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Internet Users Are Sharing Facts That Can Save Your Life, And Here Are 40 Of The Most Useful Ones
You’re not alone, Pandas—there are plenty of people out there who would love to be superheroes and to live a life of adventure. But bravery and a willingness to help others, though vital, aren't enough: you also need nerves of steel and to know what you're doing when there's an emergency.
Though it’s practically impossible to be prepared for every eventuality (and nobody should have to live in perpetual fear of something bad happening), it pays off to know what to do in dangerous situations. We’re featuring the most useful tips that redditors from all walks of life shared online, and these might potentially end up saving someone’s life in the future. They feel like everyone should at least be aware of their advice. Scroll down, upvote the posts you found the most enlightening, and let us know in the comments if you feel like someone has missed something important.
Bored Panda wanted to learn about how to react in emergency situations, so we reached out to the talented and hard-working team behind the Australian Firefighters Calendar, a project that raises money for various charities. We got in touch with the Director of the project, David Rogers, who passed our questions on to one of the most qualified firefighters involved with the calendar, Bruce Mitchell, who has been with the fire service for 30 years.
Meanwhile, when you're done reading this article, you’ll find some more clever tips that could one day save your life in Bored Panda’s earlier post right over here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
If a service dog comes to you for attention, immediately locate their owner, they could be using a last ditch effort to get help.
A few months ago when I was on a delivery for work, I was stopped by a dog who ran out in the middle of the road (residential). I got out and tried to move the dog, but it followed me all the way to the door of my delivery. Once I was done I checked the dogs tag to bring it home, and I noticed he had all kinds of medical tags. After I realized what the dog was trying to do, I ran towards the correct address and the dog led me through a screen door on the porch. His owner was passed out on the floor, and I called 911.
The individual had a phone (brought by the dog) by its head, and a bag of medications by his side. The dog had done everything it was trained to do, but the person had passed out before it could do anything. The ambulance came, got his pulse back, and took him to the hospital. I don't know if he ended up surviving, but if I hadn't checked the dog's tags and realized it was a medical animal, I wouldn't have hurried, blatantly invite myself in his house, and ultimately get him to a point of survival.
Bored Panda wanted to know what someone should do if they wake up to find that their home is filled with smoke or they see fire. Veteran firefighter Bruce, a member of the Australian Firefighters Calendar team with decades of experience in the fire service, told Bored Panda that, first of all, it's vital to hit the floor.
"If you stand up in the smoke, you can be unconscious very quickly. Make sure everyone is safe in the house depending on the severity of the fire. Make sure you stay low and make your way outside the house. The priority is to have working fire alarms in your house, have them checked regularly," he explained what you should do in this type of emergency.
RELATED:
#2
If you're performing CPR on someone who's stopped breathing/heart has stopped, don't stop until EMTs take the body away. Don't stop after 2 mins thinking "Well that didn't work." CPR typically won't cause the victim's heart to suddenly start and or for them to jerk awake -- it's mostly to force blood circulation to prevent brain death. You're not forcing life into them; you're preserving a corpse to keep a 'reviveable' state.
Donkey boi 2 years ago
CPR is a lot more tiring that you think. While doing it, call out for someone to call an ambulance and ask if anyone else knows CPR so that you have someone to take over/take it in turns. 2-3 mins and you'll be feeling tired. If you're worn out you wont be as effective. I've done it for 8 mins by myself and felt like my arms were about to fall off.
Meanwhile, Bruce also shared what someone should do if they see someone fall unconscious.
"The first thing to do is to make sure you and the person are in a safe environment. They may have lost consciousness for a number of reasons that might not be due to poor health, for example, a gas leak or a shock from an electrical current," he pointed out to Bored Panda.
"After you ensure the area is safe, call emergency services immediately. Then check for responses from the patient, see if they can communicate. If they are unresponsive and not breathing, start CPR."
#4
If you fall into water, don't panic. You don't have to be able to swim; you just have to float. Hold your breath and let yourself bob to the surface.
If someone is in trouble in the water, they will absolutely kill you in mindless panic. Bring something with you - a float, a rope, a towel - and use that to bridge the gap between you so you can tow the person in.
If you must make direct contact, come up from behind and slip your arm across the victim's chest. Pull the victim's back to your chest and keep his/her arms facing away from you. I've been in the deathgrip of a fat little 8 year old and he nearly took me out.
If a panicked drowner does grab you, do everything in your power to go down toward the bottom. Most will let go; that's the last place they want to go.
Recognize that even if you are both a strong swimmer and a trained rescuer, you are still risking your own life if you go to the aid of a swimmer in trouble. Take it very seriously.
Chocolate llama 2 years ago
I've heard you're supposed to pull one of the drowning person's arms behind their back. Like that you can keep their face above water but they're limited in their ability to drown you with them.
#5
If you ever get lost, the first thing to do is stop moving. Sit down, stop freaking out, and think. If you give in to panic and lose your head, you can screw things up so badly for yourself that help will never find you.
Remember the rule of three:
Starvation will kill you in three weeks.
Thirst will kill you in three days.
Cold will kill you in three hours.
Lack of oxygen will kill you in three minutes.
Panic will kill you in three seconds.
Laura Ketteridge 2 years ago
Stop and think. If you decide to walk in a certain direction then use the things around to SHOW which way you have gone. Use your heel to gouge an arrow in the ground. Use stones to make an arrow. Use twigs, etc.
#6
It's likely too late for anyone to see this but hopefully this helps a few: nuclear warfare is a serious threat that hasn't been mentioned yet. The following was common knowledge during the cold war era, but most people my age don't know what to do in a nuclear disaster. 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.
Here at Bored Panda, we genuinely think that the people working in the emergency services are heroes. We wanted to know about what it takes to be a great firefighter, and whether it's more important to be mentally or physically tough.
"Mental resilience and physical toughness are equally important," the veteran firefighter stressed.
"A major contributing factor to being a successful firefighter is the ability to assess the situation quickly. Things can happen extremely fast at a fire or an accident, you must be able to act and think at the same pace," Bruce said. "It is also important to possess problem-solving abilities in high-pressure situations."
The veteran, who's involved with the Australian Firefighters Calendar project, added that it really helps if you come from a well-rounded background before joining the fire service. "Farmers, builders, and construction workers, people that have worked with their hands make fantastic firefighters. Physical strength and endurance are also a vital component in a rescue situation."
#7
If you see someone wearing a motorcycle helmet have an accident, DO NOT pull their helmet off for any reason. By all means, loosen the chin strap, but leave the helmet on and let the paramedics or doctors deal with it. You don't know what that helmet is holding together.
annuschka 2 years ago
now I made an account just for this: In Germany I learned in first aid to REMOVE the helmet if the person is UNRESPONSIVE and this is life-safing. More people die because they choke to death (vomit in the helmet). See: "With [...] helmets, airways and breathing can be determined to a certain degree, however with full face helmets it is almost impossible to determine accurately. Therefore, for an unconscious patient where you are unable to determine a clear and open airway with breathing, or if you can determine that the patient has a compromised airway and CPR is required, then the helmet must come off" https://www.paradisefirstaid.com.au/how-to-remove-motorbike-helmet/ The german red cross is recommending to get it off: "To clear the airway and keep them clear, it is essential to remove the helmet, otherwise the patient will suffocate," says Prof. Sefrin (only in DE: www.drk.de/hilfe-weltweit/aktuelles-weltweit/meldung/drk-zu-motorradunfaellen-bei-kopfverletzung-helm-abnehmen/)
#8
Kids don’t float. For a number of reasons, kids aren’t as buoyant as adults. Kids should always wear a life vest when in a boat of any sort, as well as when playing around streams, ponds, lakes, oceans etc. A small child can drown in no time. In many places there are laws requiring kids to wear life vests in boats. Where I live, vests are also required at public recreation areas. Fire departments even have free loaners.
Those inflatable arm band floaies/wings aren’t sufficient. They can easily slip off or the kd will take them off. They can pop. They also give adults a false sense of safety and not watch the kids closely enough.
And, don’t forget that a drowning kid may be perfectly silent—no thrashing around or crying out; just quietly not breathing.
Never take your eyes off a small child in the water. Period.
WordWeaver 2 years ago
Never can understand why people on small boats don't wear life vests, especially the kids. Also can't understand why people don't learn to swim or at least float. You just need to be near a swimming pool. There are training courses.
#9
A few survival tips for mainly the desert but also a lot of places.
If you are lost in the desert, or a lot of places for that mater, 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, its 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). People die all the time doing this, often found only mere miles from their car.
Finally, the universal sign for needing to be rescued is waving two arms up and down. If you wave only one arm to a passing plane, you will not be helped, or at least are less likely to be helped. Also, because a few people have been wondering what to do 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.
There have been many deaths that could have been prevented had this advice been followed.
Edit: added a little more information.
The essentials in any emergency are very simple. Don’t panic. Call for help. Trust your gut. If you start panicking, you’re far more likely to make decisions that can end up hurting you in the end.
Of course, it’s easy to tell someone not to panic—staying calm when there’s a lion heading towards you or when you wake up to the house on fire is incredibly difficult to do in practice. Your fight or flight instinct is kicking in. Try to control your breathing to calm yourself. It also pays off to live a healthy lifestyle and be physically fit so you're more likely to survive accidents and help others in need.
Depending on where you live, the emergency services number will be different. You should definitely know it by heart. Those of you Pandas living in the United States, Mexico, and Canada should call 911. If you live in the UK, dial 999; if you happen to be based in Australia, dial 000 (aka ‘triple zero’) and the operator will ask, ‘Police, Fire, Ambulance?’
Those of you Pandas living in the European Union will most likely call 112. The number also works in India. In short, if you see someone in danger or you need assistance, call for help ASAP. Do it yourself, don’t expect others to call in your place.
#10
**Do not** pull objects (knife, glass, splinter etc) from a deep wound. They might be sealing or slowing flow from an artery or they might *cut* an artery when you pull them out.
Put pressure *around* such an object to slow bleeding till emergency responders take over.
Elliot Fowler 2 years ago
There should be a law requiring all first aid depiction on TV to be authentic. Take this fact for example, normally the first thing a hero does when he sees that a person was stabbed is removing the object and then wrapping the wound with a piece of cloth.
#11
Never talk to the police without a lawyer. Just give your name, address and dob. Otherwise don’t say a word.
It might not keep your heart from stopping but nothing ruins a life faster than prison. Even a conviction can stop you from getting work or being able to travel.
*also don’t commit crime. But since being innocent doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be charged/convicted the above still applies.
JoyfulZebra 2 years ago
This is especially important as the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that if police don't give those arrested their Miranda Rights ("you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you, you have the right to an attorney", etc.), they can't be sued. https://www.npr.org/2022/07/03/1109607667/supreme-court-says-police-cant-be-sued-for-not-reading-out-miranda-rights#:~:text=Most%20people%20recognize%20those%20lines,sue%20an%20officer%20for%20damages.
#12
Beware of a stranger who says "I'm not going to hurt you " If you someone feels the need to say this, they are thinking of hurting you. Trust your instincts if you feel there is danger in a situation, there probably is. Don't let politeness or fear of embarrassment put you in danger. Source: "The gift of fear." Very interesting and useful book. Highly recommended.
When you see an accident and there’s a crowd of onlookers, odds are that you’re likely to think that someone already phoned the emergency services. However, that’s where the bystander effect comes into play.
When there are other people around, you might feel discouraged from intervening in an emergency situation. In other words, you’re less likely to help someone in distress because you assume someone else will (or already has).
“People are more likely to take action in a crisis when there are few or no other witnesses present,” Psychology Today notes.
The bystander effect isn’t related just to passiveness. It’s completely natural to freeze up when there’s an emergency. “This is usually a response to fear—the fear that you are too weak to help, that you might be misunderstanding the context and seeing a threat where there is none, or even that intervening will put your own life in danger,” Psychology Today explains.
#13
When walking in big 5 territory, if you encounter lions, DON'T RUN. If they come towards you, growling, it's to say you are too close but they will not attack you. Just walk away slowly and don't lose sight of them. Or stand your ground. Intelligence is your biggest weapon then; shout and clap your hands and they will run away.
Source; am Kruger wildlife guide, with more than 10 encounters with wild lions in the last year.
Seriously; DON'T RUN
Paul Pienkowski 2 years ago
Same goes for wolves and bears. Wolves are dogs, so obviously they'll chase you if you run. Prey drive and just being canines. Bears will chase you if you run, too. Play dead for grizzly. Fight for black bear. Make it right with God for polar bear.
#14
If you are caught in an active shooter situation and you are unable to run away or hide, start throwing things at them. It is incredibly difficult to be accurate with a firearm with someone throwing stuff at you. Even small things flying toward you triggers your desire to avoid the object and dodging something while simultaneously shooting accurately is almost impossible. A thrown stapler or keyboard might buy you enough time to either rush the attacker or escape somewhere.
#15
If you find yourself hurt in a public place, direct your pleas to one person, not to the crowd cause everyone will think ”somebody else will help you”. It is called the bystander effect
Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
I know someone will talk about scam artists pretending to be hurt. That's why you call emergency services. If they suddenly are cured when you dial 999/911/or whatever? You know. It's used to lure you in to grab your valuables. Thanks, Italy, for that lesson.
One way to ‘break the ice’ in these sorts of situations is to say something aloud. Asking someone what’s going on or even stating that you’re calling the police or the medics can get the ball rolling. Others might feel emboldened and start doing something to help, too. In these situations, taking action (even if it’s minuscule) is essential.
Be a leader. Speak, even if your voice shakes. Being an everyday superhero doesn’t mean fighting off evil robot invaders from outer space; it usually means finding the courage to help someone in need, even if you think your help barely amounts to anything. And if you know what to do in situations where someone’s drowning, unconscious, or has hurt themselves, then you’ve got an advantage compared to all the other bystanders. What you do, how you react, matters.
#16
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.
Kusotare 2 years ago
I have heard many times that drowning in real life does not look like it does on TV and in movies, and that it's actually a quiet event that is relatively easy to overlook. I would like to know how it really looks. What do lifeguards look for to spot somebody drowning? How are they trained?
#17
Buy a plunger and fire extinguisher before you need a plunger or fire extinguisher
#18
I think the overall thing to keep in mind is that in high-stress moments you will not rise to the occasion, but you will sink to your level of training.
Like Mike Tyson said, "Everyone hath a plan until they get punthed in the mouth."
Edit: Changed punched to punthed for more authentithity
#19
When you're making a turn across oncoming traffic, keep your wheels pointing straight ahead until the opportunity comes for you to make the turn. If your wheels are facing into the turn and someone hits you from behind, they will push you into the oncoming traffic and dead you will go.
#20
If you're outside in a lightning storm and your hair starts floating, seek immediate shelter. You're about to be struck by lightning.
If immediate (within 15 seconds of movement) shelter is not available, put both your feet together, squat down on the balls of your feet, and grab your ankles. If you're struck, this will give the lightning a direct path down to the ground and hopefully minimize damage.
#21
If you get caught in a rip current, swim horizontally / parallel to the shore at the fastest speed you can comfortably maintain. Don't worry that you're going further out. Eventually you'll be out of the current and can slowly head back inland. Try to swim against it and you'll just tire yourself until you drown.
#22
If you’re outdoors in the heat and you stop sweating, you’re in trouble. You need to hydrate and get the f**k inside and if you can’t keep water down, go to the hospital or urgent care for an IV. You are SEVERELY dehydrated and at high risk for a heat stroke. You should always be sweating if it’s hot and you’re doing strenuous work.
In the same vein, never ever drink ice cold water when you’re hot. You need to drink room temperature water.
#23
If a known diabetic person faints/gets dizzy, give them something sugary immediately.
If they got sick because of high sugar levels (hyperglycemia), the repercussions of increasing their sugar won’t be as terrible as the damage caused if no action is taken. Giving that little amount of sugar (if they fainted due to a hypoglycemic episode) can be life saving!
Bee she/her 2 years ago
In short, keep hard candies with you. These are in many emergency packs for schools.
#24
If you EVER need to break your car window - all headrests detach and can the metal ends are meant to be used to break the glass. Helpful if you are in a sinking car.
#25
I had a friend get lost and go down a logging road and get snowed in. She was reported missing for several days. When they found her, she’d managed to keep herself alive by packing the single water bottle she had with her with snow, placing it on the roof of her car, and waiting for it to melt. Then she’d drink and repeat. If she hadn’t thought to do this, she’d be dead. She had frostbite on her toes but after several weeks of physical therapy made a full recovery.
WordWeaver 2 years ago
Similar thing happens in Australia - someone goes off the main track and down a sand track, thinking it's a real road (when it is actually only graded clear to slow down bushfires, and doesn't lead anywhere). Plenty have died that way.
#26
Know where you are.
* Are you at home? Know your address. (Some people don't, believe it or not)
* Are you at work? Know your address.
* Are you at the store or other business? Know where to find an employee, they know the address.
* Driving? Know exactly where you are (street name, direction of travel, intersection, mile marker, etc.)
* Hiking? Know which trailhead you started at and which trail you're on, at the very least.
911 cell phone location technology is good to within 50 meters. That's 50 steps, which could put first responders at the house or business next door.
Imagine you're in an emergency situation that's rapidly changing (domestic violence, active shooter, carjacking, etc.). You call 911. The first thing out of your mouth should be "I'm at [location]." That way, if you must hang up for some reason, 911 operators will know where you are. They'll send police to check it out, and get you the help you need.
Kim Contreras 2 years ago
I know that's why there are mile markers on long highways, but who can remember which mile marker you've just passed?? I've consciously tried this, being cognizant of the number I'm flying by, but then I either get complacent and don't notice anymore or find myself being overwhelmed with the fear I will need to know that number.
#27
Been to a fair few places and the one that kept me from harm most is "always be aware of your surroundings". Seems common sense but you can't only imagine the number of people who might have escaped harm were they a little more attentive to the world around them. In any place, in any situation, focusing less on yourself and more and what's going on around you will keep you alive longer than just about anything.
Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
Or, in the immortal words of a safety guy I know, "Put down the goddamn cell phone and look around."
#28
When you go to a beach read the signs. I live in Australia. We have too many beaches to patrol them all. They have signs they tell you what may be wrong with that beach. Read them and take them seriously.
Just because a beach looks nice doesn't mean you should just go jump in.
WordWeaver 2 years ago
Irukanji jellyfish. Crocs. Stonefish. Rips. King waves. Snakes. These are not all the dangers. Read the signs and ask the locals!
#29
Pay attention to your gut and natural intuition. If you feel like you're in danger, it's because you're in danger, even if you can't quite articulate why. If a person seems sketchy or threatening, it's because they are. Intuition is finely developed by evolution, and generally speaking it will only fail you when you mindf**k yourself and deny it in order to appease an extremely modern sense of political correctness.
Read "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker. Frequent pre-victimization indicators displayed by predators include:
-Forced Teaming. This is when a person implies that they have something in common with their chosen victim, acting as if they have a shared predicament when that isn't really true. Speaking in "we" terms is a mark of this, i.e. "We don't need to talk outside... Let's go in."
-Charm and Niceness. This is being polite and friendly to a chosen victim in order to manipulate him or her by disarming their mistrust.
-Too many details. If a person is lying they will add excessive details to make themselves sound more credible to their chosen victim.
-Typecasting. An insult is used to get a chosen victim who would otherwise ignore one to engage in conversation to counteract the insult. For example: "Oh, I bet you're too stuck-up to talk to a guy like me." The tendency is for the chosen victim to want to prove the insult untrue.
-Loan Sharking. Giving unsolicited help to the chosen victim and anticipating they'll feel obliged to extend some reciprocal openness in return.
-The Unsolicited Promise. A promise to do (or not do) something when no such promise is asked for; this usually means that such a promise will be broken. For example: an unsolicited, "I promise I'll leave you alone after this," usually means the chosen victim will not be left alone. Similarly, an unsolicited "I promise I won't hurt you" usually means the person intends to hurt their chosen victim.
-Discounting the Word "No". Refusing to accept rejection.
WordWeaver 2 years ago
So many men do the last one. If they listen to the woman at all in the first place.
#30
Student paramedic here! So many people know how to give CPR and that's amazing! But if you ever get into the situation with a baby, please do not tilt their head back. You will occlude their airway. It's heartbreaking to tell parents their child is deceased when they thought they were doing the right thing.
Lousha 2 years ago
When I was getting my licence I had to participate in a first aid course, about 3-4 hours. It was taught by a retired paramedic. We had a course book with all necessary info so he just said learn everything in that book for the exam, and used the rest of the time to tell us horror stories. All the terrible cases he encountered during his career. It was VERY memorable. A lot of the cases involved people not knowing very easy things that could've prevented death or serious injury. There was a young boy having a small motorcycle accident right after lunch. He hit his head and lost consciousness. It would've been just a small concussion but people around didn't know to lie him on his side. He threw up his lunch but when you're unconscious it's not as visible, it's not coming out of your mouth. Poor guy suffocated by the time an ambulance arrived.
#31
Tips for cold weather.
Dress in layers-holds heat in better.
Stay dry.
Protect your feet,hands,and face.
If you plan on going long distances have a plan to move on top of the snow and let people know where you are going
Never go on ice unless it is at least 4” thick. 6” if you have a snowmobile. 8” for a small car. 12” for medium trucks.
Clear ice is stronger than “snow ice”
Always watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
#32
If someone grabs your wrists, pull away quickly where their thumbs are - thumbs are the weakest parts in a grip.
#33
Carry a basic first aid or emergency kit in your car on your person/work/home. Everyone laughs at me for this. (I have a kit I added a whole bunch to. Mylar, little snacks, etc) not just for doomsday prep but imagine you get stranded in a storm or snow. Or like a comment above mentions a desert. Having some water, food, mylar blankets, and some others could very well save your life until you can be rescued.
Not only this but my work first aid kit sucks. (Legit. Some tiny bandaids and a few alcohol wipes) I've gotten bad wounds that weren't hospital/go home worthy but would have been a b***h to go the rest of the shift without a bandage.
My little sister had a bad bug bite. They weren't laughing when I had sting relief.
My co-worker forgot her lunch. I gave her one of the bars, a fruit snack and shared some of my lunch.
Xottel 2 years ago
Also, if you have a dog, keep a dog's first aid kit in your car/bag. It includes a sling for their mouth (panic-biting), tick removal tools, bandages designed for fur, etc. And please add active-carbon tablets, in case they eat something wrong. Those help to absorb toxins and buy you time.
#34
If someone is choking but they are coughing/talking, DO NOT INTERVENE. Let them cough it out. The ability to cough is a sign that air is able to get in and out and that they only have a partial obstruction in their airway. If you try to intervene with the Heimlich or backblows, you *could* force it out, or you could dislodge the blockage and cause a full obstruction.
Obviously, if they're not breathing or coughing then you should definitely administer backblows, just remember to check in between each one incase you partially dislodge the object.
Daffodil 2 years ago
I've heard this before, it's incredibly good advice to have especially when you're responsible for little kids. I've had my brother "choke" on something before when I was home alone with him, had I not heard this I probably would've tried to help him, but I just kept talking to him while we was coughing to make sure I could still tell he was getting air until he coughed the kernel up. (We we're eating popcorn, it wasn't a whole kernel, I think it was half of one. Since then I've refused to let him eat popcorn unless anyone else is home)
#35
This is for driving on snowy or icy roads.
If you ever start skidding DO NOT BRAKE. That will only lock the tires and f**k you harder. What you need to do is take your feet off the pedals and steer with the skid until the tires find grip again.
M. William Bell 2 years ago
**if your car was built before about 1990** Most cars build after that will have antilock brakes and cars as old as the early 2000s should have anti-skid technology built into their onboard computers. I think the real lesson here is to read the owners manual that your car came with. Every vehicle is different. Treat them that way.
#36
Something I've seen on Reddit before, when getting a new home/apartment get a carbon monoxide detector, they're cheap and can save your life.
#37
if you go hiking always tell someone where you are going and when you should be back. When you arrive leave note on your dashboard that says where you are going and expected time back.
If you realize that you are lost and can't reasonably find your way back to a trail stay put. it is common to watch survival shows where they say follow a river or a fence so that you find people, but this often ends up in death. common search techniques benefit more from you not moving so they only have check each area once.
Paul Dowden 2 years ago
Leaving that note on the dashboard also tells thieves how long you will be away.
#38
You should go to the hospital immediately if you feel sleepy after a head injury. People have died because they tried to sleep off those types of headaches. I learned this from reddit.
#39
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.
#40
Use salt for grease fires or at the very least do NOT use water.
What do you think ?
WishIWasAFlapperGirl 2 years ago
During my training as cabin crew we were taught some survival techniques incase the aircraft went down in a remote area. The four things we were told was (in this order) Protection, find some thing to protect yourselves from the elements (clothes, shelter etc), Location, make your location visible. Some aircraft have locator beacons which the cabin crew can activate. You can also do the triangle of fires. Also, good ole SOS on the ground make with debris and big enough to be visible from above. Next is Water. Find a good drinkable water source. You can survive 3 WEEKS without food but only 3 DAYS without water!! Again some aircraft/airlines carry a survival pack containing a water salinisation unit, meaning you can turn sea water/river water into drinkable water. Lastly Food. Again this is last because you can survive for much longer without food. Ration what you have and stay clear of brightly coloured tree fruits. Stay clear from mushrooms or fungi, you just never know what you're pi
Joanna Stasiołek 2 years ago
I would add: download what3words. Many emergency services around the world are using it and if you don't know where you are you can use it to help people to find you
AspieGirl88 2 years ago
A good idea for those who plan on going on a trip in the wilderness, where you might get lost & need a way to start a fire; keep a 9V battery & steel wool handy. Gather whatever you need for building up a fire (dry wood, etc), then rub the battery against the steel wool. It will create enough sparks for you to get a fire going. I know you’re probably thinking “Why not just bring matches or a lighter?”, but the matches could be useless if it rains & sometimes you buy a lighter & the flint might stick/break, rendering the lighter useless & it can also get damaged by the rain. Even if the steel wool & battery get wet, they can still be used once they’re dried off. Just thought I’d share this, y’know? It might help someone out of a sticky situation. 🤷♀️🙂
Xenon 2 years ago
Get a firestarter stick. Cheap and easy to use. And you're right, steel wool is very flammable. If you have snacks, so are most chips like Frito's.
Load More Replies... WishIWasAFlapperGirl 2 years ago
During my training as cabin crew we were taught some survival techniques incase the aircraft went down in a remote area. The four things we were told was (in this order) Protection, find some thing to protect yourselves from the elements (clothes, shelter etc), Location, make your location visible. Some aircraft have locator beacons which the cabin crew can activate. You can also do the triangle of fires. Also, good ole SOS on the ground make with debris and big enough to be visible from above. Next is Water. Find a good drinkable water source. You can survive 3 WEEKS without food but only 3 DAYS without water!! Again some aircraft/airlines carry a survival pack containing a water salinisation unit, meaning you can turn sea water/river water into drinkable water. Lastly Food. Again this is last because you can survive for much longer without food. Ration what you have and stay clear of brightly coloured tree fruits. Stay clear from mushrooms or fungi, you just never know what you're pi
Joanna Stasiołek 2 years ago
I would add: download what3words. Many emergency services around the world are using it and if you don't know where you are you can use it to help people to find you
AspieGirl88 2 years ago
A good idea for those who plan on going on a trip in the wilderness, where you might get lost & need a way to start a fire; keep a 9V battery & steel wool handy. Gather whatever you need for building up a fire (dry wood, etc), then rub the battery against the steel wool. It will create enough sparks for you to get a fire going. I know you’re probably thinking “Why not just bring matches or a lighter?”, but the matches could be useless if it rains & sometimes you buy a lighter & the flint might stick/break, rendering the lighter useless & it can also get damaged by the rain. Even if the steel wool & battery get wet, they can still be used once they’re dried off. Just thought I’d share this, y’know? It might help someone out of a sticky situation. 🤷♀️🙂
Xenon 2 years ago
Get a firestarter stick. Cheap and easy to use. And you're right, steel wool is very flammable. If you have snacks, so are most chips like Frito's.
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