Although it's impossible to predict every emergency situation, knowing how to effectively respond to them can be critical in surviving them.
We recently stumbled across a post on r/AskReddit where user u/luciflerfather3 asked people to share some tips that could potentially save a person's life.
After a quick scroll through the comments, we realized it would be a good idea to take a deeper dive and hand-pick the ones that sounded useful.
Here's what we came up with.
#1
If your car's accelerator pedal gets stuck or something else is causing unintended acceleration. Put it in neutral.It sounds obvious but it's hard to remember when it happens and it won't be instinct. Turning the key off works but could cause the steering to lock or loss of breaks.
Image credits: arondieo
#2
That a wagging tail does NOT always mean that the dog is friendly.
Image credits: hayitsahorse
#3
If you get lost in the woods, stay where you are! The chances of finding the way out on your own are pretty slim and you’re just creating a larger search area for SAR.Also, tell people exactly where you’re going and when you’ll be home. If you’re not home by X time, instruct someone to call for help.
Image credits: TheCopenhagenCowboy
#4
In the event you need to break a car door window don't try to smash the window dead center. Car door windows should be tempered glass which is much more brittle along their edges so strike there instead.
Image credits: waffleiron525
#5
"flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing!!!!Flammable things burn very easily, like a candle wick. Inflammable things need not be easy to ignite, like magnesium, but once ignited, will burn rapidly.
Image credits: Oznog99
#6
If you or someone else is having a heart attack, take aspirin. Chew it tho, don’t swallow it whole.Also, when performing CPR, people don’t usually come back to life like in the movies. If done correctly, CPR can keep people alive for hours, so keep going until help arrives
Image credits: wjr131
#7
If you are trying to decide whether to drink the unsafe "nature" water or risk dehydration: giardia takes 5 days to set in, renal failure can take less than 5 hours, so if it comes down to it and you can get to safety soon(a few days), risk the water. A week of spewing from both ends from the safety of your own home is better than dying of dehydration.Also, chugging water can make you sick. You also need to replace the electrolytes. Do anything you can to provide electrolytes if you chug half a gallon or more.
Image credits: mufasa_lionheart
#8
If someone points a gun at you, maintain eye contact with the person.Eye contact makes it harder to pull the trigger.
Image credits: reddit
#9
SLEEP WITH THE DOOR CLOSED. Fires, while you sleep, can leave your room almost completely untouched if closed.
Image credits: iglooman500
#10
If you're near the ocean and all that water suddenly dissappears/recedes unexpectedly then get out of there and get to high ground because that's a tsunami.
Image credits: MaliciousPorpoise
#11
If you're on an airplane that crashes into water, don't inflate your life-vest until after you have swum out of the plane. If you inflate your flotation device before escaping you are much more likely to get trapped in the fuselage as water levels inside the plane rise and you get pushed towards the ceiling.Find your life jacket, get out of the plane, then inflate it.
Image credits: taversham
#12
Some winter advice. If you are homeless, or for whatever reason have to sleep outside, find something to put between you and the ground. Cardboard works great but find something. All your energy will not warm the Earth and many people have frozen this way as the ground absorbs more and more energy.
Image credits: MaxHannibal
#13
Chemical burns are not like fire or heat burns.Many will not immediately trigger a reflex action of pain.
I lost a chunk of skin under my armpit because an industrial cleaner dripped under my rain suit. I had rinsed off my arm and didn't receive so much redness, but 30 minutes later I noticed my shirt was soaked in blood. No pain till the next day and by then a quarter size piece of skin had fallen off.
Read the labels and remove any chemical as quickly as possible using the recommended method. Water is not always the best way.
Image credits: reddit
#14
The rules of three, you can survive:3 minutes without air
3 hours in a harsh environment (unless it's icy water or something is actively hurting you)
3 days without water
3 weeks without food (if you have water and shelter)
#15
911 is not the emergency number in most countries. Find out what the emergency number is in whichever country you’re planning to visit.
Image credits: IridiumCow
#16
You can give yourself the Heimlich Maneuver.
Image credits: buyongmafanle
#17
If you see a bear cub, a very angry mother isn't to far behind.
Image credits: bulletben7
#18
There is a time to leave. To stop. To walk away.It can save your life. Listen to your gut.
#19
If someone ever approaches you and tries to force you into a car, do whatever it takes to stay out of the vehicle! Your odds of ending up dead are largely increased if they manage to move you somewhere else. Fight to stay out of the vehicle like your life depends on it -- because it probably does.My cousin is in law enforcement and always tells us if someone points a gun at you and tells you to get in the car, your odds of survival are actually higher if you risk taking the bullet!
#20
If your car is skidding on an icy or wet road, steer in the direction of the skid rather than against it. You have a better chance of regaining control of the car and you avoid the risk of flipping your car over.Most importantly do not slam the brakes.
Image credits: HeyKidTryThis
#21
If your vomit looks like coffee grounds or poop looks like tar, go to the doctor immediately.If your vomit/poop looks like these things, it means you're bleeding internally. Coffee grounds are a result of bleeding in your stomach, tar is a result of bleeding in your intestines. There are foods that will make you poop like this (red wine and Oreos e.g.), but you should know this just to be safe.
Image credits: SleeplessS**tposter
#22
If there's heavy bleeding or a partial/full amputation throw a f**king tourniquet on that limb as close to the torso as you can. Write the time on their forehead and DO NOT EVER LOOSEN IT. Everything you've been taught about tourniquets is wrong. They can be on for 6 hours with no worry of nerve damage, the limb will not need to be amputated, I say again, THE PLACEMENT OF A CAT-T WILL NOT DECIDE AMPUTATION. Crank that s**t harder than you think necessary and then let the doctor deal with it.1: Major arteries are closer to the skin near the torso, giving you a better chance of clamping them.
2: It will stop any secondary wounds you potentially missed.
3: My training was for combat trauma / triage first, I then got civilian training later. I was never a practicing civilian EMT. If a paramedic has better info please PM me any inconsistencies and Ill correct them.
4: It looks like there's many different standards for potential nerve damage time limits, the lowest I've seen is 3 from someone claiming to work in Orthopedic surgery. Either way, having a derpy limb is better than no limb.
Image credits: HelpfulForestTroll
#23
If you're severely burnt, do not put anything on the wound, even if it hurts. Running tap water at room temperature should help while you contact your emergency services; I hate it when people put butter, mayo, ice, and other stuff on burns and that makes it so much worse.#24
There is a cycle of violence when it comes to domestics. It starts with a build-up, where tension and aggression are escalating. This moves to an explosion, where the abuser releases tension. Following this, there will be remorse and pursuit. The abuser will start to tell. You how sorry they are, then start to try and charm you. This is where they blame something for their anger (usually you) and try to win you back. Once they have won you over, you will experience a short honeymoon stage, where they are on their best behavior. After this, is again the build-up.The cycle just continues. It can end with you being killed. If this is happening to you, please do some reading (if it's safe). Seek some help through your friends or family (an abuser is likely to have isolated you, but they do still care and will help). If you are being abused, there are people and services that can help. You may not feel like it, but you are worth something, and you are much better than they are making you feel. Get out before it gets worse.
#25
F.A.S.T. which is a way to help you detect the early signs of a stroke on yourself or othersFACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
#26
Since winter is coming, if you feel yourself sweating while outside, take a layer or two off. And make your first layer is moisture-wicking if you can. Sweat will cause hypothermia if you don't go inside.#27
If you smell eggs in your house, but you are not making eggs, chances are there is a natural gas leak.If you feel unusually lightheaded or dizzy, and are more forgetful than usual, chances are there is a carbon monoxide leak.
#28
If you're ever in a situation where your partner chokes you, get out of there as soon as you safely can. This is the number one indicator that they will in fact kill you.#29
Former 911 operator here. DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT CALLING 911! Unless it's very stupid like McDonald's screwed up your order. If it's not an emergency, they'll tell you to call non-emerg. An emergency is not just a violent crime, it's a crime or potential crime in progress, an issue affecting safety (or medical emergency or fire department issue too)Also, teach your non-English speaking family the word for their language in English in case they need to call 911.
Image credits: lazarus870
#30
If you’re scuba diving and you’re going to vomit, puke right into the regulator. Don’t take the regulator out of your mouth because after you vomit the natural instinct is to inhale. The puke will blow out of the exhaust valve with your bubbles.We did a discovery dive and were not taught about this. Thankfully we were only a few feet down. It could’ve been one of those life changing days...
Image credits: OnTime4SocialEvents
#31
Purple flags at the beach mean dangerous sea life in the area. Most people understand the other flags, but purple can be confusing.
Image credits: TheRabidFangirl
#32
If you wake up in the middle of the night (or come back home) to the smell of gas filling the house, never turn on the lights. Any spark from the light switch could blow up the entire house.
Image credits: GeorgesRaad
#33
Don't be silent for extended periods of time if you are hiking in the wilderness. Contrary to popular belief, bears would prefer to not get into confrontations and would most likely avoid you if you notify them of your presence in the area.With that said, if you do stumble across a bear, don't run away. Contrary to their size, bears are f**king fast.
Grizzly bears are brown and have a trademark hump of muscle on their back. They are aggressive. Your best bet is to get into the fetal position (covering neck and stomach) and play dead. They will only leave once they are absolutely sure the threat is gone, so don't stop playing dead even after you sense the bear leave.
Black bears, contrary to their name, come in various colors, including Brown. They are more slender than grizzly bears. Your best bet with a black bear is to be as aggressive as possible, making as much noise, looking as big as possible, throwing stones and large sticks, etc. Don't bother to climb a tree, since they are excellent climbers.
In the event a bear starts attacking, go HAM. Punch it, kick it, try to gouge out its eyes, etc.
If you happened to be in the Arctic and stumble upon a polar bear, then pray to the Almighty that it hits one of your vital points and kills you quickly, because there is practically nothing you can do against them. They are much bigger than both black and grizzly bears, and do not fear humans.
Image credits: PM_ME_LARGE_CHEST
#34
Most drunk driving deaths occur on Saturday night between 1 and 3 am. Avoid the roads during these times if you can help it.
Image credits: reddit
#35
You can call 911 even if you have no bars. The bars indicate a signal from your carrier, but in an emergency, your phone uses any nearby cell towers even if you are not paying for the service from that particular service provider.#36
Whether you’re being attacked or taken, always remember to scratch the bejeezus out of the person. This way you’ll have their DNA under your nails.
Image credits: CaptainCortes
#37
If a guard dog comes at you, look to one side and slowly turn around. Then walk away.If a dog hunts you, scream before it reaches you and fight if it didn't scare.
The first has saved me from two rottweilers once.
Image credits: MopedSlug
#38
If you get trapped on thin ice, lie down on your stomach and crawl/wiggle your way back to shore from the direction you got therefrom. Chances are if the ìce held you then when you were standing up, it will continue to hold you with your weight dispersed over more surface area.
Image credits: Breakfastdestroyer
#39
Check your nuts once a week and don't be afraid to go to the doctor if you notice something.I had a scare earlier this year and I put it off for a while before plucking up the courage to go to the doctors. I was an idiot for waiting but I just felt like I didn't want to have a doctor check out my balls. Turned out all clear and I walked out of the doctor thinking "this really wasn't as bad as I expected"
The old cliche is true - doctors have seen a million d**ks, yours isn't any different.
#40
If you’re on or close to train rails, trains move faster than they appear to.#41
How to recognise when someone is drowning:Silence - while someone who is shouting is on the verge of drowning (and will likely need rescuing), it's the person thrashing about in the water not making any vocal sounds you need to worry about.
When someone is actually drowning, their lungs are filling up with water inhibiting their inability to call for help.
Hairy face - anyone who has long hair knows that when it gets wet and it sticks to your face, the immediate reaction is to swipe it away. Not for a drowning person
When someone is actually drowning, all power is devoted to saving themselves. The issue of wet hair across the face is not a priority. Keep an eye out for someone in the water splashing about but not immediately reaching to remove their hair from their eyes.
#42
If you ever fall off a ship/ferry at sea and were lucky enough to be spotted - don't try to swim your way to safety. The more you try to swim, the lesser the chances of survival. Just try to keep afloat and conserve energy while rescue team do what they're supposed to. Unless you are in hypothermic waters, the best bet always is to stay afloat without trying to swim to somewhere.
Image credits: trendz19
#43
Seatbelt, windows, out.Seatbelt, windows, out.
Seatbelt, windows, out.
Drill this phrase in your head when there's a risk your vehicle could end up in the water.
Undo your seatbelt, open your window, and get out.
(Electric windows should still work for a little while.)
Your car can sink fast and you may mentally lock up with indecision. So it helps to have a simple mantra to remember.
There's an extra step if you have kids in the car with you, but I skipped over that part.
If you have kids it's SEATBELT, CHILDREN, WINDOWS, OUT.
Undo your own seatbelt, undo those of any children in the vehicle, open the driver-side window and escape, first pushing children out ahead of you.
Image credits: RHJfRnJhc2llckNyYW5l
#44
Maybe it won't save your life in all situations where you could use it, but if you're starting to feel really depressed, remember HALT.Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
Ask yourself if you've covered those bases. Eat a good meal and drink water. Step away from a stressful situation to decompress for a bit. Phone a friend, maybe ask for them to come over. Take a nap. HALT helps me a lot with stress management. Hope it helps someone.
#45
If an armed person tries to rob you, give them your money, phone, whatever. In fact, take it out slowly and carefully, drop it, and back away. Then, if you can run. If they try to force you to go with them, put up a massive fight and yell fire fire fire.People will generally run to help fight a fire. They are not so keen to intervene when you are shouting murder.
NEVER go to the secondary location with a robber. That is where you get murdered or raped, or both.
#46
ALWAYS let someone know where you're going. It doesn't matter if it's to the mailbox or the grocery store, it's better to have them know. Also if you feel unsafe in an area walking to your car, as soon as you get in, lock the doors immediately. I do it even when I get off of work because it's dark and in a dimly lit area.Note everything around you and everyone around you. If you think you're being followed in a car, drive to the police station, not your house. Trust your gut.
#47
If you are underwater too deep and don't know which way is up, follow the bubbles.
Image credits: Peashout
#48
You need to take a tetanus shot if you get cut by any sharp object that might have got in contact with mud, or if you have a deep wound like stepping on a nail. Injury by any rusty object can also cause tetanus.Wash away any visible dirt in your wound.
Tetanus immunity lasts only for a few years I think, so it's important to vaccinate every few years. Tetanus can have a long dormant period, so the symptoms might not appear immediately. Take a tetanus shot just to be safe.
#49
If you're ever stuck in quicksand, lie down. It's like floating on water, the dispersion of your weight will make you float.Though I admit this isn't as common a problem as I was led to believe as a child.
#50
If you hit your head really hard and get unusually sleepy within 6 hours afterward, go get a scan. It's not about concussion, it's about hitting your head so hard that you get internal bleeding in your skull, which will clot, after which you will die.#51
I haven't seen this one yet but... don't follow a crowd. If you think something is wrong, act! Ive heard that people whose intuition said something was wrong and acted on it typically got to safety whereas their counterparts did not.I usually heard this in the context of shipwrecks and other major situations where people assumed (wrongly) that because others weren't acting that they still had time. Thus simply isn't true.
If you sense something is wrong, go. Don't follow the crowd.
#52
if you are about to get run over, jumpyour shoes have a lot of friction, it'll break your legs and pull you under the wheels
#53
If someone is trying to abduct you while you are in control of the vehicle (e.g. You've just gotten into your car after shopping, but haven't locked the doors and they get in the passengers or rear seats), intentionally crash your car in the most public place you can (e.g. if your driving down a road and see a car approaching from the other direction, crash in front of that car).Yes, your car may get wrecked, but better to have a wrecked car than be dead ...
#54
If you're ever scuba diving and either run out of air or your regulator malfunctions and you have to surface immediately, remember to keep exhaling. That last lungful of air that you took at 30' (and under an extra atmosphere of pressure) will be expanding to twice the volume you inhaled by the time you're on the surface, so if you're not exhaling, your lungs might explode.#55
Don't run from a tiger, you make yourself look even more like prey. Tigers generally don't see humans as food. By running away, not only are you going to get eaten by the tiger, but you're also teaching that tiger that humans are food. You're putting the people that come after you in danger as well.Note: if a tiger approaches you, and you haven't crossed into their territory or anything, this is BAD news
If you're going to a place where there are tigers, bring a firearm or some other weapon depending on the laws there. It also helps to be in a group of people. You need to make eye contact and assume a wide stance. Don't wear any colors that stand out like neon green or red near tigers.
Do NOT urinate no matter how scared you are. It's a sign of dominance and can be viewed as a challenge or act of aggression. Defecating and puking are fine, though. Puking may work in your favor if they want to eat you since it could indicate a sick/diseased prey
#56
Bleach and ammonia make poison gas.The general form of this is to read labels of cleaning products, don't mix them, and follow the warnings for using adequate ventilation and protective gear.
#57
If you have a grease fire put it out with baking soda, not water.Flour is combustible and not safe to use. Some people have commented that they have put out fires with flour, and it is possible. If you take the bag flip it all out at once as close to the pot as you can I'm sure it'd be successful at smothering it. Due to it's combustible nature though nearly anything would be better to use, salt, kitty litter, sand/dirt.
If for some reason you had to use flour. Don't pour it out incrementally and DON'T pour it out in a way that will create a dust cloud. Pour it out so it falls together and quickly.
Also, the BEST thing to use is of course an ABC fire extinguisher. This advice is in lieu of that or if it's too far away. Putting the lid will also work fine if the fire is small enough. You don't want to put a lid on a huge fire though or you can create a backdraft of sorts in the pan and it'll flare up when you open it.
#58
Don’t run with earbuds in or make sure you can hear the everyday noises around you.Lots of runners die from not being able to hear a car coming etc.
#59
Floridian here. If you're being chased by an alligator, don't run in a straight line, because they're faster than humans. Instead, run zigzag, because gators can't run like that. Also, they can climb fences, so good luck.#60
If you visit The Netherlands, if you use drugs (doesn't matter what drugs), and you or one of your friends feels off or is unresponsive: Call 112. The police or ambulance people will help you.YOU WILL NOT BE ARRESTED FOR USING DRUGS IN THE NETHERLANDS.
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