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“Fish Smell In Your House”: 30 Potentially Life-Saving Facts Everyone Should Know
Interview With Expert
There are many pieces of information that are considered common knowledge. You can probably name all of the colors in the rainbow without any hesitation, and even if you can’t speak a whole sentence in French, it’s likely that you at least know "merci."
When it comes to safety and disaster preparedness, however, there are plenty of situations where the average person has absolutely no idea what to do. So if you’re interested in having a plan for when emergencies strike, you’ve come to the right place, pandas.
Netizens have been sharing their best safety advice and life-saving tips, so we’ve gathered some important ones down below. Keep reading to also find a conversation with Madison Lalonde, Director of Communications and Public Education at the Lifesaving Society. And be sure to upvote the info you’ll be keeping in your back pocket!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Vaccines work.
Forrest Hobbs 3 days ago
Vaccines have wiped out smallpox and rinderpest. Polio is next. Get vaccinated.
RELATED:
#2
This is a New Zealand specific one, but all emergency numbers work here. The official number is 111. But 999,000,911, etc. will all work. This is so that tourists can still reach emergency services easily.
#3
Double check advices in this thread with your own research.
To learn more about how to be prepared for emergencies, we got in touch with Madison Lalonde, Director of Communications and Public Education at the Lifesaving Society. She was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and share some tips for water safety that everyone should know.
"Wear a lifejacket: Just like seat belts in cars, lifejackets save lives. Always wear one when you're on a boat or if you're a weak swimmer," the expert says. "Stay within arms' reach: If you're supervising children near water, always stay within arms' reach. Drowning can happen in seconds and is often silent."
Madison also recommends that everyone learns how to swim. "Swimming is a crucial life skill. Enroll in swimming lessons to build confidence and safety in the water," she shared. "Avoid alcohol: Alcohol impairs judgment and coordination. Avoid drinking when swimming or boating. [And finally,] never go alone. Always have a buddy with you for any aquatic activities."
#5
"There are no rules if a stranger puts their hands on you"
Yell, scream bloody m****r, kick, bite, make the biggest scene you possibly can and run away as fast as you can.
Make sure your kids understand that this is the exception, the time they MUST draw as much attention as possible and do ANYTHING it takes to get away and get help.
#6
Do not delay getting out of a burning building. The flames are not what will k**l you. The smoke will get very thick and toxic very quickly and you will not be able to see the way to get out.
Madison also says that many of these safety tips are actually common knowledge, but sometimes they're forgotten or ignored in situations when there are one or more risk factors present. "It's important to highlight that these risk factors can lead to incidents, even if people are aware of the dangers," she noted.
"For example: Lack of skills. While people may understand the dangers, they often lack the practical skills to handle emergencies," Madison shared. "Knowing how to swim or self-rescue can make a significant difference in a crisis."
#7
If you are ever buried in rubble (earthquake, tornado, building collapse etc).
Don’t shout. You’ll lose your voice and waste energy.
Instead, grab a piece of rubble and knock in patterns of threes. Humans are expert pattern makers and pattern notices.
Rescuers will hear the distinctive pattern sound and go toward it.
Once you can hear people, then use your voice.
Edit: cite my source. I learned this from the Podcast The Big One. It’s about how to realistically survive a massive earthquake day by day with certain scenarios.
#8
If you ever almost drown to the point of throwing up water or passing out, even if you feel 100% fine, get to a hospital. Your lungs can unwittingly self-fill up with fluid over the next few hours.
#9
If you smell a fish smell in your house (some people also report a urine like smell) for no reason, 9 times out of 10 it means there's an Electrical Fire.
2x4b523p 3 days ago
I read this on BP ages ago and it saved me from potential house fire about a year ago. Sudden fish smell, not strong but unpleasant enough, so I went investigating. Extension cube was melting, luckily it was just that and no damage inside the wall. Easily sorted by unplugging it, letting it cool and throwing away. Could have been much worse if I ignored it.
Unexpected situations can also lead to disaster. "Drowning incidents frequently occur when people weren't planning to be in the water, such as falling into a river or getting caught in a rip current," Madison noted. "This unpredictability makes it challenging to always be prepared."
"Additional risk factors like not wearing a lifejacket, swimming alone, being under the influence of alcohol or d***s, or not knowing how to swim can significantly increase the likelihood of drowning," the expert continued.
#10
If the ocean is retreating there is a tsunami coming, evacuate the beach immediately.
Wang Zhuang 3 days ago
This one has been ingrained in my memory banks since the tsunami in Thailand
#11
Never pull out a gun or any weapon unless you are prepared to k**l or die. Weapons escalate the situation to another level. If you have a weapon, intend to use it and risk having it used on you.
megabeth 3 days ago
THIS is one of MANY reasons I would never carry a gun. I know in my heart, that I will be so desperately hoping there is another way besides offing someone (no sensor?) and while Im trying to sort it, it will be too late, attacker shoots first or overpowers me and offed w my own weapon.
#12
When you’re in Australia (mostly on beaches) DO NOT TOUCH THE TINY ADORABLE OCTOPUS WITH BLUE RINGS it’s venomous and will usually k**l you. In fact, don’t touch any snakes or spiders or marine life, a lot of it is poisonous, venomous or will k**l you in other ways... don’t let this stop you from coming to Australia though, most of the humans are pretty nice.
So how can we be better prepared for these situations?
First, Madison recommends taking a course. "Enroll in swimming lessons, first aid, and other lifesaving certification courses offered by organizations like the Lifesaving Society," she shared. "Stay informed. Follow reputable sources for safety tips and updates. Websites like Lifesaving.org provide valuable information."
It's also wise to practice safety drills. "Regularly practice emergency drills with family and friends to ensure everyone knows what to do in a crisis," the expert says. "Equip yourself. Always have safety gear on hand, whether it's a lifejacket, first aid kit, or a cellphone to call for help. [And] know your limits. Be honest about your swimming abilities and avoid situations beyond your skill level."
#13
If your vomit look like coffee ground, you are bleeding internally, you need to go to the hospital.
Stephanie Did It 3 days ago
And if your belly hurts and you notice that it becomes hard or rigid to the touch, that is also from internal bleeding. Knowing this saved my life.
#15
Maybe not your life, but someone else's. Most drowning is silent. The victim quite literally cannot speak to call for help, as they are too desperately trying to get any air at all. Drowning can look simply like a person bobbing in the water until they no longer come back up. Keep a watch out. Especially if it's kids.
Austzn 3 days ago
I saw this happen at a public pool once; the life guard noticed a child struggling right next to a group of adults who weren't paying much attention. Of course because of the close proximity the adults were quite shocked when they dove into the water for the kid but the guard had that kid pulled up out of the water and started 1st aid before the adults even knew what was going on. I remember in the chaos the life guard just calmly said, "Your child was drowning." Very impressive job that day.
Finally, Madison noted that drowning is preventable, and everyone has a role to play in promoting water safety. "Remember these key tips: Respect the water. Understand that natural bodies of water can be unpredictable and dangerous," she shared. "Spread awareness: Share water safety tips with friends and family. The more people know, the safer everyone will be."
"Take our free Water Smart® Advocate Course to learn unlock essential skills and knowledge to keep you and your loved one safe in, on, and around water and ice!" the expert added. "Stay safe and be water smart this summer!"
And if you're looking for more information about water safety, be sure to visit Lifesaving.org!
#16
Maybe not your life but possibly others.
In an emergency situation pick 1 person to specifically call 911. In lots of stressful or emergency situations there are significant delays in calling 911. Some people assume that others will call 911 while other panic/freeze up and dont think to call 911.
If you're faced with an situation where 911 is necessary, pick a specific person to contact 911.
Stephanie Did It 3 days ago
Identify that person so they and others understand who you mean: Man in the red jacket, call 911! Lady with the baby stroller, please hold my child! They will be much more likely to respond.
#17
If you are depressed or s******l, there are many paths back to life which are available to you. It means something to feel this way, and it is understandable that this happens given what you went through. You are still you. You aren't broken beyond repair, and you aren't bad for feeling what you feel. People don't get like this for no reason. It isn't permanent especially when it feels like it is
Once the reason for the feeling is known and seen and held with enough love, it becomes way way easier to be compassionate to oneself and address the wounds we are carrying. It becomes way easier to get help, which in turn makes many other steps easier still
We isolate ourselves because we feel ashamed for turning out this way. We were taught that this is how we make ourselves good. I have good news for you here. We don't need to do this to be good. We were born good. It is still there
As long as you keep with it at whatever pace works for you and show yourself some strong genuine kindness and love in whatever way matters to you, you will progress out. It does happen a lot and increasingly often, nobody is beyond healing. Progress starts slow as sun melts ice, and with consistent exposure to the light of our attention and love it will melt completely. Our cold selves pushed and locked away so long ago will come back
Crying is a very good thing to do, even when alone. Ice within melts into tears. It flushes the sinuses and eyes, releases endorphins, and expresses the hurt we have been carrying all this way. We can set it down, we can look at it with kindness, and we can progress into a space where this experience is a strength far more than an injury
I have been in this state for a very long time, over a decade. I chose to sit here and study it so I could show others the way out and warn them of the deception depression will use, the lie that the pain won't end. It was very hard to do alone, and I was not always alone
Beware the serpent, the lie of unending pain. Every storm ends, and after every flood there comes a bloom
You are not beyond help
Here, have a lifeline.
#18
If you get impaled or stabbed leave the object in and call 911 (or your country's equal) That object is keeping all the blood on the inside of your body.
Huddo's sister 2 days ago
If you are performing first aid on someone, make a doughnut bandage around it and secure it so it doesn't move. You might also have to hold the patient's hands so they don't reflexively pull it out, even if they know not to.
#19
So I grew up helping my dad with his apiary in our backyard. Some bee facts that might help:
1. Honeybees die when they sting you. At the TOD, they release a pheromone that marks you as the hive’s current enemy so all the other soldier bees can find you. This is why you should never ever slap at honeybees or otherwise try to k**l them. Because believe me, they have a ton of angry family.
2. Our soaps and shampoos are very convincing as flowers. Similarly, honeybees often mistake blonde or red hair as great big flowers. Once the bee circles you a few times, she will figure out you aren’t a flower even though you smell like one. This is the part where you stop freaking out and flailing like a dummy so that you don’t accidentally k**l her and acquire those murder pheromones.
3. The best bee defense is quite literally calmly walking away, but you also have two distraction options that will not help you if you’ve been pheromoned. One is smoke. Beekeepers in history often used smoke when tending their apiaries. The reason being that smoke masks any chemical communication and the bees get confused, thinking the hive is on fire. Second is that low hanging branches and shrubbery are your friends. Circle around in that stuff, and once again, bees get confused as to where you are. But like I said, that dead bee pheromone will make them come after you hell or high water, smoke and shrubbery be damned.
I understand being afraid because you are allergic. Hell, once I moved away and was no longer exposed to bee venom on the regular, I developed an allergy. I carry an epipen when I’m outside. Know what else I do when I visit my dad? I don’t run away screaming like an idiot when a bee mistakes me for a flower. I calmly walk though some shrubs till that bee goes away. Be safe, tell your primal brain to shut up, and ask that one friend who still smokes to light one up to protect you from inquiring bees.
#20
If you’re being tied up, puff yourself out as much as possible so it’ll be easier to wiggle out of. Tense muscles, inhale deep and stretch out your arms and legs to make more space.
#21
If you're visiting an unfamiliar location like a cinema or concert hall, take a few moments to look around for the nearest exit, then pick out a second as a backup in case the first becomes blocked or cut off.
If something happens, especially in a crowded public place, most people's first instincts are to turn around and head for the main entrance but this is not always the closest, safest or easiest way out. Nine times out of ten there will usually be a closer exit.
Awkward lady 3 days ago
Also, it's a good idea if you're in a hotel or similar, to check all the fire escape routes.
#22
If you’re driving and your accelerator pedal gets stuck in the down position (meaning your brakes won’t work and you will only continue to increase speed), do NOT turn off the engine. Your steering wheel will lock up and you will very likely crash. Instead, turn on your hazards and shift into neutral to let your car gradually decrease in speed.
#23
If your diabetic friend starts acting like a drunk, stumbling around, talking nonsense and slurring, throwing up, their bloodsugars could be dangerously low. Make them drink something sweet, sugary soda, juice or just feed them plain sugar. Be aggressive they might resist. If they pass out and can’t swallow rub honey or sugar on the insides of their cheeks. Or if their breath smells really bad their bloodsugar is probably really high and at risk of ketosis. My stupid T1 a*s has been saved many times by friends and my mom
Little Bit 3 days ago
This happened to one of my friends once. He was fine one minute and then the next he was all over the place like he was drunk. He's a bit of a joker so at first we thought he was messing around but then we noticed he was talking funny and we realised he was having a massive hypo. We got a sugary drink into him and fortunately the ambulance arrived in a few minutes.
#24
Soy sauce is deadly if consumed in large quantities at once. So no stupid soy sauce dares or challenges please.
#25
Never, *ever*, mix bleach and ammonia.
The result of mixing them is ~~chlorine~~ chloramine gas. ~~aka mustard gas~~.
#26
If someone is in trouble and you want to leap in to save them, make sure you have a way to get out yourself. I recently saw a video of a drowning man. Another man jumped in to try and save him. Instead both drowned.
Forrest Hobbs 3 days ago
Do NOT jump in to save a drowning person - not unless you are trained and know exactly what you are doing. If you feel you must enter the water to attempt a rescue, walk in, don't jump - and have someone holding your hand. Generally the best idea is to throw the distressed person some sort of buoyancy and take it from there.
#27
If you need to call 911 and you're too busy helping the victim (CPR) specifically point at someone and say "you! Call 911!" Instead of "somebody call 911!" It snaps a person out of bystanders effect and they act.
Forrest Hobbs 3 days ago
Yes! "You! Call 911/999/112/whatever" - give an *ORDER* to a specific person.
#28
Do ***NOT*** inflate your life jacket before exiting the aircraft.
This is especially true in case of emergency water landings. As any air safety expert would tell you, inflating your life jacket inside a rapidly submerging airplane will cause you to float up to the cabin’s ceiling, unable to move without help. The right thing to do is to take a deep breath and swim out of the airplane with your life jacket still deflated. Only when you’re safely out of the plane should you pull the inflation cord.
Hippopotamuses 2 days ago
This is so logical. But, I guess panic takes over some people. That, and the fact that no one seems to bother listening to the safety briefings any more.
#29
If your car goes into the water, open the door or roll down the windows immediately. If you don't, the pressure differential will hold them shut and you'll have to wait until the car fills up with water.
Edit: a lot of people are telling me that on newer cars, the headrest poles can be used to break a window. I'm not sure if that's true, because headrests I've seen are just made of ordinary steel, and the ends aren't particularly pointy. A dedicated window breaker will have a sharp point made of an ultra hard material.
Does anyone know if newer headrests are actually made for this?
Edit 2: It seems headrests are not designed specifically to break windows, but they *can* in a pinch if the proper technique is used (and they can actually be removed). Putting the point in the corner of the window and slamming the headrest.
#30
Chest compressions are important regardless of mouth to mouth.
Edit:
Wow thanks guys. I didn't expect this to blow up like it did. There are many questions in the comments.
Please keep in mind I am not a medical expert. I was trained for first aid and emergency response in the outdoors in New Zealand but do not have any profectional medical training. I encourage everyonenwho can to get a first aid certificate or at leaste some training.
I general follow the Drs ABC steps:
D danger is there anything around that can put you in danger?
R response is the person responsive talk to them. Or gently rub their collarbone.
S send for help call emergency services. Make sure someone stays on the phone. And someone with the person.
A airways check if the airways are free. Sometimes there is just something stuck there. Tilting the head back can free and open airways.
B Breathing is the person breathing? Holding you hear close to their mouth and nose is one of the most effective ways to notice if someone is not breathing.
C circulation check their pulse. There are two main ways of doing this. There is a vain on the underside of the wrist and one on the underside of the Jawline.
Once you have checked the person in this way start chest compression. The location for this is the centre of the chest just under the armpits on the sternum.
For adults use both hands for children use one hand and babies either one hand or a few fingers. The chest does need to be pressed quite hard about half a thumb to a thumb of depth. Obviously use common scene.
Use a song to keep in time. Staying alive or Another one bites the dust work well.
If you are comfortable you can give breath to breath twice for every 30 compressions. Do not do thia if you are alone keep the chest comprestions going. The compressions are the important part as they keep the circulation of oxygen to the brain going.
You may have to take turns with someone it can be exhausting.
Ask If there is a diffibulator around it should have further instructions for use. If you don't feel comfortable using it don't use it. Chest compressions are the important part.
Even if you don't have the training follow these steps! I lt saves lives.
What do you think ?
Angela B 3 days ago (edited)
I would have liked to have read the entire list. Couldn't continue due to the pop up ads COVERING THE POSTS. Am getting very close to leaving the site altogether. It use to be fun, informative and entertaining. Now, with all the ads, it's mostly a s******w
ninjaTrashPandaBoom 2 days ago
Brave browser works well too. No pop-ups. No demanding that I "whitelist." BP is really trying to monetize this reposting of Reddit threads and in the process will succeed in driving away all their users.
Load More Replies...
TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 2 days ago
did anyone else keep on thinking of "the office" whenever there was a post talking about cpr or stayin alive? or was it just me?
Angela B 3 days ago (edited)
I would have liked to have read the entire list. Couldn't continue due to the pop up ads COVERING THE POSTS. Am getting very close to leaving the site altogether. It use to be fun, informative and entertaining. Now, with all the ads, it's mostly a s******w
ninjaTrashPandaBoom 2 days ago
Brave browser works well too. No pop-ups. No demanding that I "whitelist." BP is really trying to monetize this reposting of Reddit threads and in the process will succeed in driving away all their users.
Load More Replies... TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 2 days ago
did anyone else keep on thinking of "the office" whenever there was a post talking about cpr or stayin alive? or was it just me?
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