after putting up with him for a time.
Jo Choto 3 years ago
A lot of trouble in life can be avoided by simply thinking for a moment before making decisions. Much of these are common sense that everyone would agree with, but still, people make rash decisions that cost them.
John L 3 years ago
Too many people just aren't "aware" (as I like to put it) and go through life on auto pilot.
Load More Replies... Soggy Crumpet 3 years ago
Many of these situations are urgent moments and it’s very hard to think in the midst of that anxiety filled adrenaline rush. The fight or flight response kicks in making the thought process secondary and slow. Don’t be so judgmental.
Monique Reed 3 years ago
Another good one: Don't eat wild plants or fungi unless you are prepared to die if you are wrong about the identification. There are things that look like carrots, onions, and edible berries and mushrooms that can kill you with a **very** small dose. And don't go by photos in little "edible plant" guidebooks. They will show you edible plants, not the dozens of potentially lethal look-alikes.
Mine Truly 3 years ago
If you think you might have to eat plants to survive, get a field guide to edible plants in your region. There is a process to test plants to see if it's edible. Do not do this with fungus. Mushrooms can kill you very quickly and there's no good way to test.
Load More Replies... Leah 3 years ago
There are two main rules I follow when I'm driving in winter conditions. The first is when I hit ice and start to slid I always tell myself "hands off, feet off." That means I take my hands off the steering wheel and my feet off any pedals. It's only for a split second but it stops you from overcorrecting or slamming on your breaks and fully losing control. It gives your brain a moment to think logically and safely handle the situation. The other one is the winter proverb "it's better to be driving too slowly and wishing you were going faster than to be going too fast and wishing you could go slower."
MaggieWest 3 years ago
There's a Gavin De Becker book, "The gift of fear", that talks about trusting your gut. Also "Protecting the gift" about protecting your kids. Great read, highly recommend.
Cynthia Drabek 3 years ago
Having spent over 20 years as a zookeeper, I immediately noticed the posts about animals. If you have to go around the back of a horse (if you are already next to them), pass as close as you can to their backside. That way if they kick, there won't have as much momentum. With the advice about approaching wild animals, keep your distance. If the animal starts backing up, you have invaded it's " escape bubble" an animal that feels like it has no escape may panic and flatten you to get away (or charge- I think that we all remember the lady in Yellowstone who was VERY lucky to have only lost her pants) Also, I know that the prairie dogs are adorable, but don't try to feed them. They are technically rodents, and when rodents bite, they mean serious business. I have been bitten by rodents at work over the years (not prairie dogs), but it can go through the acreage leather work glove- very ouchy!
Joyce Blodgett 3 years ago
I'm nearly 70, have spinal arthritis, walk with the assistance of a cane, have had two serious/major injuries that pretty much wrecked my entire right side, and am overweight (due to not being able to get out and exercise). While I live alone, and drive my car without difficulty, do all my own errands without help, I know the one weapon I always have at hand, should anyone be stupid enough to come for the fat old woman, is my quad cane. It's very strong, and I'm not afraid to pick it up with both hands and swing it hard, as if I want to get a homerun. I might die in the fight, but I won't go down without one! Of course, I do practice safety constantly, including doing all my errands in daylight hours, having my fully charged phone on me at all times, parking where I can see everything around me, and within site of at least the entrance of whatever building I'm going into. Also, I never, ever shop or go out at night unless I have an adult male whom I trust with me.
Jimmy Lewis 3 years ago
There are a lot of people who have no idea what's going on around them.
Emma Booth 3 years ago
Trust your gut. If something feels off it is. Don't be scared to just run
Justine Queequag 3 years ago
Most of these tips are hardly useful more likr common sense which i guess isn't all that common
Mine Truly 3 years ago
So much of it isn't. Like, you'd like to think "don't touch wild animals" is obvious. It's not. Some people are really sheltered and dumb. And a lot just don't think, such as thinking to be more alert when in transitional spaces or to do basic things to prevent muggings.
Josh Gilland 3 years ago
So true, it's more like uncommon. Uncommon sense and uncommon courtesy. Too many times have someone said to me how'd I know that, why'd I do that and I'd reply common sense/courtesy, they'd just stare at me and some say I never thought... In my head I'm like that's your biggest problem, you don't think.
Gavin Johnson 3 years ago
What’s common to you isn’t common to me and vice versa. I’ve worked in some dangerous environments and I’ve seen some toe curlingly bad sights, my self preservation meter is pretty well tuned and I know I can rely on it, it’s been trained and educated to assess and react to dangerous situations, vehicles and machinery, I can’t say the same for all the folks I know, I’ll never totally rely on common sense or even worse, someone else’s common sense.
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