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Safety should always come first, right? After all, everyone has seen the posters and heard the mantras that teach us to drive safe, keep away from hostile situations, and always be alert to our surroundings. But no matter how smart we are, no matter the amount of information we try to absorb, it’s impossible to know everything.

But fear not! A few months ago, Redditor drjallz rolled up their sleeves and set out on a mission to learn some of the best potentially life-saving tips everyone should know. Fellow members of the Ask Reddit community wasted no time in sharing their precious wisdom on how to act in some of the most dangerous situations. So if you ever pictured a harrowing incident and asked yourself "What if?", we bet this thread has the answer.

We at Bored Panda scrolled through the responses and wrapped up a collection of the most practical and informative replies for times you have to enter into survival mode. Hit upvote on the ones you found useful, and be sure to share your own advice with us in the comments below!

Psst! If you’re eager to learn even more safety tricks, check out our earlier posts about them right here and here.

#1

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day If a service dog comes up to you, *follow them*. Service dogs will only leave their owners as a last ditch effort for help.

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Chris Jones
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or, as in a colleague's case, their guide dog was being naughty. Either way, he needed his dog back!

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#2

If you get caught in avalanche and not sure which way you’re facing create space around your head and spit. Gravity pulls it down and you know which way to dig.

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#3

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day You should have a fire extinguisher in your home. You won’t need it until you really really do. 25 years ago my dad saved our house from burning down (and maybe our lives) because we had a fire extinguisher and when I moved out on my own he insisted that I get one which I’ve hauled around for years thinking I’d probably never need it.

Last weekend an electrical fire started in my building and I was the only one with an extinguisher. The fire department got there quickly so I probably didn’t save any lives, but I was able to keep it under control until they arrived. Buy one, know exactly where it is, and cut the safety tag off of it now so you don’t have to find something to cut it with in an emergency. You never know.

justntimejustin , Nothing Ahead Report

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Alex Bailey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Going to repeat this as it is so worth it - get a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher for your kitchen. The advice to use a damp tea towel is NOT recommended by the UK Fire Brigade anymore so please don't rely on it! It is not easy to get the tea towel exactly the right level of dampness in a hurry. Too damp and it reacts with the grease, not damp enough it will just catch fire too. I know it might have saved someone but that was just luck, you don't always have time for judgement. Get the right tools for the job!

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#4

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day A person who is drowning doesn’t look like people drowning on TV. When someone is drowning, they rarely cry out, can’t wave their arms around, and will often just bob/sink at the surface for a very little while, often gasping, before submerging. Don’t expect it to look like the movies when you’re keeping an eye on swimmers.

mnschu67 , Luca Nardone Report

#5

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day If you think you’re being followed, turn right four times. Since you’ll get to the same place, they shouldn’t be following you anymore. If they do, you might be in trouble. Since it’s a common warning that you shouldn’t go home when you think someone is following you, the smartest is to go to a police station.

mnschu67 , Erik Mclean Report

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Wondering Alice
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my teens, long before mobiles, I was in a car with 2 other girls and we were being followed by a car with 4 boys. We tried a few turns, panicked a lot trying to think up what to do. Thought about hitting a motor way and speeding but realized scared inexperienced driver should not do this. We remembered local college had a manned security gate so headed there. Turned out the boys had been trying to tell us about a broken light. The lovely college security gave them a long lecture in what not to do.

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#6

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day If you go on a long, overnight hike, take a jar of peanut butter. If you get lost, that can keep you alive if you’ve already finished your food. Also, take a BLUE tarp. It’s the only color that doesn’t mesh with the environment and can make air search easier.

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#7

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day If you or a person you’re with hits their head, briefly loses consciousness, but then becomes awake and alert again GO TO THE HOSPITAL ASAP.

You could have what’s called an epidural bleed in your brain, which classically presents as loss of consciousness followed by lucidity.

If you go home and just try to sleep it off, you likely won’t wake up.

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LeighAnne Brown-Pedersen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s more important for someone else to watch you. I’ve seen small concussions get more and more confused. In the hospital, we wake people and do a basic neuro check every 4 hours for 24h.

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#8

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day In a nuclear explosion, most of the damage and death is caused by the shockwave the blast creates, not the fireball which has a comparatively small radius. One day you may find yourself outside or looking out a window to see an extremely bright flash. As bright as if you were staring straight at the sun. Do not attempt to locate the source of the flash. You have maybe 8-10 seconds to respond if you’re far enough away from the fireball. Lay face down on the ground and put your thumbs in your ears and fingers over your eyes. Breathe through your teeth. Since you’re laying face down the shockwave will mostly pass over you. (If you’re standing up it can cause your lungs, eardrums, and other organs to explode.) Once the shockwave passes over you, you need to find shelter immediately. I said before that most death from the explosion is caused by the shockwave. Well, FAR more death is subsequently caused by nuclear fallout AFTER the blast. Do not attempt to travel anywhere. Just get underground. If you’re next to a complete stranger’s house or a business, don’t hesitate to go inside and hide out under as much concrete and steel as possible. You need to remain in this location for the next 48 hours. This is critical. Even if you survive the blast if you attempt to go home and spend just 20 minutes outside traveling you will more than likely die of radiation sickness. Radioactive material after a blast decays exponentially, and you will be safe to try and find your loved ones after 48 hours. If you don’t wait this out, you definitely won’t be alive to find them. When you’re ready, you need to leave the city and get as far from the fallout as you can.

mnschu67 , Wikipedia Report

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Kate Micheals
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think I'd rather die in the initial shockwave then diary of radiation sickness which is bound to happen in the next few days after experiencing something like this.

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#9

If you get caught up in an undercurrent and notice you’re getting dragged slowly out to sea, do not swim directly toward shore. Swim parallel to the shore until you don’t feel yourself being pulled out, then swim directly toward the shore.

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#10

Get a Carbon Monoxide detector with a ppm meter on it.

Recently, I was experiencing intermittent bouts of nausea and lethargy, so I suspected CO poisoning despite my detectors being up to code. I bought a new one with a meter to check if there were trace amounts in my apartment.

I discovered that my oven has a leak, so whenever I cook I get exposed to CO ranging from 35 to 90 ppm, which is pretty high. How come the detectors didn’t go off? Turns out that they only beep when there’s 50ppm for 8 hours, or 150 ppm for 5 to 10 minutes——I was just below the threshold while still getting smashed with carbon monoxide.

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#11

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day Expired epinephrine (epi pen) is better than no epinephrine

Studies show, if properly cared for, epi retains full practical potency for up to 5 years past expiration. Just dont leave it sit in sunlight, freeze, or heat it. All those things speed up its breakdown.

This is especially important to know these days, with epi being $600+, a lot of poor people with serious allergies may be throwing out epi that is in fact still good. When you dont need to replace it every year, its a huge game changer when youre poor and uninsured.

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Kinga Paździorko
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just to let people know: epi pen costs 56 USD in Poland..... HOW 600+ USD is even legal?

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#12

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day If you see someone who may be unconscious and looks like they're about to vomit ROLL THEM ONTO THEIR SIDE. Also do this if someone passes out drunk.

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#13

If you are alone and start choking, you can use the back of a chair or sofa to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on yourself. Source: had to do it to myself when I was about 15

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TheElementalGod️️
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my mom once was choking on a steak. Dad did the heimlich maneuver. Steak landed in salad my grandma spent days making.

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N Gregory
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not so fun fact, the lap part of a seatbelt works too. Source: me choking on a mint in the back seat, dad driving, turned down a side street and hit the anchors. And the mint hit him on the back of the head

JayCee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did this. Choked on pizza in my dorm room and gave myself the Heimlich. Be prepared that other stuff comes up as well 😬

Jorie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I choked on roast beef when I was alone, and ran myself into the kitchen counter. I'm kind of short, so it worked just fine. Use anything that will push forcefully upwards against the bottom of your ribcage and repeat as necessary. Also used it on my mom who was choking on steak.

Kika González
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father did it to a couch. And permanently damaged something in his throat

Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well it's better to have permanent throat damage than to die I suppose.

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Kyle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buy a LifeVac if you are general danger of choking. I have problems with my mouth muscles and this strange shaped thing gets it out without broken ribs.

Who Panda 420
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never heard of a lifevac but I definitely want to look it up now. I live with several elderly people that choke quite a bit and I could use that. Thank you so much for bringing it up. I am already looking at prices.

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Glen Ellyn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did this same thing years ago, even before I saw it mentioned anywhere. I'm glad I kept my wits about me and figured out what would work. Thank you, sofa!

Blackheart
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heimlich is something you don't use regularly, but will remember in an emergency. I was surprised I actually remembered how to do it properly, and have used it at least 3 times on kids. Two times were due to candy!

Joanna Malsbury
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also had to do this to myself. I was like 18 and at my mom's house. I was in the kitchen eating a microwaved pizza and she was in her bathroom taking a shower. Opposite end of the house. Part of the crust of the pizza was harder than the rest and I ended up swallowing that piece and it got stuck. I couldn't make a sound and I knew I wouldn't make it back to her room in time, so I tried to Heimlich myself. Tried it with just my hands, it didn't work. Didn't have a chair nearby. I knew CPR and I remembered what my instructor taught us about doing it on babies, that gravity helps push it back out. So I got down on my knees on the floor and bent so my head and neck was lower than my butt and I did the thrusting again. It loosened, but didn't dislodge. I could feel where it was and while still bent over, I massaged my throat in a downward (toward my head) motion and it loosened more. I did the thrusting again and it came up the rest of the way. I was terrified the entire time.

Adrian
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do thik a video is required here to demonstrate how this is done.

Sarah Levine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one who thought of the classic SNL skit with John Belushi as Elizabeth Taylor? Hysterical!! https://www.reddit.com/r/LiveFromNewYork/comments/jvneu2/john_belushi_as_elizabeth_taylor_11111978/

Nathan Delaney
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup, or angle your arm to hit you center and hit a table. Not a fun experience,but definitely something everyone should learn. Life saving. You don't realize you can't call for help until you're actually choking... Definitely not like the TV/Movies.

Huddo's sister
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

FYI Australian first aid does not recommend using the Heimlich anymore as it is so hard to get right. Instead, do back blows with a cupped hand.

Christina Quentin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used this as well! The back of a dining room chair saved my life when I was just 11.

Winnie Brogan Wiggins
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son had to do this on himself once as well. I believe he was around 14, maybe 15. The worst part is that I was home. He'd been goofing around all day and joking about stuff. So I got to the point I was ignoring him because I had stuff to do. When he, once again, called for me (even though it sounded weird), I ignored him. God forgive me!! But thank God he had recently been taught how to do the heimlich self maneuver just a few days prior. I knew how to do it, but.... When he came in to the room looking for me, he had tears in his eyes and was so red faced. That was about 30 years ago and I STILL feel horrible! I can still feel the fear he must have felt and the horror that I felt when I suddenly realized what had just almost happened to my son! Don't EVER ignore your children! They may "Call Wolf" over & over, but the last time they do, may be the last time EVER.

Marilyn Russell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One time when I was taking a first aid refresher course, a guy tried to convince me on the break that you could do CPR on yourself. I was like, uh no, because if your heart has stopped, you would not be conscious. He would not agree it was the good old Heimlich he meant to say and I thought this guy better not be passing this course today.

KimB
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Counter top corner saved by life once too! I stopped "popping" small candies in my mouth after that!

Leisel Masson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my greatest fears. Choking on food alone at home. Thank you.

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#14

Pressure on the wound is more important than covering it. Ice can also stem blood flow.

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Britt Massez
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, don't pull any object out of a wound, it is better to stabilize it than bleeding out when you pull it out. Leave the removing part to the doctors

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#15

If you've swallowed something wrong in a restaurant and it's blocked your throat, even if you aren't technically "choking" yet, do NOT go to the bathroom out of embarrassment. The majority of female choking deaths occur in the restroom because they excused themselves out of embarrassment for "making a scene"


Edit: the advice of 'don't go to the bathroom or isolate yourself when choking' obviously applies to both genders. I just don't know the statistics for where men are more likely to die when choking or why it's different than women. But I would imagine it has to do with: as women, we are more likely to stupidly be embarrassed and try to hide than men are.

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censor
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saved myself and my kid with this advice recently. If you get soemthing stuck in your throat, CALM DOWN and STOP breathing. do NOT inhale, that sucks it in further. Try breathe in, slowly, through your nose. Sometimes the air can get past the block that way. Once you have managed to get some air in, cough outwards as hard as you can, but do it facing downwards, e.g. sloping down from a bed or couch, so that the whatever object gets help from gravity as well. Inhaling in a panic is what kills you.

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#16

If you get stabbed, do everything in your power to keep the knife in. The knife is acting as a makeshift seal and it’s the only thing keeping you from bleeding out. Keep it in and get to a hospital immediately.

Plus, if it hurts like a b***h going in, it’ll hurt like a b***h going out.

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Ranger Kanootsen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup. I've accidentally punctured, definitely best to leave it in until a professional gets it out.

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#17

If you are lost in the desert, or a lot of places for that matter, the number one thing you can carry to increase your chances of being found is a small reflective mirror. Anytime a plane flies overhead you can reflect light towards them, and you greatly increase your chances of being found. This seriously is more important than carrying more water with you (not that water doesn’t help, it’s just not realistic to carry that much water on your back). Furthermore, if you get stranded in the desert with a vehicle, do not leave your vehicle to find people. You are a lot harder to see than your vehicle, and your car can provide shelter (your car has some good reflective mirrors to signal with, especially the rearview mirror). Finally, the universal sign for needing to be rescued is waving two arms up and down. If you can’t use both of your arms, there is another universal way to signal for help that is more versatile. The way I can best describe it is three of anything quick signal. Three gunshots, three whistle blows, three flashes of a flashlight, three flashes from a reflective mirror, etc. Just make sure they are spaced widely enough (at least one second) and that you spend a considerable time before making your next three signals.

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Mindghost
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pilot: " i see a person with ripped clothes waving like a maniac, but only with one arm. I guess he's just friendly :) *waves back and flys on*"

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#18

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.

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Anonymousplease
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me and my sister sometimes play a game where we blindfold and tie eachother to a chair and have to escape (it's fun and good practice with knot tying and escaping) and I have tried this and it makes a big difference in getting out

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#19

"Don’t Expect It To Look Like The Movies": 30 Lifesaving Tips That Might Save Your Life One Day If your car gets stuck on snow and your tire(s) just spin, you can take out your floor mats and stuff them under the wheel that spins when you press the gas. This will hopefully give the car enough traction to get itself rolling so you can be on your way again.

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Lane Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of those "lifehacks" that works way better in theory than in actual practice.

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#20

Learn how to stay calm, breathe and assess situations. This will help in so many future surprise situations. Be aware of your surroundings, exits, bathrooms and where medical/fire kits, where land-line phones are if they are around.

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Barbara L Bristow
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Listen to the stewardess telling you where the exits are, etc. It could save your life

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#21

If someone has a seizure around you get them on their side, start timing their seizure, then protect their head as best you can, if you know they are epileptic and have emergency meds give EXACTLY how the bottle states, NEVER RESTRAIN, NEVER EVER INSERT SOMETHING IN THE MOUTH (yes they will likely bite their tongue, yes it'll probably bleed, no we can't swallow our tongues.) If this is the first seizure that they have ever had call paramedics and ESPECIALLY if the seizure lasts longer than 5 mins (regardless if they have epilepsy or not) call paramedic. Inform the professionals of any meds/drugs the person has taken(if you gave emergency meds) stay with person till help arrives.


Seizures/epilepsy affects millions of people and they can absolutely result in death sometimes. Especially from choking due to poor help from bystanders. Please help us stay alive

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RenaMoonlight
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I worked in France and had first aid training I was told to never give a person their meds, not even feed them water, if they can't take the meds or drink the water on their own. If anything happens to that person you may be held responsible. So, always check the laws of a country. In some countries, if you refuse to help them, and something happens to them, you will also be held responsible for denying help.

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#22

If you’re ever feeling lightheaded and seeing stars, and just a general feeling of thinking you’re going to pass out. Lay on your back and put your legs in the air and take deep breaths in and out. The blood from your brain rushed down to your feet and doing this will rush it back to your head.

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Strawberry Pizza
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or sit on a chair and put your head between your knees if lying down isn't possible. That also helps.

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#23

Embassies/consulates have emergency numbers they answer 24 hours a day. Save (on your phone) the phone number of your nearest embassy/consulate when abroad. If you get in many kinds of trouble (with the police, other legal issues, medical stuff, if you’re a victim of a crime, lost your passport, etc.), they can help you much more effectively than your family/friends back home can.

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Wondering Alice
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Erm.... Having had to call embassies and consulates, I would not advise relying on them. Family/friends back home have the luxury of time and resources to call among other places embassies on the off chance they are helpful. Of course it depends on your nationality and the country you are in. If you ever find yourself in trouble in foreign country, airports can often be helpful for advice.

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#24

If you ever lose control of your car (i.e. The rear end starts to come around on the freeway), take your foot off the gas and DO NOT hit the brakes. Take note of the direction the rear end is wanting to spin and turn into it. So if your rear end starts to spin counterclockwise you would want to turn the steering wheel clockwise opposing that spin. Do not over turn as you can cause the car to snap back too far and spin in the other direction. If you live in a snowy place you can practice this in an empty parking lot during a snowy day. Always leave room between the car in front of you!

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censor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Similarly if you hit a puddle of water and start aquaplaning, do NOT brake, do NOT accelerate, just let the car drift to a halt and try steer to the emergency lane.

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#25

When caught in a stampede:

As soon as you get knocked down your chances decrease significantly. If this is the case, however, and you can’t get up immediately, assume a protective posture with your feet tucked up and your hands covering your head. Try to position your face in the direction the crowd is moving so you don’t get kicked and try to get back on your feet ASAP.

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Alex Bailey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grew up on a farm. Our 100+ herd stampeded when I was about 10 years old. Was absolutely effing terrifying. My dad shouted 'stand still they'll go around you'. Yeah, right. As if the instinct to run doesn't kick in anyway! I RAN. For anyone unsure my dad was completely wrong, they won't go round you. I threw myself over the gate to the field and looked back... they'd gone the other way. That was lucky, very lucky.

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#26

Keep your bedroom door closed at night. It could save your life in a house fire. Check your smoke alarms regularly.

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#27

If you have a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, get it checked out by your doctor. Don't ever think you're wasting their time.

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Al Christensen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"...get it checked out by your doctor." Doctor's Clerk: "Okay, we can fit you in in six weeks." No, go to an urgent care place or ER.

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#28

Here’s some quick nature-related ones! Primarily for hikers and people who like to mess around outside.



-If you encounter an animal that looks like it’s ready to stand its ground, do not run and do not turn your back. Doing so will likely provoke them further. No, you can’t fistfight a moose.

-If you’re ever pursued by bees/wasps, run like hell! They don’t chase you particularly far (save for killer bees) and you will likely get away with minimal stings. Don’t go into water. They’re not stupid, they will wait for you to poke your fleshy bits above the water to breathe, and you will be attacked.

-Snakes, Spiders, Scorpions. If you’re bit/stung, it may be a good idea to try and capture the animal so that it can be identified. However, only do so if you’re 100% certain that you can capture the animal quickly without further endangering yourself. Getting bit by a cobra is bad, getting bit by a cobra three times because you think you need to catch it is *REALLY* bad. Focus on getting your a*s to a hospital and if you can, keep an idea of what the animal looked like. Most hospitals are stocked with anti venom for local species, and most species are distinct enough for a description to work as an identifier.

-Bats. If you get bit by a bat, or even have cause to *believe* you were bit by a bat, immediately get a rabies series. Bats are frequent carriers, and rabies is 100% lethal if it becomes symptomatic.

-Currents. If you’re trapped in any sort of current, be it a river or the sea, do not fight it. You will tire yourself out, and you will die. You will never win against water. Instead, swim perpendicular to the current.

-Wild animals, primarily large ones. If you bump into one and it tries to back you off, get the hell away. See tip #1 for what not to do. If you get the hell away and it sticks around, stay vigilant and leave the area immediately. It’s likely a predator doing this, and it’s stalking you. It sees you as food, and wants you dead. Whatever you’re doing, drop it and GTFO.

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#29

If you ever get a tooth knocked out or pulled out, put it in milk. Depending on the roots they may be able to preserve the tooth!

If you ever cut the quik on your dogs nails, keep a bar of soap on hand and rub the paw/nail area into the soap bar to stop the bleeding.

Always keep a photo of important documents in your email or your phone. Phone is handiest - save it to a specific document. Trust me - people lose papers often, or don’t have a copy of ID readily available and if you ever had them stolen you have copies to help get the new ones, shut down old accts, etc and still have some things to use in the interim if absolutely necessary. Also - for your car - keep a photocopy of your ownership in the car and not the ACTUAL ownership (advice from an officer that I was once given).

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basil
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This might be a dumb question but why would you want to preserve the tooth?

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#30

Don't try to breath under water, you're not a fish

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#31

If your friend is overdosing or having a medical issue while drugs or alcohol are involved/around DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL 911 or whatever your emergency number is. In the United States at least, you will have amnesty and neither you nor the person having medical issues will get in trouble.

This can genuinely save so many lives. Not only will ems be able to help you once they get there, but the operator can give you advice in the mean time.

ALSO go to your local cvs or Walgreens or whatever and get naloxone. It is free in most places and can easily save someone’s life during an opioid overdose. Even if you don’t do drugs, even if your friends don’t do drugs, you may someday be in a situation where you need it so it never hurts.

Edit: wanted to add drug test kits or legal. They sell them in most smoke shops and on Amazon and they are like $10. Fentanyl is in EVERYTHING. It is super deadly. Don’t assume cause you know the dealer or he has good stuff it’s gonna be clean. The cartels are known to add fent and a huge portion of drugs pass through them. TEST YOUR DRUGS

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Don Golosso
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Finally, instead of just naively shouting "Don't do drugs mmm'kay" someone who gives advice for those who do want to (recreatively) use.

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#32

When using a compass, be sure that it is far away from any metal parts of your kit.

Got lost while on my first "solo" hunt last season because I didn’t realize that my compass would be attracted to the steel of my rifle. Only got out of there because I used the digital compass and map on my iPhone.

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Zero
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was teaching some orienteering skills one spring. One of the kids I was working with kept getting bad readings. I knew the reason so I walked him through the logic of figuring out for himself what was going on. He had magnets in his mittens.

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#33

If someone is having a heart attack, chew an aspirin (as directed by doctor) instead of swallowing it to make it work faster. Should help buy a little time until an EMT arrives.

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Zero
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clarification: have THEM chew the aspirin, not you while they have the attack.

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#34

If under gunfire and you have to duck behind a stationary car. Make sure you put the engine in between you and the shooter or where the shots seem to be coming from.

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SummerSnoopy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The engine won't explode, but it will stop many kinds of bullets. It is also true that the gas tank could explode from a spark from the bullet. But if you stand or squat in the middle of the car frame, where the doors and windows are, you're much more likely to get hit, as bullets can go through that like "butta"!

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#35

Car head rests can be used to break a window

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#36

Don’t ever swim against a rip tide.

Instead of swimming against the rip current, you want to swim perpendicular to it, in either direction. Rip currents are typically only 20-100 feet wide. Once you leave the rip, swim at an angle away from it towards the shore.

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#37

Get at least 7 hrs of sleep every night. You’ll save your health, your sanity and your life.

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#38

If the ice doesn't float, there is something in your drink. Always put your hand on top of it.

Many people know these tricks, but just in case

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Lane Smith
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh good grief. Ice floats or sinks depending on the density of the fluid it's in. It has nothing to do with being spiked.

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