It's impossible to prepare for everything but that doesn't mean we have to face uncertainty with our naked butts.
Josh Otusanya is an internet personality who has captivated TikTok with quite a variety of different video series, like 'Small habits that can make someone dislike you' or 'Better questions to ask your crush.'
However, it's his uploads on survival that often get the most attention. Otusanya shares practical advice that can potentially save a person's life in everyday situations (getting chased by a swarm of bees) and extraordinary occurrences (getting kidnapped), and I know we would all like to never have to use these tactics. But it's probably best we know them.
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If you call 911 for an emergency, say your location first. So if the phone cuts off, they know where to find you. "What is your emergency?" I'm at 222, Fake Address Drive, and I'm being held ca-.
If you're swimming and find yourself so deep or disoriented that you don't know which way is up, blow some bubbles, then follow the bubbles. They always go up.
Otusanya describes his TikTok content as a mixture of life advice and comedy. "I have several years of experience as a stand-up comedian so I often use comedy to drive home those life lessons," he told Bored Panda.
"Up to [starting this series], I made a lot of videos related to building up self-confidence, improving communication skills, and more. I wanted to experiment [and create something that could] improve someone's life by potentially saving it one day. I've received a lot of messages from viewers who said tips from that series legitimately helped them avoid danger which is great to hear."
There's an emergency and you or someone else needs help. Don't just yell, "help". Instead be specific like "you with the bad outfit, call an ambulance". You'll avoid the "bystander effect" where if people aren't called out specifically they'll freeze and not know what to do.
If you're ever choking in a public area, don't try to avoid causing a scene by going to the bathroom. Most deaths are people found in the bathroom because there were too polite to seek help. Thank me later.
Of course, such a project requires its fair share of research. Watching a few shows with Bear Grylls is nowhere near enough. It's something Otusanya has to constantly work on.
"I have a master list of potential video topics with random notes/information I come across for future video ideas," he said. "I source my information from a combination of books I read and audiobooks I listen to as well as various videos and documentaries, interesting conversations with people, articles related to random questions I want to know the answer to, and more!"
If you're riding as a passenger in a car, never rest your feet on the dashboard. If an accident happens and the airbags deploy, your kneecaps will fly into your skull.
Reminds me of the x-ray shown in a documantary of a young woman with the volume k**b of the car radio in her head after her car crashed. This was in the 1950s.
If you ever get kidnapped, leave behind as many traces as possible, clothes, jewelry, anything that helps search dogs, pick up your scent and ultimately find you.
Also: be a pain in the ass! Kick, scream, yell that you don’t know this person, fight like you’re life depends on it, because once they succeed in getting you secured/to another location, that may very well be it! The key is to prevent them from taking you in the first place, so always look alert and make yourself a “bad target” to acquire!
If a guy takes a pregnancy test and it comes back positive, go see a doctor immediately. There's a chance that he could have testicular cancer.
If you're getting chased by a swarm of bees, don't jump in a lake or a body of water. They'll just wait for you above the water. Instead, keep running. They'll stop chasing you when they feel like they've won.
If you're in a lightning storm and your hair starts floating, it means you're about to get hit by lightning. So find shelter immediately.
If you're relaxing at your house and you smell something that reminds you of fish or pee, call an electrician immediately, house could be on the verge of having an electrical fire.
That has happened to me, but it turned out I accidentally peed in my pants.
If you see a sign that says beware of pickpockets or thieves, don't instinctively patch your pocket, or check your belongings, thieves, and robbers, use these signs to know who to attack from afar.
When I was about 14, I was on a bus once in a high pickpocketing area and had my money tied around my neck in a little bag that I had tucked under my shirt. I actually felt a dude’s hand creeping under them hem of my shirt and at first I thought he was trying to grope me, but then I remembered the money pouch and realized he was probably trying to rob me instead (or as well as grope me). I alerted one of my friends with a look and then grabbed the guy’s hand before he could go too far, digging my nails into his skin so hard I drew blood as I gave him a look that warned “do it and it’ll only get worse for you.” He immediately dropped his hand back out and fled as soon as the bus stopped, and I kept my money tucked that way the rest of the trip.
Next time you enter a building, look for an exit that people don't use often in an emergency. When everyone's going out the main exit you take the one less traveled. that extra time can make all the difference.
If it's hot outside, avoid leaving plastic water bottles inside your car. If the sun hits the bottle at the right angle, it could eventually start a fire.
If you're cooking on the stove and the stove catches fire, do not use water. First, turn off the stove, then cover the pot with the lid. If you don't have a lid, dump baking soda.
If you wake up in the middle of the night, and smell gas in your house, don't turn on the lights! Just go outside and call for an emergency. Because if your house has a gas leak, a spark from a light switch could blow up the house.
If you're at your house at night and feel like somebody broke in, turn your lights off. So they can't see you. And you know your way around your place in the dark better than they do, use it to your advantage.
This is really bad advice. If someone is in your house, you turn on all lights and make lots of noise to scare them off. If you confront them, chances are you will come off worse as they've a lot to lose.
If you or someone, you know, has a car, always leave the car keys near your bed. So if someone breaks in, you can press your car alarm and scare them away.
If you're cleaning a cat's litter box, avoid using bleach! A cat's pee has a chemical in it called ammonia. If it mixes with bleach, it creates a deadly gas that can kill you.
Whenever you're walking to your car, before you get inside, always check your back seat and be aware of your surroundings. In case someone is hiding, preparing to kidnap you.
I’ve read somewhere not to touch anyhing that’s been left on your car. Get in and drive away. It’s an excuse to get close to you.
Not sure why you got downvoted for this. You are absolutely correct. This is a distraction technique and you will likely only spot the offending item after you have unlocked the car and are about to drive off and the you get out to remove it and bang, your car's gone.
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Yep, be aware of the surroundings (not necessarily for a kidnap attempt). A few years ago I walked in the parking lot one evening (dim light, no cameras in that area), and I saw someone moving awkwardly, very close to my car. I backed away slowly and called the security of the complex. They found a guy who was apparently trying to break into the car next to mine. He was unable to explain what he was doing there and was rather violent, so I'm glad I didn't approach him alone.
It happens folks! Girl i know was getting ready to leave work (a bar). She started her car & thought she relocked it. She did not. A dude was waiting in her car, in her backseat. She saw movement & ran back inside! Cops called, report taken, none of us (i worked at the restaurant next door) allowed to walk to our cars alone, all that.
Really!? Unless you have a car without central locking, or are in the habit of leaving your car unlocked, that isn't going to happen, is it? I mean the broken window would surely give it away.
Always be aware of your surroundings. A purse snatcher, etc will be looking for that person with their head stuck up their phone. The person paying attention is not as easy of a target.
I couldn't imagine living in a place where this is a concern. A more realistic concern for me would be a bear broke into the car
As an Irish person, I'd be quite shocked to discover a bear. More likely a drunk farmer here. Lol
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No one could hide in the back seat of my car. No room... too much crap.
Even if I KNOW I've locked my door, I still check. Car fobs get spoofed here..
Where do y’all live that people are getting in your car and trying to kidnap you? Is this what New York is like? Because if that’s what New York is like I don’t think I want to go there anymore.
They live in "believe everything posted on Facebook land." Not NYC.
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How can you NOT see if someone is in your back seat? I'll never understand how people aren't naturally aware of their surroundings in today's world.
If a van without windows is parked on the driver side of your car, and very close to your car, turn around, go back to the store/office and request an escort from security.
It's on the list of 28 things women do on a regular basis to ensure their safety.
as a woman...i carry pepper spray, but if that's not available, i use my keys in my fist...and I make sure to unlock my car as I walk up to it, get in, lock the car immediately by turning the car on. If i need to sit in my car to do anything for any reason, make sure the car is turned on so you can quickly leave.
I love it when men tell women that their fears are illogical. I was talking to 2 (male) co-workers and they were shocked! that women looked in their backseat, walked in lighted areas and were careful of their surroundings. It's just not something most men can understand.
I always do this. I used to work very early in the morning and had to leave when it was still dark out. Because I'm so paranoid I would hold the phone up to my ear after walking out of my house amd pretend talk to my parents & also have my phone flashlight on. Once I walked off my porch I would tell them to hold on but I'll keep talking to them, use my flashlight to light up my path, & check my back & front seats, get in my car lock the doors turn on all the lighfs then tell them I was safe & that I would call them in x amt of minutes when I got to work (I would actually text my step mom & let her know when I was leaving & when I got to my destination) I've had some weird ahit happen to me so ya- I always took safety precautions
One of the most important things in my life, especially in this summer heat. Can not even imagine riding around with a corpse. Or sitting in and giving my abductor a bottle with lukewarm water.
I always peek under the car as I'm walking up to it, too. Just in case. Safe is always better than sorry.
Well its currently so hot where I live, there is no chance of that. But good advice say in the fall.
My coworker and I were leaving the bar we worked at and our cars were parked side by side. As I was unlocking my door, I noticed a reflection in her backseat. I took another glance and saw someone in her backseat. I pretended I forgot something and asked if she'd walk back with me to get it. As we walked back I told her there was someone in her car. We called 911 and he was arrested so not a myth.
Such an American thing. I would be paranoid on all levels if I lived there
Really? Methinks some people are watching too many trashy horror films. No-one, absolutely no-one, is hiding on the back seat or under your car.
Actually, this happened to my Aunt. She forgot to lock her car and came back out at night to go home only to find a man with a knife in the back seat. He forced her to drive to a park and then into the back seat. She calmed him down enough for him to lower the knife, then she bolted and ran to the nearby house. Pounded on the door for someone to call police. Poor babysitter inside was terrified. My Aunt did get stabbed in the shoulder, but survived. Just because it didn't happen to you doesn't mean it doesn't ever happen. I've looked in my back seat ever since.
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Some of these are valid. Some I have used ...a few are clearing things someone made up without any real world evidence.
Agree, some of these are valid, some are just..entertaining. But those little hints that could probably save your life are cool-like when you have a blue reflection in your eye instead of a red on a photo could (COULD!!) be a sign that there's something with your brain. Or increasing growth of hair on a woman's upper lip could (COULD!!) be a sign for cervical cancer. This stuff..Or, you can 'read' fingernails-depending on whether the grooves on it are horizontal or vertical, straight or crooked or whatever, you can recognize the state of health and possible deficiencies, like if your body takes too little oxygen or so (not when drowning or choking-haha)..
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Ok I don't know why people are saying these are fake, because most of them are very true. I'm just confused how no one knows them. I can't be the only one who watches crime documentaries and reads Stephen King and Dean Koontz
Two of my favorites! Koontz isn't often cited by women that I know. He does have some odd stuff!
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Here we go again with tikfock bull****. These folks are even more annoying than "influencers".
And yet, here you are, reading an article about them, taking time out of your obviously very busy day to comment on them... :)
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This was a terrifically bad post. half of the suggestions are either stupid, insane or outright dangerous
A fellow panda on here by the name of S says to this "And yet, here you are, reading an article about them, taking time out of your obviously very busy day to comment on them... :)"
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If you are ever trapped in your car during a fire or entering water, breaking the window is very difficult. Remove the front headrest, the metal legs are pointed and can break a side window if you strike it in the corner
As said by my fellow panda S "And yet, here you are, reading an article about them, taking time out of your obviously very busy day to comment on them... :)"
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Some of these are valid. Some I have used ...a few are clearing things someone made up without any real world evidence.
Agree, some of these are valid, some are just..entertaining. But those little hints that could probably save your life are cool-like when you have a blue reflection in your eye instead of a red on a photo could (COULD!!) be a sign that there's something with your brain. Or increasing growth of hair on a woman's upper lip could (COULD!!) be a sign for cervical cancer. This stuff..Or, you can 'read' fingernails-depending on whether the grooves on it are horizontal or vertical, straight or crooked or whatever, you can recognize the state of health and possible deficiencies, like if your body takes too little oxygen or so (not when drowning or choking-haha)..
Load More Replies... Ok I don't know why people are saying these are fake, because most of them are very true. I'm just confused how no one knows them. I can't be the only one who watches crime documentaries and reads Stephen King and Dean Koontz
Two of my favorites! Koontz isn't often cited by women that I know. He does have some odd stuff!
Load More Replies... Here we go again with tikfock bull****. These folks are even more annoying than "influencers".
And yet, here you are, reading an article about them, taking time out of your obviously very busy day to comment on them... :)
Load More Replies... This was a terrifically bad post. half of the suggestions are either stupid, insane or outright dangerous
A fellow panda on here by the name of S says to this "And yet, here you are, reading an article about them, taking time out of your obviously very busy day to comment on them... :)"
Load More Replies... If you are ever trapped in your car during a fire or entering water, breaking the window is very difficult. Remove the front headrest, the metal legs are pointed and can break a side window if you strike it in the corner
As said by my fellow panda S "And yet, here you are, reading an article about them, taking time out of your obviously very busy day to comment on them... :)"
Load More Replies... 