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“It Worked For Me”: 87 People Share Life-Saving Advice That Is Worth Memorizing
Interview With Expert
When danger strikes out of nowhere, it’s quite hard for us to channel our inner Hulk or Wonder Woman to save the day. Most of the time, we either freeze, panic, or do something totally helpless.
For example, if you’re being followed in a dark alley, your first instinct might be to run or scream as loud as you can. But a surprisingly popular piece of advice floating around the internet suggests doing the exact opposite — start hissing or talking loudly to yourself so the stalker thinks you’re way too crazy to mess with.
This clever piece of advice was just one of many shared on a viral TikTok thread that recently asked users to drop the most important survival tips they knew. The comments section covered everything from how to spot an electrical fire to what to do if you’re ever lost in the wilderness.
We waded through thousands of responses to bring you the most practical tips, in case you want to prep your brain for the worst.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Pay attention to how people treat animals.
RELATED:
#2
Suprised no one said this, but if a man can hit a wall, then he can sure as hell hit you too. Once he starts hitting walls, leave as soon as you can.
Trophy Husband 2 weeks ago
Some people have to vent and prefer to hit inanimate things. I'm not saying it's normal, but I don't think it always translates.
#3
Unpopular opinion: Teach your kids to cuss. If someone is trying to kidnap them, people will by pass a crying kid and an adult but a cussing kid and an adult will have everyone’s attention.
Bonesko 2 weeks ago (edited)
I've heard this too and it makes sense. Kids being loud, crying, having a tantrum isn't really unusual. My neighbor's kids are always screaming and if I'm on my porch I usually block it out. Well a couple of weeks ago I'm outside. Kids are screaming, whatever then I hear this kid, like 4 maybe yell "NO! F*ck you!" Turns out the kids mom was telling him to go inside, and he had some feelings about that, but still definitely peaked my interest.
We like to think we’d instantly know what to do when disaster strikes, but human psychology works very differently. When faced with danger, our brains struggle to process what is actually happening, leading us to pretend everything is fine for as long as possible.
If an unfamiliar alarm goes off in a mall, your first thought is rarely to run. Instead, your brain defaults to assuming someone made a mistake. That tiny delay can steal the most critical seconds you have to react.
“In emergencies people can deny that anything is wrong. They ignore fire alarms or they don't believe emergency warnings to evacuate etc. The best thing people can do is prep,” survival psychologist Sarita Robinson tells Bored Panda.
Dr. Robinson believes that if you have had emergency training then you are more likely to do better in an emergency as you are not having to think through new behaviors.
“For example, if you have had fire extinguisher training you are likely to be able to think more clearly in an emergency and be more able to fire extinguisher more effectively as you will have rehearsed the behaviors before,” she tells us in an interview.
“A nice cup of tea can help in a crisis. The L-theanine (an amino acid found in tea) can help reduce anxiety. If you have a spoonful of sugar, it can boost blood glucose levels which can help you think more clearly.”
She notes that if you don’t have time for tea, some people benefit from caffeinated chewing gum. “The caffeine can help you feel more alert especially if you are lacking sleep.”
#5
Stop walking around with your headphones on max volume and stop looking down at your phone when you’re walking around, especially alone.
#6
For those who keep a baseball bat around for protection, slide a sock over the tip of it. The sock will allow you to slide the bat out of their hands and free it from their grasp if they happen to catch your swing.
Psychologist John Leach spent years studying disaster scenes and realized that people split into three distinct groups during a crisis. He called this the 10-80-10 rule.
According to this rule, the top 10% are people who stay calm, quickly assess their options, and take control. The bottom 10% are people who completely break down, lose self-control, or act recklessly. And the remaining 80% freeze up.
In short, true panic is remarkably rare in a crisis. The most dangerous threat to survival is almost always our natural impulse to pause, freeze, and do nothing at all.
“Cognitive paralysis, resulting in complete inaction, is too common an occurrence to be ignored, and the case has been presented for the classic ‘fight or flight’ response to be renamed the ‘fight, flight or freeze’ response,” says Leach, who authored the book Survival Psychology.
#7
If you're in a forest fire, it's better to go in burnt patches instead of the unburnt ones.
Justin Case 2 weeks ago
I learned this while watching the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989).
#8
If you see someone seizing in public and you can’t provide sufficient help, don’t say someone call 911. Call out someone by a feature and tell them to call, like hey grey shirt call for help. This eliminates the bystander effect since no one will assume someone will provide help for them.
#9
If you’re ever kidnapped, touch EVERYTHING around you. Leave as many fingerprints and as much of your DNA as you can.
When a disaster strikes, the average brain gets flooded with stress hormones. Your heart beats out of your chest, your vision narrows, and you feel like you’re moving through deep mud.
During building evacuations, safety researchers often see people doing completely normal, random things instead of leaving. They might stand around gathering their things, putting on a jacket, or waiting for someone else to make a move. Their minds are basically trying to turn a terrifying situation into a normal day.
“Being in a situation where your life is in danger increases your emotional arousal, and high arousal causes people to limit the number of alternatives they consider. That can be bad when trying to determine a course of action, since you may never consider the option most likely to result in escaping safely,” says Jerome Chertkoff, a social psychologist at Indiana University.
#10
Something most people didn't know is if a lot of animals no matter what kind all start going one way, run that way as fast as possible they aren't running from nothing.
#11
Teach your kids not to just yell “Help” in a public area, yell “MOM” instead, naturally everyone will turn their heads and will be looking around for a child in need and in danger.
#12
When it's a green light, wait like 2-3 seconds to see if someone runs a light/
We see the freeze response play out during real-world catastrophes time and time again.
In a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, researchers examined how survivors reacted after the hijacked planes struck the Twin Towers on 9/11.
Instead of immediately running for the stairs, the average survivor hesitated for six minutes before moving, with some waiting up to half an hour. Caught completely off guard, many carried on with their work, collected their belongings, or stood around watching what others were doing, waiting for someone else to take the lead.
#13
If the doctor says you're fine and you know something is wrong - seek second opinion. Even in the ER if you feel URGENTLY UNWELL, demand a second opinion.
Justin Case 2 weeks ago (edited)
Rodney Dangerfield: "My doctor told me I'm fat. I told him I wanted a second opinion. So he says 'Okay, you're ugly too.'"
#14
You’re allowed to leave any situation. Person, date, meeting, party, doctor…just get up and leave.
#15
Always pay attention to where most of the exits are anywhere you go.
OneHappyPuppy 2 weeks ago
Keep your head down, keep your eyes up. Resist the urge to be seen as important or special. Know your exits
Science explains why this cognitive gridlock happens.
A study published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience found that when people face extreme danger, the body releases a surge of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These chemicals can temporarily impair the prefrontal cortex — the brain region responsible for planning, memory, and decision-making.
The brain may then shift toward faster, more automatic responses that rely on familiar patterns and instincts.
“We are all day-to-day survivors. We are alive today because from childbirth our behavior has adapted to our own particular environment. The danger arises when we are forced outside of our adapted environment,” says Leach.
#16
Men and women don't share heart attack symptoms. Women often don't present with pain in the arm or chest pain, but instead with hiccups, altered mental status, and pain in the neck.
Greenkitty 2 weeks ago
In hindsight site, one of the symptoms for me was the feeling I needed to burp all the time.
#17
That weird feeling that says don’t do it. ALWAYS LISTEN. It can save you from a felony or worse.
#18
A LOT of people [pass away] choking even with other people around due to embarrassment. People will often go to the bathroom or something to try and handle it themselves because they’re too embarrassed to ask for help. If you’re choking, LET PEOPLE KNOW!
Another big reason people freeze up or react incorrectly during a crisis is remarkably simple: lack of basic knowledge.
According to research from St John Ambulance, England’s leading first aid charity, nearly half of all adults (49%) admit they would panic in a medical emergency simply because they don’t know what to do.
The study revealed that around 26% have never received any first aid training in their lives. And only four in ten feel confident they possess the skills to step in if someone were choking, bleeding out, or suffering a cardiac arrest.
#19
Always lock your car immediately after getting in it. Whether you’re walking from a grocery store, gas station, etc., especially if you’re a woman or have children with you (but it applies to everyone!)
#20
If you're in your house and smell a strong fishy odor, it could very well be an electrical fire.
#21
Wear your seatbelt. Seriously.
Forrest Hobbs 2 weeks ago
Yeah, only inapplicable to motorcycling. Wear a helmet. And all the other protective gear. If you must skip some of it: it's head, neck, and upper body injuries that tend to do for motorcyclists (yes, I did once look into the details). So: helmet, armoured jacket - and gloves and boots ('cos feet and suchlike getting ripped off doesn't improve your life).
So, how do you actually survive when emergency strikes?
The easiest starting point is to read through survival advice, like in this list, and dig deeper into the tips that fascinate or concern you. Writing them down might even help your muscle memory.
For example, if you’re heading to Florida soon, one of the tips in this list might save you from a fatal snake bite.
Another way to shortcut your brain’s natural freeze response is preparation.
You can build these automatic responses through a quick habit known as mental mapping. Every time you step into a crowded theatre, hotel room, or airplane, spend just 30 seconds locating the nearest emergency exits and imagining yourself using them. Reading the door evacuation map or listening to the flight safety instructions is yet another way to prepare.
“Every time I go on a boat the first thing I do is find out where my lifeboat station is, because then if there is a problem I just have to respond, I don’t have to start thinking about it,” says Leach.
#22
If a man starts following you, start hissing and speaking loudly to nobody. He'll think you're crazy. Trust me, it worked for me.
Dr. Robinson believes that the best time to improve your chances of survival is before the emergency starts. “During the emergency is not the time to start reading the book titled: ‘What to do in an emergency!’:
She says that first aid training is a good place to start prepping. “Stockpiling some food can also be helpful. Basically, you need to think about what could go wrong and then put in a small mitigation.”
For example, having a power bank with you in case your phone runs out of charge (which you can guarantee it will do at the most critical time).
“Or making sure you have a burn kit, fire blanket and fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Or a first aid kit, blanket and spade in your car can be helpful in an emergency. Each small prep can be important if the worst happens. A small outlay in terms of time and money can have major returns if the worst happens.”
#23
If camping in the wild: change your voicemail message to your location for rescue in case phone [shuts down].
At the end of the day, you can’t control how those around you act in a crisis, nor can you stop a reckless driver from running a red light. But you can control how ready you are when the unexpected strikes.
Those who make it out of disaster situations are not braver or more heroic than everyone else… they survive simply because they are prepared.
#25
If you have kids- teach them to find a "Mommy with a stroller" if they get lost in a crowd. A mommy with a kid will always help. (Sorry Dads, you're just harder to identify).
Trophy Husband 2 weeks ago
Statistically speaking, something like 90 percent of kidnappers are men. And a mommy with kids is so close to a 0% chance that's it's pretty safe. Police aren't always around, and a store employee is more likely to be a kidnapper that a random mom who is there with her kids. All my kids were taught this from the time they could speak.
#26
If someone ever tries to kidnapp you you better do everything to fight bc I believe that once you reach the second location your chance of survival is near zero and god knows what they'll do to you in private.
#27
If they do it once, they'll do it again. Once the mask is off, you've seen them.
#28
If an adult says something about " our little secret" run or find a trusted adult.
#29
Hey, medic here. If you’re hiking or camping and get lost, STOP WALKING. Just stop. Stay still. Unless the area you’re in is unsafe, we have a better chance of finding you alive where you first realize you’re lost than we do after hours/days of you wandering.
#30
If you’re drowning and you don’t know which way is up, look for which direction the bubbles are floating in.
UnclePanda 2 weeks ago
They teach this in SCUBA and I have used it. You wouldn't think you'd get turned around but... follow the bubbles.
#31
As an EMT in training one thing I recall from my textbook is “impending doom” or “aura”. It’s a symptom where a patient describes that they feel like they are about to [pass away], and we are told to rapidly transport them to the hospital because usually they are right. If you feel like something is wrong with you, you are usually correct.
#32
If u get pulled over just do what the police ask u to do even if they're wrong.. Fight it in court.
Ryan F. Mercer 2 weeks ago
I love how this newlines on the word fight. You gotta read to the end of the instructions!
#33
There are a LOT of crazy people in this world. No matter how upset you are, don’t engage in road rage or fight someone to keep your purse. No material object or argument is worth your life.
#34
Always compliment people, it doesn't matter who men or women with or without a girlfriend/boyfriend. You never know what somebody is truly going through and that compliment might actually save their lives.
#35
Don’t be afraid to scream at the top of your lungs in public if you feel your life is being threatened.
#36
If it’s TOO quiet in the forest. You are not alone.
#37
When you turn 50, once a day, sit on the floor and then get back up. You'll realize your limitations as you're aging and learn ways to get back up. Plus, when the day comes later down the road should you fall, you won't panic.
#38
Always walk confidently.
#39
Check your mirrors while driving even if no one is around.
#40
NEVER keep any loose items in your car that you’re not afraid of getting hit by at a high speed. If you get into an accident everything loose becomes a projectile.
Cerulean 2 weeks ago
I was in a country rollover where two big jerry cans of spare petrol became ballistic weapons. Luckily, they spun out the back windshield, not the front, and landed 50 m away ... since then, I'm more focused on tying things down and not leaving random heavy/dense stuff in cars.
#41
If you don't know how to swim, stay away from water. Don't go tubing, don't go boating, dont go to the ocean, don't go ziplining over water, don't go to a water park, don't go on a boat without life vest on, etc. and take swimming lessons because it isn't that hard to swim, and it can save your life.
#42
Get 2 wallets and put like $10 or so in cash in one and put all your cards and important stuff in the other that way if you get robbed you can give them the $10 wallet and not lose your cards and ids and stuff.
#43
Teach little kids about [intimacy]. It keeps them safer from predators because now they know what's happening and that it's bad and that they should tell someone or avoid possible situations.
Raq Winchester 2 weeks ago
Also use real words for body parts. If a child is upset and tells a trusted adult "Uncle keeps touching my kitty" the adult might not understand.
#44
If you’re in a freezing cold area and feel your body randomly start to heat up, that’s not the environment that’s warming up, THAT’S YOUR BODY’S LAST RESORT BEFORE YOU [pass away] OF HYPOTHERMIA.
#46
For women: If you ever feel like you're being followed or a man is bothering you, GET MAD. Just think about stuff that makes you angry and it pumps up your adrenaline and forces your body into fight or flight. Also don’t be scared to cause a big scene if there are people around you.
#47
It gets better. It sounds childish. Unrealistic, patronizing. But, brother, it does. Please give yourself a fighting chance.
#48
Your chances of choking increase if you live alone. Learn the chair Heimlich.
#50
If you throw up and you see what looks like coffee grounds, go straight to the ER. That is dried blood and you have a GI bleed.
#51
If you get robbed, turn ur lights off. U know ur house better than the thief.
#52
If you are not trained in CPR and you believe someone needs it, call 911 right away the dispatchers can literally guide you through every step and help will be on the way faster.
#53
If you see a big explosion, cover your ears, turn away, and open your mouth. The shockwave could rupture your ears or worse.
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Maybe lie down, behind something solid if you have time, and absolutely away from anything glass. Don't just stand there with your ears covered and mouth open and your back to a plate glass window. 🤦🏻♀️
#54
While trying to safe a drowning person, make sure the person is out of energy of fainted before you do so. A person's survival instinct will make them push you under the water to survive and will eventually drown you both.
#55
Never, EVER get into physical fights unless its the LAST resort, no matter how experienced of a fighter you are or how strong you are, people will play dirty, they will get others to jump in, they might even pull out a weapon. Never risk fighting someone unless absolutely necessary.
Lost Panda 2 weeks ago
I have told my kids, especially my son, this. You never start a fight and only fight in defense. My only caveat is that if you do get pulled into a fight, nothing is off limits.
#57
If your gas pedal ever gets stuck accelerating, throw your car into neutral.
#58
If you're in Florida and you randomly smell cucumber or watermelon that most certainly is not a wet fruit you're either near a rattler or a copperhead.
#59
Your seatbelt buckle can break your car window if you're ever stuck.
highwaycrossingfrog 2 weeks ago (edited)
I think you're better advised to take the headrest off and use the metal rods that hold it in place. They're much sturdier and will give you a more concentrated blow than the buckle, whilst better protecting your hands and arms from broken glass
#60
Humans are one of the only animals that can throw things so if you get attacked by a wild animal if you pelt them with rocks it will usually scare the [hell] out of them.
#61
Always hike with a stick, or walking stick, or mountaineering axe, especially if you’re hiking in snow. Look up “self arrest technique” it will save your life if you slip off the side of a snowy mountain. Happened to me, lived to tell ya about it.
#62
If you're bleeding out and you feel a sudden burst of heat and energy all over your body and barely feel pain, your brain had just used your last drop of energy to give you a chance to find help.
#63
CPR on a pregnant woman. Roll her to the left a little because her baby sits on the inferior vena cava, and blood return won't be as good- an EMT.
#64
You need to exercise enough to be mobile. I'm serious. The number of people who can't jump, run for more than a minute, climb over something, etc is CRAZY! If you're in a dangerous situation, you NEED to be able to move.
#65
An adult, specifically a grown man will never ask a child/woman for help.
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Reading the comments, I think there is a difference between "hey, I'm lost" and "hey, can you help me do this odd thing". Lost people will ask whoever looks like they are local, while asking a child to help move a box out of a van is beyond sus.
#66
Everyone should know the symptoms of sepsis because a paper cut on your finger can get your arm amputated or put you to sleep for good in just a few days.
#67
For the love of god when running for your life. DON’T. LOOK. BACK. It offsets you, you will lose speed and get caught, just keep running and only look back when you absolutely know that there is no one behind you.
#68
If you ever suspect someone is following you in a car, take 4 right turns. If they are still following you, call the police.
#69
If you see a drink, or a cup of water and the ice is all the way in the bottom sunk down, don't drink it, it's poisoned.
bazjack 2 weeks ago
Before you assume it's poison, shake the cup back and forth a bit. When you put ice in a container and then follow it with liquid, the ice can freeze to itself and the container and stay stuck at the bottom until the temperature inside the container gets higher, or the container gets jostled around. Then it should float to the top.
#70
Best advice I have ever read. If you feel like someone is looking at you but no one is around you. LOOK UP.
#71
Don't hurt someone with narcissistic personality disorder. Because of their pathological inferiority complex, they will never forget that and they will even wait years to get even with you, with increased brutality.
#72
Everyone should be taught to recognize different wildlife around drinkable bodies of water. For example, seeing MayFlies indicate a healthy stream or river.
#73
LIFE OVER LIMB, if someone's life is on the line that's your main focus not ensuring you don't break anything on them, etc.
bazjack 2 weeks ago
If you're doing CPR correctly, on any adult, you're going to probably break some ribs. If someone has completely stopped breathing and has no heartbeat, though, they're already d**d, and so breaking their ribs is a chance worth taking. Similarly, if you move someone after a fall or car crash without first immobilizing their neck, their spinal cord could be severed, paralyzing them. But if the immediate area is life-threatening, like on fire, get them out of there.
#74
If a little kid or a girl comes up to you, asks you to follow her and you do and you seem suspicious of where she is leading you, take your phone and call the police without anyone realising, the kid/girl is the placeholder. Neither of you are safe.
Rick Murray 2 weeks ago
Or just nope out of it because a grown áss man following a little girl he isn't related to is not the sort of story a judge would ever believe.
#75
if you are physically smaller, learn jiu jitsu. Specifically jiu jitsu. Heaven forbid you need to fight a larger assailant, you may have the upper hand.
#76
No matter how frustrated or devastated you are, NEVER make a permanent decision for a temporary situation.
#77
If you can’t do a pull up chances are you won’t be able to pull yourself up if you fall off a cliff or ledge.
highwaycrossingfrog 2 weeks ago
Simple, I'll just stay away from cliffs and ledges. Fortunately, my vertigo helps with that plan
#81
Immediately eat honey if you or a child happen to consume a button battery. Hoping I'll never need that information but I'll never forget it since i learned it.
Angela B 2 weeks ago
Age limit: Only give honey to people over 12 months old (infants under 1 year risk infant botulism).Dose: Give 2 teaspoons (10 mL) every 10 minutes for up to 6 doses while getting help.Time limit: Only use honey if the ingestion happened less than 12 hours ago.No other food or drink: Do not give anything else or try to make the person throw up.
#82
Guys, run. Just start running once, twice a week, because running is a life saver.
#83
Lock every door before you go to bed. Even your bedroom door. It may seem stupid but even a couple seconds could save your life.
Joost van der Voort 2 weeks ago
Unless there's a fire or medical emergency and they can't get into your room
#84
Three dots then three lines them three dots is Morse code for SOS.
Ryan F. Mercer 2 weeks ago
What is it? "It's a message for help." Well what does it say?? "I don't know! It's in cursive!"
#85
Never pre turn your steering wheel when waiting to turn, if someone rear ends you, it will push you into oncoming traffic.
astheshadowsfall 2 weeks ago
Same will happen with not turning the steering wheel. Not sure how useful this advice is.
#86
911 works even if you don't have service.
Trophy Husband 2 weeks ago
No,,, it works on a disconnected phone. It doesn't work I'm the woods far from cell towers
#87
Alcohol and vaping have no benefits and take decades off your life.
Trophy Husband 2 weeks ago
Small amounts of alcohol have some benefits, but also cause other problems. Overall it's better not to drink, but a small amount won't take decades off your life
What do you think ?
Kate Johnson 2 weeks ago
Or with anything in your mouth. I have a very, very bad habit as I take medicine many times a day, but will toss the pills in my mouth, then go to the bathroom for a cup of water to take them. I've been trying to stop but it's like they're already in my mouth when I remember. But don't do it! Bad! Not good!
Load More Replies... Bored Seb (he/they) 2 weeks ago
I love those posts. It reminds me how lucky I'm happy not to live in the states. Being paranoid everyday of your life is probably exhausintg.
Kate Johnson 2 weeks ago
Or with anything in your mouth. I have a very, very bad habit as I take medicine many times a day, but will toss the pills in my mouth, then go to the bathroom for a cup of water to take them. I've been trying to stop but it's like they're already in my mouth when I remember. But don't do it! Bad! Not good!
Load More Replies... Bored Seb (he/they) 2 weeks ago
I love those posts. It reminds me how lucky I'm happy not to live in the states. Being paranoid everyday of your life is probably exhausintg.
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