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“Search The Most Deadly Places First”: 35 Facts That Could Help Save Someone’s Life One Day
Interview
One of the best skills you can learn in life is staying cool as a cucumber in emergency situations. While everyone else around is panicking, you’re collected and know exactly what to do. You take charge. You calm everyone down. You lead them out of the crisis.
Reddit user u/Accidentallyupvotes1 sparked an important discussion on the r/AskReddit forum. They invited everyone to share the facts that could end up potentially saving a person’s life. We’ve collected the most important ones. You might find some of these insights and suggestions new. Meanwhile, others are a good refresher for all of us.
Bored Panda reached out to the author of the viral thread, u/Accidentallyupvotes1, and they were happy to answer our questions and share their thoughts. You'll find their insights as you scroll down.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
If you can’t find you kid in your house, don’t search common places they would be. Search the most deadly places; pools, freezes, washing machines and dryers. Seconds count and if they are hiding under the table for an extra minute, who cares.
RELATED:
#2
Just because someone rings your doorbell, doesn't mean you have an obligation to answer.
#3
If you fall through the ice... the dark spot is the way out. The sun reflects off the ice surface. The spot you entered has no ice or reflection, so will be dark ... opposite what we would naturally think
Staying calm under stress has a lot of different factors associated with it. But broadly speaking, there are a few main aspects. The first one is your ability to be aware of and regulate your emotions when things get tough. Secondly, you have to know what to do in these emergency situations—it’s a question of information. And third of all, you have to have at least some sort of practical experience dealing with the situations in question.
If you only have a theoretical knowledge of what to do when there’s an emergency, you might be too shocked to put any of those ideas into practice. Similarly, even if you’re decent at not giving in to stress, you might still feel lost because you don’t know what to do in that particular situation.
#4
You should still attempt to dial 911 in an emergency even if you have no bars of signal. There are protocols that allow your phone to bounce signals off any tower available, including military/first responder ones and towers not on your network in the event that you attempt to call 911.
Velveteen Worm 1 year ago
I once had my car break down on a mountain in a rural area my cousin and I called several times and it just simply wouldn't even ring. Very scary night.
Shawn NowayJose 1 year ago
Bonus fact. Phones with no sim cards can still call 911. Also gps is a separate chip and doesn't rely on the phone being connected to a network. So you can use that on an inactive phone too.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
It's called Enhanced 911 and it came out after September 11th. There were people buried in the rubble who were trying to call out for hours after the collapse of the towers. It took too long for the cell companies to work together to locate them and they died.
Robert T 1 year ago
It's 999 in the UK, but 112 also works. You don't even need a SIM card in the phone.
Load More Replies... Nitka Tsar 1 year ago (edited)
This is true for smartphones, yes, but not for (every?) normal phone. Modern smartphones recognise those numbers and exchange them for the local one. Old phones cannot do that however.
WindySwede 1 year ago
Though it has 112 likes now (emergency number here in EU), I gave it one more.
Load More Replies...
eMpTy 1 year ago
Triple Zero (000) is Australia's primary telephone number to call for assistance in life threatening or time critical emergency situations. Dialling 112 directs you to the same Triple Zero (000) call service and does not give your call priority over Triple Zero (000).
A. HAM 1 year ago
Yes. Even a phone that is not registered to a service provider call still call 911. That’s one reason why old cell phones shouldn’t be given to kids as toys.
Load More Replies...
Destiny Kruse 1 year ago
It's also a reason people should donate their old phones to shelters that cater to domestic violence victims. Their significant others are likely too abusive to allow them to have their own phones. That just means they're even more likely to need to call 911 at some point.
Bored something 1 year ago
Or just educate them to only use it in a real emergency. More of a reason to give them one just in case.
Adam Belaire 1 year ago
Not anymore. Wireless providers in the United States have permanently shut down their 3G/HSPA networks as of July 1, 2022 so if your phone is older, even 911 won't work. My cell phone can't work anywhere in the US. Luckily, my wife's phone is slightly newer and does work.
Deaf Gypsy 1 year ago
What about Deaf people - can we text 911 even if there is no bars? Will responders text back?
Puppy Dancing! 1 year ago (edited)
Also texting often will work in low signal areas where a phone call will not. Text GPS location and Help! Emergency! To several people on your list.
A. Starhawk Hunt 1 year ago
Don’t even have to have cell service. Had a couple of customers clowning around. The daughter yelled “Help! Call 911!”. Her phone heard her and dialed EMS. We could have heated the store with, her face was so hot!
arthbach 1 year ago
Send a text message. They require far less power and signal strength. If a signal becomes available the message gets sent.
Destiny Kruse 1 year ago
Not all 911 lines are set up to receive text messages. In fact, only six states currently have the ability to receive texts.
robin aldrich 1 year ago
I think someone said try to send a text anyway. Even if it won't go right away, it'll still try to send if it gets any kind of signal. I'm not sure if that's true or not.
Belladonna.dreams 1 year ago
If you look at your phone bill there is usually a small fee for emergency services to ensure that any cell phone with a charge can still call 911 including phones that aren't active. That's why you gotta be careful when you let your kids play with your old phone.
Destiny Kruse 1 year ago
You also don't need a service plan. You can grab any phone, even if it's twenty years old, and as long as it has a working battery, you can call 911.
Arctic Remi 1 year ago
I wonder why don't we have an internationally aknowledged number? So you'd learn one and don't have to try and remember the current location one under stress
cugel. 1 year ago
I wonder what happens if one actually tries to dial 911. I'd think nothing, but there's lots of dumb people out there, maybe enough to implement some sort of system. I'm not going to try.
Norm Gilmore 1 year ago
Because American TV is so prevalent in New Zealand if peoples brains blank and they dial the American number it automatically puts phones through to our emergency number which is 111.
Glenn Cuneo 1 year ago
any cell phone, even those old ones in the desk drawer without any service? They can dial 911. 911 can't call you back if you get disconnected while using an old janky phone without any service paln.
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago
Your phone will also call 911 even if you don't have paid service on that phone. Plus, in homes that have land lines still, you can call 911 even if you don't have paid service at home. That's what the extra "911 service" charge is on your bill (usually a few cents) , pays so everyone can use it. Domestic violence shelters often take old unused (but still working) cell phones for this reason. You can still call for help even if you don't have service from the carrier.
Joanne Earle 1 year ago
There are parts of Northern Arizona that I'm not sure I would trust this advice to work. Talk about a complete dead zone, unless you come to a small town.
Chris Landrum 1 year ago
I have read you should leave your location on your voicemail so even if your battery dies, it is on your voicemail. also, if lost, answer your phone. I read about I guy who didn't and it was his rescuers calling
Melinda Layten 1 year ago
Also texts are more likely to go through than calls in low coverage areas.
LovingKnuckle 1 year ago
Yeah. I was in the mountains over the holiday and there was mostly no service. But at least on an iPhone it will say SOS where the bars are. Meaning you can still use that
#5
if it feels wrong, it probably is. trust that gut feeling, it’s there for a reason.
I heart Boo-BI-es 1 year ago
It really is amazing to think about, just how much is going on in your brain, that you don't even think about, it's just happening in the background. Everything that is picked up by your senses, is constantly being processed and filed. Truly mind blowing 🤯 Also I may or may not have recently consumed my prescribed medication. 🫠
#6
Teach your kids that if they're ever separated from you to find any closest adult (in emergencies). The likelihood of THE next person you would walk up to being a [predator] are slim to none. But the odds increase dramatically waiting for the first person to approach a child alone.
It’s probably a good idea that you and your loved ones know what to do in case of more common emergencies. For example, if there’s a fire at home. Running through some roleplaying exercises can cement this in everyone’s minds.
It’s why you have fire drills at schools and some companies. You’re putting all of that knowledge into practice so that if things do go wrong, you don’t panic. You stay calm. You don’t stick around for your valuables. You head out the door after making sure that your loved ones are with you.
#7
Driving is not a race or "game" that you have to win. There are no prizes.
marianne eliza 1 year ago
Some poor saps get no wins in their lives other than beating at least one person to the stoplight. Sad isn't it?
#8
The rocks from a river absorb water. When rapidly heated it causes the absorbed water to boil much quicker than steam can escape the rock. This buildup of steam causes the rock to explode, sending hot rock fragments everywhere.
So don't use rocks from a river to make a fire pit.
the quickening 1 year ago
Yeah, shouldn't build a sauna oven using regular rocks from your yard.
Meanwhile, if you live in a part of the world where hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural disasters are commonplace, it only makes sense that you have an emergency plan… as well as a backup plan if the first one fails. The more you practice something, the more confident you become. The more confident you are, the less you’ll panic when you have to put your theoretical knowledge into action. You’re simply running through what the same process you’ve done time and again.
The fact of the matter is that we physically cannot be prepared for every possible eventuality. No matter how capable we are, we’ll still be surprised by what life throws at us. But we cannot chronically worry about that, being scared to even step outside our own homes.
#10
My mom always taught me to count rows between your seat and the emergency exit. So if you can’t see where you are going you can feel where you are going. I’ll never forget that.
BrownTabby 1 year ago (edited)
On Air New Zealand they have that in the safety video for exactly this reason.
#11
I live in Canada, this only applies to cold climates. They are not dead until they are warm and dead. There are many cases where somebody got stuck outside and froze then doctor revived them.
#12
Getting a second or even third opinion. You know yourself better than they do. If you don’t get answers please keep looking. Please don’t settle.
We learn what we can. We practice what we can. And then, we focus on the other things in our lives that we can control. Like taking good care of our physical and mental health so that we’re fit and focused and better at surviving. Not to mention strengthening our relationships with people so that if things do turn out bad, we have a strong social network to lean on.
The discussion that redditor u/Accidentallyupvotes1 started is a vital one. Not only does it remind people that they should probably brush up on their emergency-handling knowledge, but it also works as a starting point for folks who have never considered the possibility of being in these situations before.
We were curious about what had inspired the OP to create the r/AskReddit thread in the first place. According to them, it was as much about curiosity as calming down their sense of worry about the world. "I have a minor case of anxiety," they opened up to us, adding that they "just wanted to learn some facts." As it turns out, they have a lot in common with other redditors.
#13
If you're at the beach and the water recedes suddenly, run and get to the highest ground you can find. A Tsunami is on the way
#14
Choking is silent. If they’re coughing, they’re not actually choking. If someone goes silent and starts pointing to their neck, start the Heimlich maneuver.
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
If it's a baby/toddler/small child choking, instead of the Heimlich (go to hug choking person from behind, one hand over the other with the bottom hand a fist at just below ribcage level, and jerk INWARDS and UP several times in succession), you want to sit down, flip the kid face-down over your knee, and bang their back with an upward (relative to them) striking motion just below the level of their shoulder blades (having them face-down like this means gravity works with you here).
#15
If someone comes at you with a weapon and tells you to go with them, DO NOT. Never go to the second location.
I heart Boo-BI-es 1 year ago
Ok, well how do you prevent them from not taking you, to the second location?
Learning to stay calm in emergency situations really is easier said than done. We were curious to get the thread author's take on this. They shared their perspective on how anyone can handle these sorts of unexpected situations better.
In u/Accidentallyupvotes1's opinion, the key is learning to control your breathing. They suggested that people slow down their breathing and focus on taking deeper breaths. This should help them calm down and stay in control when things get stressful.
The OP urged everyone to take a "deep breath" and then strongly exhale, as though they were trying to "blow out a candle." Repeat this as necessary.
#16
If your kid gets kidnapped, don’t teach them to say “help”. Teach them to say something like “who the f**k are you, you’re not my f*****g dad, f**k you.” That’s gonna turn a lot more heads and get you actual help a lot quicker.
marianne eliza 1 year ago
Yelling Stranger is a lot more acceptable than teaching a young child to swear freely.
#17
If you get lost in the wilderness the best thing to do is to stay calm and stay put. Unless there is an immediate threat to your safety in the area, just sit down and wait for someone to come find you.
Many people die or get seriously injured because they keep moving and Search & Rescue can't catch up to them.
VikingAbroad 1 year ago
If your car get stuck in a blizzard, stay in your car. The car is easier to find for S&R than your frozen body in a snowdrift.
#18
If you get bit by a wild animal, get yourself to a hospital ASAP and tell them that. You don’t want rabies to set in.
Bubs (he/they) 1 year ago
Once you start showing symptoms of rabies, your life is over. It's really one of the most terrifying diseases I've ever heard about.
Something that bothers a lot of people is how to balance living their lives with the fact that unexpected and unlucky events can happen to anyone.
Redditor u/Accidentallyupvotes1 admitted to Bored Panda that they're no different: they worry about the very same thing.
Though there's no silver bullet answer to this problem, the OP urged everyone to adopt the good old YOLO (you only live once) attitude. That means embracing the nuanced reality of life, trying to live to the fullest, and living purposefully every day, no matter what.
What emergencies do you personally feel you're capable of tackling, dear Pandas? Have you ever had to save another person's life? If you're feeling up to it, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this article. Meanwhile, for some more facts that might help you save someone else, you can peruse Bored Panda's earlier post.
#19
If you've gone two and a half or more days without water, and you have to choose between drinking water without any way to sanitize it or not drinking water, drink the water. If you don't, you'll definitely die soon. Most of the diseases you can get from bad water take a couple days to set in, which gives you more time to find help.
#20
don't mix bleach with anything but water
I heart Boo-BI-es 1 year ago
This, I've heard so many stories of people being hospitalized due to mixing bleach with other common cleaners. Mixing then causes a toxic gas to be released and when inhaled, it can cause many serious symptoms and even death.
#21
As soon as your car door is unlocked, relock it. People get back into their cars and fiddle with their wallet or whatever all with their car doors unlocked and it makes them an easy target.
marianne eliza 1 year ago
I hate that my Honda unlocks the driver's door the moment the car is put in park. That's just dangerous.
#22
If you get caught in a rip current, don’t fight it. It won’t pull you under. People die because they panic, fight it, and get tired and then drown.
When you can, swim parallel to the shore out of the rip and then diagonally back to shore.
EDIT: I’m taking out the part about “let it take you out” because people bring up a point below that you should start swimming parallel immediately. I just meant you shouldn’t fight it and swim against straight back to shore. That’s not going to end well. Stay safe out there everyone!
#23
CPR requires a flat surface!
When Michael Jackson died, it was mentioned on the news that someone tries CPR with him on his bed. My mom said, "You're just pushing the mattress up and down!"
#24
Don’t pull a knife or anything else out of a puncture wound. The object may very well be keeping you from bleeding out, only a medical professional should remove something stuck in you.
#25
Bring a lot of water, if you head into the desert. Like way more than you think you need.
#26
The symptoms of a heart attack are different for women.
Have a mole check as soon as you can.
Never put off going to the Dr if you think something is wrong.
Fight your Dr if they don't help you. Never give up. It's YOUR life that is in danger, not theirs.
Cyber Returns 1 year ago
If you have a cough that wont go away, get it checked. It can be one of the first signs of heart failure
#27
Signs of a stroke: FAST.
Face drooping? Arm weakness? Speech slurred? Time to go to the hospital! (**EDIT: it's now BE FAST: Balance Eyes (sudden vision loss or trouble seeing) Face Arm Speech Time.** Thanks multiple commenters!!)
Speed of response makes the difference between "sometimes walks a little funny when tired" and "bedbound lump." If you know old people, you need to know how to spot a stroke.
GlamourGhoul 1 year ago
My grandma literally had a stroke diagnosed yesterday, I wish I had known that her not walking well, and having a massive headache was a stroke and not just another migraine. It wasn’t until she start hallucinating that I realized what was happening. She’s in the hospital now, and in good hands.
#28
Baking soda will extinguish a fire, even grease and electrical fires.
You should always keep a box of it nearby when you're cooking and grilling.
Shark Lady 1 year ago
Having a fire blanket is even better, if you are in rented accommodation in the UK your landlord is supposed to provide one.
#30
Losing weight without trying could very well be cancer.
#31
Never walk/ski/snowboard near trees when there is heavy snow- there is something called a "tree well" that sometimes forms under trees where if you fall in you will become impacted by snow, often upside down and suffocate to death
JayWantsACat 1 year ago
This may not sound that bad but it literally happened in this vid. What're the chances that the skier happens to run into a guy out of thw whole mountain? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5ME9Swo0_8
#33
A fishy smell in your house could mean there’s an electrical fire
I heart Boo-BI-es 1 year ago
The girl in this picture, looks like she's growling at her prey. 😂 good choice BP
#34
If someone is bleeding heavily, put pressure on it, don’t just watch
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
Also, don't remove material on the wound that blood has soaked through, just put more on top. Taking stuff off will interrupt any clotting that's taking place. And if you have any handy, sanitary pads are really useful when you have a heavily bleeding wound. They don't stick badly like fabric does and they're incredibly absorbent for their size, plus you can tape them in place. MUCH easier to manage a taped-in-place pad or two than a blood-soaked towel that needs holding and is dripping (also less distressing for others in the waiting room). I don't menstruate, but they're in my first aid kit! FYI, tampons are great for nose bleeds too!
#35
If you ever feel dizzy or tired after a short ride in your car,get your car checked,cause there might be some exhaust leak leading into your cabin and might leak some harmful substances like CO
Bear Hall 1 year ago
If something like this happens open your window right away even if it's raining, scorching hot or freezing cold outside. If it's CO it literally clears your head. If you are "just" tired or ill the sudden change of temperature might give you the necessary boost to drive somewhere you can safely stop and take a breather. Because you should stop asap and resume only after you feel alert enough to drive again. Don't risk it even if you are only 2 corners away from home.
What do you think ?
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
This isn't necessarily life-saving info, but it's something to remember for all you guys out there with phone anxiety, and it DEFINITELY applies 100% in emergency situations. It occurred to me when I had a friend with severe anxiety staying with me, and I started a new medication and had a REALLY bad reaction. She had to make a 999 call so I could be assessed by paramedics/taken to hospital if necessary, and she was stumbling over words, needed time to breathe, etc. - but she managed to communicate all the essential information, even if it wasn't neat and tidy. When the call was over she started the typical spiral (self-hate, useless, not good enough, etc.) and I was pretty out of it but I remember telling her, "you aren't being given marks out of 10. The sole purpose of the call was to give information to get a service. You managed to give the information even though it was hard, and you've got me the service. Thank you." And that applies to so many phone situations.
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 1 year ago
The rule of 3s: 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food. Prioritize air over water, water over food.
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
Also - I'm the person you want with you in an emergency situation. My emotions immediately bûgger off and I snap into logical/rational mode. I can (and have) dealt with injuries, ODs, medical emergencies, and deaths (2 days ago was the 10yr anniversary of finding my best friend dead on my bedroom floor...), emergency services, hospitals and police stations, and calling mutual friends (I normally have bad phone anxiety). I was calm when I was hit by a car, and calm when I was in ICU with sepsis. I was calm when I managed to sleepwalk my way out my bedroom window 40ft (15m) up. It hits me afterwards and I have c-PTSD (not from any of this, except my best friend) but it's still good to know that if I'm in/witness a freak accident I won't panic and can be useful and a calming influence.
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
This isn't necessarily life-saving info, but it's something to remember for all you guys out there with phone anxiety, and it DEFINITELY applies 100% in emergency situations. It occurred to me when I had a friend with severe anxiety staying with me, and I started a new medication and had a REALLY bad reaction. She had to make a 999 call so I could be assessed by paramedics/taken to hospital if necessary, and she was stumbling over words, needed time to breathe, etc. - but she managed to communicate all the essential information, even if it wasn't neat and tidy. When the call was over she started the typical spiral (self-hate, useless, not good enough, etc.) and I was pretty out of it but I remember telling her, "you aren't being given marks out of 10. The sole purpose of the call was to give information to get a service. You managed to give the information even though it was hard, and you've got me the service. Thank you." And that applies to so many phone situations.
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 1 year ago
The rule of 3s: 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food. Prioritize air over water, water over food.
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
Also - I'm the person you want with you in an emergency situation. My emotions immediately bûgger off and I snap into logical/rational mode. I can (and have) dealt with injuries, ODs, medical emergencies, and deaths (2 days ago was the 10yr anniversary of finding my best friend dead on my bedroom floor...), emergency services, hospitals and police stations, and calling mutual friends (I normally have bad phone anxiety). I was calm when I was hit by a car, and calm when I was in ICU with sepsis. I was calm when I managed to sleepwalk my way out my bedroom window 40ft (15m) up. It hits me afterwards and I have c-PTSD (not from any of this, except my best friend) but it's still good to know that if I'm in/witness a freak accident I won't panic and can be useful and a calming influence.
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