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77 Useful Facts That Could Make A Huge Difference In An Emergency
When we're suddenly faced with an emergency, it's surprisingly easy to panic. A pan catches fire while you're cooking, an electrical wire starts sparking, or something goes seriously wrong when you're completely unprepared—and suddenly, even the simplest decision can feel difficult to make. But wouldn't it be better if we knew a few useful things beforehand, so we could stay a little calmer and know what to do when those random situations happen?
That's exactly why we dove into a Reddit thread where people were asked to share a fact that had actually saved their life. Some of the answers are simple things you might never think about until you desperately need them, while others could genuinely come in handy during an emergency. Keep scrolling, Pandas—you never know when one of these little pieces of knowledge might come in handy.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Tell someone when you don’t feel safe. Tell the other girls at the bar, tell someone you saw earlier in the night, tell a bartender. Tell anyone.
I’ve been in a situation where I’ve been coerced and brought into a bar when I just wanted to go home. Telling someone (in my case, a familiar face I had seen earlier) alerted them to the situation I was in, then when I finally made a break to the exit that person watched me leave - watched the guy I was with follow me, then chased us down put himself between me and the guy, escorted me to safety and stayed with me until I was not in any danger anymore. I happened to see the people I spoke the next day, the others in the group let me know how I appeared to be having a good time until I told them (I said “hey! I don’t know this guy and he won’t let me leave!”) - and we’re grateful I spoke up - they let me know what happened after I started to leave.
It was scary and really rocked my “independent woman who can fend for herself” persona for a while.
RELATED:
#2
If you find yourself in trouble in the water and don't have a lifejacket (eg. swimming) always float on your back. Float all the way back (ears submerged) and take a big breath to inflate your stomach. Then just try and relax and let the water hold you. Basically, lie down on your back and try and get as much air inside you to be as floaty as possible. I've panicked once or twice in deep water- I'm a swimmer- and this has helped calm me. It could save your life.
#3
If you (or anyone else) is suspected of having a concussion or a head injury, that person cannot then determine if they are "fine".
case in point: colleague got hit HARD in the head by a baseball. We all asked "ArE yOu OkAY?!?" and they said "oh wow that was wild! yeah I think I'm ok!" because they didn't to cause a scene/ distract from the group event, etc.
They were in fact NOT OK. The person with the injured brain is NOT the person to ask if they're ok - the brain doctor is the only person to ask.
Pandas, today’s list is full of useful facts that could genuinely come in handy, so we thought it was a good time for a quick winter refresher as well. With colder weather approaching in many parts of the world, plenty of us will soon be pulling out our warmest jackets, getting excited about the first snowfall, and maybe even heading outside to build a snowman or have a little fun.
And while playing in the snow can be perfectly harmless, there are a few things worth remembering when temperatures start to drop. For example, eating large amounts of raw snow isn't a great idea. Snow can contain dirt, pollutants, and microorganisms, and eating enough of it can also make it harder for your body to maintain its core temperature because your body has to warm the very cold snow to body temperature. That doesn't mean eating a little snow will suddenly cause hypothermia, but if you're already cold and exposed to freezing temperatures, consuming large amounts isn't going to help you stay warm.
#4
If you see a snake, it's important to remember that colours don't matter, and rhymes are dumb. Just leave the snake alone. Don't poke it. Don't pick it up. Don't try to take a selfie with it. Just leave it be, and chances are it will leave you be. And do not k**l any snake. They're all more beneficial than you are.
Especially in North America if you get bit by a snake, it's probably your own danged fault, and you should take any damage as your just reward.
BarkingSquirell 1 week ago
Just the tremor of a human footstep will send most snakes packing. However, if one is bitten, they should seek medical assistance asap (e.g. the Fleur de Lance in Central and South America.)
#5
If you are ever in psychosis or a state that you can feel and see things that people around you say are not there (i.e. scorpions crawling on you and snakes on your bed) you can take a picture of the area on your phone and you know the picture is 100% your reality at that specific time. That will help you cope with the mental strain of seeing and feeling things others dont see and it also helps to not get aggressive or irritated at the people who keep saying those things aren't there or call you crazy when you genuinely can't help it.
I had gone into psychosis from a terrible infection and when I took the picture and looked at it I was able to calm down and realize I was unwell and go to the ER. Before that I was really mad because I thought people around me were just not paying attention or thought I'd lost my mind.
BarkingSquirell 1 week ago
The thing about psychosis is that when one is in it, one doesn't know it. Taking pictures won't enter the stream of consciousness.
#6
Opposite: if you ever see someone fall overboard on a ship just start throwing anything you can out overboard for as long as possible.. the trash will create a trail of debris to the person and they can be rescued.
Speaking of hypothermia, severe cases can cause confusion and unusual behavior. In some cases, a person may paradoxically feel hot and begin removing their clothing despite being dangerously cold. If you see someone behaving strangely or taking off layers in freezing conditions, don't assume they're simply being careless—hypothermia can affect judgment and awareness, so they may need immediate help. Other warning signs can include intense shivering, slurred speech, unusual tiredness, poor coordination, and increasing confusion. The condition can become life-threatening, so getting the person somewhere warm and seeking medical help is important.
#7
Just remembering to be calm in an emergency situation will massively increase your survival chances.
This seems like obvious advice, but keeping this in mind has saved more people than anything else.
Peter Bear 1 week ago
As the Hitch-hiker's Guide tells us clearly in big bold letters, DON'T PANIC.
#8
If there's an emergency and you're in a crowd, don't just yell "CALL 911!" etc, point at someone and say "YOU call 911!" and assign other such tasks the same. Otherwise everyone will assume someone else is doing it already. If everyone is doing it, no one is doing it.
#9
Never administer insulin to an unconscious diabetic person unless you know for **sure** their problem is too HIGH blood sugar, not too LOW.
There are some well meaning folks who only know that "insulin" and "diabetes" are related, so when they see someone in this crisis, they automatically assume insulin should be injected.
Ace 1 week ago
As a lay person giving first aid, you should never give any sort of medication to any casualty. Back in the day we were taught to give a soluble aspirin to a heart attack victim, but that advice was modified some years ago to _suggest_ to a conscious casualty that they might do so. The only other exception I can think of would be would be an epipen, if the casualty has one with them. (And sugar for a diabetic, but I don't really think of that as medication).
And while staying warm is obviously important, there's also such a thing as working too hard in the cold. If you're working outside or building a snow shelter, be careful not to let yourself become soaked with sweat. Strenuous activity can make you surprisingly warm even when the air temperature is below freezing, and wet clothing loses much of its insulating ability. Adjusting your layers before you start sweating can help keep your clothes dry, which is especially important if you'll be outside for a long time or far from somewhere warm.
#10
Whatever happens, if someone tries to kidnap you or force you to go somewhere, FIGHT TILL YOU D*E. Once you reach the secondary location there's almost zero hope of getting out alive.
JustChiLingggg 6 days ago
That includes scratching them, pulling out their hair, punching them in the face, and with any luck, their DNA that you've collected during your fight is your last hope to help the authorities catch the criminal
#11
If you're evacuating a commercial building in a fire and find a gate across the stairwell, that's your clue to leave the stairwell. The gate is there to warn you that you are going underground and won't be able to escape.
#12
After using an epipen, go to the hospital. The epipen wears off and the allergic reaction continues. The epipen just gives you time to get real help. A little kid passed away that way in the night, his parents thought he was fine after the epipen so they all went to sleep...
Cars come with their own set of cold-weather hazards, especially if you become stranded. If your car gets stuck in a snowbank and you leave the engine running for heat, make sure the tailpipe is completely clear of snow. A blocked exhaust can cause carbon monoxide to build up inside the vehicle, and because the gas is colorless and odorless, you may not realize you're being exposed. Check the exhaust whenever you're stopped in deep snow, and never ignore signs that something may be wrong.
#13
If a tornado looks like it’s standing still it’s because it’s coming directly towards you.
#14
Because I’ve seen this myth all over social media, NO, a mammogram will NOT give you cancer, and it won’t “pop” your cancer if you have it. Yes, mammograms are uncomfortable and can be slightly painful, but they are the best tool we have to screen for breast cancer. The radiation you get from a mammogram is so minimal that it’s almost none. If you qualify, get the mammogram. It could save your life.
Ace 1 week ago
I'm a male, so have never had one, but it was only in the last year or three that I discovered that a mammogram is taken from the side so involves trapping the entire breast between two plates and squashing it. I had never before understood how it could be painful, just imagining it like any other chest x-ray.
#15
Rabies is 100% fatal after symptoms develop but 100% preventable if vaccines are provided before symptoms develop. If you have a possible exposure, get the shots.
Winter roads can be just as unpredictable as winter weather, particularly when temperatures hover around freezing. Black ice is notoriously difficult to spot because it can look almost exactly like an ordinary wet patch of road. If the road looks wet but the conditions are cold enough for ice to form, slow down, avoid sudden steering or braking, and leave plenty of extra distance between your vehicle and the one ahead.
#16
As an Australian, one of the first things we’re taught as a kid is if you’re ever caught in a rip current, swim ***parallel*** to the beach until you feel the water release you. If you try to swim directly for the beach, you are only going to exhaust yourself and you’ll end up succumbing to the pull of the ocean and drowning.
You cannot fight the ocean and win. Your best bet is to stay calm and swim parallel across from the beach—taking breaks to float and catch your breath if you feel yourself get too exhausted—until the rip spits you out, at which point you are safe to then swim directly to the beach.
Every year we see so many tourists drown on our beaches because they don’t know the first rule of water safety here—don’t fight the rip.
#17
If you lie to doctors about your illegal substance usage prior to anesthesia, you might wake up while still on the operating table.
#18
If you're ever in a car accident and feel fine, still go get checked out. Internal bleeding doesn't always announce itself and by the time you feel it you're already behind.
Snow can also hide dangers for people enjoying winter activities on foot or on skis. Avoid getting too close to the trunks of evergreen trees when there's deep snow on the ground. Low branches can prevent snow from settling evenly around the trunk, creating a hollow area known as a tree well. Falling into one can be extremely dangerous, particularly if you end up headfirst and become trapped in the loose snow. This can lead to snow-immersion suffocation, a potentially fatal situation that occurs when a skier or snowboarder becomes buried in snow and is unable to breathe. If you're skiing or snowboarding in deep snow, staying within sight and earshot of your companions can be especially important, since someone trapped in a tree well may not be able to get themselves out or call for help.
#19
If you're ever cooking with oil or grease and it catches fire, DO NOT USE WATER. The oil or grease will instantly boil it causing dropleta of flaming oil to go every and create a mini fireball, going from bad to worse faster than you can blink. Turn off the heat and smother the fire with a lid, a thick blanket, or get a non-water based fire extinguisher.
#20
Livestock are dangerous, period. All of them. Goats, sheep, pigs, cows, horses, ...even chickens. Don't approach them, stay on your side of the fence. They are not pets, they have not been trained, and they don't know you at all. They are filthy and have all sorts of bacteria. Even if you survive the initial goring, you might pass from infection later on.
Additionally don't ignore any bite or scratch you get from livestock, or even pets. You can go septic faster than you think, and faster than you are even aware of. You can be gone in days.
#21
How to recognize a stroke: BE FAST
Balance: dizziness, headaches, or loss of balance
Eyes: blurred vision
Face: one side of the face is drooping
Arms: arm or leg weakness
Speech: having difficulty with speech
Time: now it's time to call an ambulance
And don't be like my mom and go into a locked bathroom to give yourself a stroke test in the mirror!
#22
You won't harm someone who's collapsed and unconscious, by attaching an Automatic External Defibrillator to them,unless you hit them over the head with it!
There's many around public places now and they make a huge difference to Cardiac Arrest survival.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
I've never used one myself, but I've watched enough of those real bodycam videos to know that most AEDs have little sensors built in that can tell if the person in cardiac arrest has the "right" kind of irregular heart rhythm that the AED can help. It will ONLY deliver a shock if it senses that. It won't just randomly shock anyone you attach it to and press a button. I think most of them also have verbal programming that will literally say when the person is not eligible for the AED, and the device advises continuing CPR instead.
And while we're on the subject of staying warm, here's one household safety reminder that's easy to overlook. Keep portable space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including curtains, blankets, bedding, and furniture. They should also sit on a stable, level surface and be switched off when you leave the room or go to sleep. A heater may seem harmless when you're simply trying to warm up a chilly room, but it can become a serious fire hazard when used carelessly.
#23
A sense of impending doom is not just an impression, it could a sign of sepsis, a post-surgery complication or a heart attack (last one especially if you're female, symptoms differ depending on gender).
#24
If you get caught in a rip current swim parallel to the beach until you're out of it, then head back in. fighting straight toward shore is how people get exhausted.
#25
**If you wake up and find a bat in your bedroom, go get a rabies shot immediately, even if you don't think you were bitten. Bat teeth are so tiny you often can't feel or see the bite, and by the time rabies symptoms appear, it's 100% fatal.**.
Russell Bowman 1 week ago
Per WHO Rabies info sheet .. a bit long: During the last four decades, more than 1100 bat rabies cases were reported in Europe. The majority of positive bats originated from Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Poland, counting for more than 90 percent of all positive bats recorded for this time period. Sporadic cases of bat rabies were also detected in Spain, Switzerland, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, the Ukraine, Russia, Norway and Finland. The great majority of all bat rabies cases is caused by EBLV-1. Although the level of bat rabies surveillance in Europe is still very heterogeneous, it can be assumed that bat rabies occurs all over Europe.
#26
If you hear a lawn sprinkler where there is no lawn sprinkler it's a rattlesnake.
Coupon Holder 1 week ago
We got rattlers from time to time where we used to live, which I relocated using snake tongs and a 5 gallon bucket with a very secure lid. The sound is similar to a loud cicada or locust, different than what you would expect based on TV and movies.
And coming back to today’s post, these are facts that aren't just worth remembering when there's snow on the ground. Emergencies can happen unexpectedly at any time, and knowing a few basic safety precautions can make it easier to stay calm and react when something goes wrong. So, Pandas, which of these safety facts did you already know, and which one surprised you the most?
#27
Even if you are an Olympic swimmer, still wear a life jacket when kayaking. I've known many excellent swimmers drown because they refused.
Forrest Hobbs 1 week ago
Minor point: life jackets are floatation aids that keep your head above the water - so, ideal if you're going to be in cold water long enough to pass out. If you're going white water kayaking, a better idea is a buoyancy aid made to a proper standard and helmet, because they'll both protect you against impacts that a life jacket won't help you with - and if you're conscious, you'll be able to keep your own head above water. (buoyancy aid in this context: similar idea to a life jacket, but the buoyancy is provided in closed-cell foam around your torso without the floatation collar of a life jacket. Both are excellent in different ways.)
#28
If you’re trapped in a burning building, stay low. Smoke rises, and the air closer to the floor can be more breathable.
Queen Typo 1 week ago
And touch doors before attempting to open them. Could be the fire is even worse on the other side
#29
You can develop an allergic reaction to anything at any time- yes, even as an adult and yes, even to things you've eaten/touched before and been just fine. If it looks like an allergic reaction and feels like an allergic reaction, don't waste time on "but I'm not allergic to anything!!", GO to the emergency room. The most common allergy to develop in adults is shellfish.
In a similar vein, your "minor" allergy to whatever can also develop into a major allergy at any time. Don't be that guy who's like "aw, I just get a minor tingle when I eat that, whatever" and consumes it anyway.
Queen Typo 1 week ago
Crazy story. I had a situation where I kept having my throat close up and breaking out in hives and trips to the emergency room (if you use your EpiPen you still have to go to the er. You are meant to have one pen for every 15 minutes it takes to get there). I honestly thought I had a food allergy so I kept comparing what I had eaten for the 48 hours before each attack. Eliminated a bunch of stuff and slowly added it back and couldn’t trigger the issue. Then it happened again when nothing in my diet was the same as before. I saw my allergist. I was not reacting to food. I was reacting to leaning up against a cold wall. I am actually allergic to the cold and still occasionally have issues if I forget to bundle up before stepping outside. I have to avoid walls that back up to my house exterior. It’s the craziest allergy ever. So if you have a reaction that involves hives or throat closing up, definitely get to the emergency room. And follow up with an allergist to confirm your triggers
#30
If you are in a situation where you feel so threatened that your first instinct is to attack - think, can I get away or de-escalate this instead?
This training saved my life when my ex threatened me while in a d**g induced psychosis, blocked the exits, took my phone and keys, and was screaming at me about how he thought I was plotting against him. I felt so threatened, my first thoughts were to attack him. But my old kickboxing trainer’s (who was ex military) voice floated across my mind just saying “de-escalate”.
I was able to get myself and my dogs out safely. If I had listened to my first instinct and attacked my ex, I think he would have seriously injured or k****d me. He was 7 inches taller than me, at least 50 lbs heavier, and already thought I was out to get him.
My trainer always emphasized de-escalation and getting the f**k out of there and that really stuck. Do not fight unless you absolutely have to - you will be fighting for your life.
Forrest Hobbs 1 week ago
Best suggestion so far. If de-escalation fails, run like hell. Do not fight - I know someone who saved themselves by jumping out of a window when all other exits were blocked. Badly injured, yes - but hospital got them walking again, so there's that... You'd be amazed at how effective a very blunt stern telling off can be when someone's being aggressive. (I got punched in the face once (well, more than once). One time, I just told them to behave themselves. It worked.)
#31
When you go to any public place like a theatre or cinema, look where your nearest two exits are and think about how you’ll get to them from where you’re sitting. My dad worked in fire insurance and always impressed on me that lots of people in a fire emergency situation d*e from crush injuries with people panicking and acting erratically trying to get out. Your best bet is to have already thought about it.
#32
If you find yourself buried in an avalanche... spit before trying to dig yourself out to determine which way is up so you don't dig deeper into the snow.
Ace 1 week ago
Often suggested, but by and large if you are buried enough to be unable to orientate yourself, there is no chance that you're going to be able to dig yourself out anyway. I've also heard that if you hear rescue dogs coming for you (then you're already incredibly lucky to have survived that long) you should pîss yourself to help them sniff you out, but that is a complete myth. If you are in the process of being swept up try and hold your arms around your head and in front of your face to clear snow from your month and provide something of an air pocket in the space you've made.
#33
You can do the Heimlich on yourself. You need a chair or something hard to press against.
I knew someone who passed eating hard candy at his house alone. I can't imagine how panicky he must have felt. .
Герберт Майн 1 week ago
And learn how to do Heimlich to others. I once literally saved my husbands' life by performing it on him. I've only seen it in the movies but there was no time to call an Ambulance, so I did it. Movies saved my husbands' life, guys.
#35
If you ever get stuck in quicksand, don’t panic, don’t move around too much, and try to flatten yourself out and “swim” to the side. Saved my life less times than I can count.
Queen Typo 1 week ago (edited)
If you get stuck in quicksand, Gen X wants photos, video and gps coordinates
#36
If you fall asleep every time you sit down for longer than a half hour, something is wrong. My husband was doing this and he had sleep apnea. I was doing it and I had 2 autoimmune diseases. Feeling tired all the time isn't normal, even if you are a mom or you work a full-time job.
Герберт Майн 1 week ago
It also could be anemia. Especially in ciswomen, who experience bloodloss every month.
#37
Charcoal is for outdoor cooking ONLY!! Even if you burn it in a fireplace with a clear chimney it can still fill your house with a d***ly amount of Carbon Monoxide.
Forrest Hobbs 1 week ago (edited)
If you've got any sort of fireplace, get a carbon monoxide detector. Charcoal, coal, wood, paraffin/kerosene, gas (propane, natural gas, whatever) - all of them can and do produce carbon monoxide when burning (in different amounts in different circumstances). Old fashioned houses with draughty doors and windows all round and clear chimneys didn't have to worry about carbon monoxide build up. These days? It's a very different matter. If you've got a gas cooker, get a carbon monoxide detector. If you've got a gas boiler (furnace in the US), get one too even if it's modern with a balanced flue venting to the outside. Don't muck about. Carbon monoxide will send you to sleep quite peacefully and you'll never wake up.
#38
Don't ignore a cat bite.
BarkingSquirell 1 week ago
I do, but she's vaccinated. Her biting has cut down considerably since I watched for over-stimulation and she learned I would never hurt her.
#39
Being polite and not wanting to offend someone makes women easy targets. Never let someone pressure you if you can say no and get loud, safely.
It might save your life. .
#40
Women often have different symptoms of strokes and heart attacks than the ones everyone talks about, because those are typically experienced by men.
Women having heart attacks often experience extreme fatigue and sore muscles, so they put it down to over-working and straining a muscle. My mum thought she had pulled a muscle doing some landscaping work and went home to sleep. She's lucky to have woken up.
#41
If you're ever in a crowd and you feel it start to move like a wave, pulling and pushing you along, GET OUT. That's the beginning of a "crowd crush", where people are packed in so tightly that they begin to flow like a liquid. Eventually, the flow will hit a bottleneck and people will be crushed against any surface and each other to the point of asphyxiation. Anyone who falls will be trampled to d***h.
If you cannot escape immediately, create space around your ribs using your arms and elbows so you can breathe. Don't reach up, as this makes your chest smaller and reduces your lungs' ability to expand again. Focus on keeping your footing with each surge, and try to move perpendicular to the flow, if you can.
If you're wondering why all of this matters, look up the Love Parade and the Hillsborough Stadium disasters. There was also a recent crush at an outdoor party in Korea, I believe. It can happen at any large gathering with lots of people moving into a confined space.
EDIT: Corrected Love Canal to Love Parade. Two very different disasters.
#42
If you’re choking on something, attract people’s attention. Too many people pass away because they go to a corridor or bathroom to try and dislodge the obstruction without bothering others.
#43
As you age, being able to get yourself up off the floor without assistance could mean the difference between life or d***h. I’m a strength and conditioning coach and clients complain about burpees all the time. They always say, “Why do we have to do these?” Like, what do you mean? This is a life skill!
Queen Typo 1 week ago
I cannot begin to express how important upper body strength is for this as well. I’ve never been someone who worked on my upper body strength and now I’m paying that price. I have severe mobility issues due to a damaged spinal cord and column that cannot be fixed. When I fall, it’s always because my bottom half went completely numb like when given a spinal block. Which means I can’t use my lower body strength to help myself. I have to literally drag myself to a spot where I can hold on to something and pull myself up. Sometimes I can, sometimes I have to call EMS to get me out of the floor. And I’m not even that old. But I am that disabled.
#44
A "period" in someone postmenopausal is cancer until proven otherwise: go to the doctor, immediately.
Also, heart attacks (can) present differently in women and people assigned female at birth. Know the signs
#45
If someone chokes, but they recover you should still call 911. The lack of oxygen places a strain on the heart that can cause a heart attack, even after the person starts breathing. If paramedics are already on the way, that saves valuable time when they are needed. If there are enough people around, direct someone to flag down the ambulance and point them in the right direction.
#46
Pneumonia sounds like crinkling bubble wrap, like you are moving around a sheet of bubble wrap. Apparently that's the sound that your lungs make when you have fluid rubbing against the air sacs in your lungs. Pneumonia just about ended me and I would have been so much better off if I had taken that sound seriously on Wednesday vs being hospitalized a few days later on Saturday.
#47
If you feel sick/ faint, lie down so you don't fall and hit your head, also turn your head to the side so you don't choke on your vomit if you pass out / have a seizure.
#48
Women lose bone density starting at around 35 years old, and the density loss accelerates during menopause, unless we lift weights and put significant impact on our bones. 50% of women over 65 will break a bone due to osteopersosis. Women account for over 70% of hip fractures, the mortality rate of which is estimated at between 20-33% in women within 12 months of injury. 50% will never gain back full independence.
Society has told women for decades to never lift weights, to get as thin as possible, and to only do cardio. It breaks my heart seeing my grandma, who spent her whole life avoiding weights, become fully wheelchair bound after breaking 9 bones in 3 years from severe osteopersosis.
Please lift some weights, it's never too late to increase your bone density. Osteopersosis isn't s**y.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
I'm 44 and I struggle with this, because I truly, truly loathe exercising and lifting weights. I'm not "just" lazy, I actually have a deep hate and aversion to exercise due to two separate people in my life using exercise/weight loss as a method of ábuse. (Don't get me wrong, I AM also lazy, but I also have aversions due to my mother and later, my now-ex.) I also do not care about myself enough to take care of myself.. I hate myself intensely, so I don't want to prepare for the future. It's pretty messed up, and honestly, in the process of typing this comment, I've realized I probably really should get the ball rolling on getting therapy.
#49
During a severe storm warning or tornado warning and your in your residence put shoes or boots on. If your house takes a direct hit you won't have to walk on glass and debris to put on shoes.
Colleen Glim 1 week ago
I refuse to walk around my house in footwear. But I also don’t live in a tornado prone area
#50
A lot of fire truck ladders only go up 5-7 stories, and helicopters aren’t gonna come scoop you from the roof. If you’re in a tall building and there is a fire, get down those stairs. If you can’t do stairs get to the stair landing and have people going down let the firefighters know where you are.
#51
Tell your doctor every medicine or substance you've taken. Some of them can react fatally with medication they give you so they need to know what's in your system. .
#52
Trust your gut. If your spider sense is tingling, walk away. Don’t let your ego/emotion put you in a dangerous spot.
#53
Heart attacks are not like in the movies. A heart attack can feel like mild chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or pain in the arm, jaw, back, or stomach, not just dramatic chest-clutching.
#54
If you throw up and it looks like coffee grounds you're bleeding internally and need to call an ambulance.
#55
Co2 buildup on cars with multiple people when recirculation is turned on is a lot faster than you think. When it builds up, your reaction times are measurably slower, you are less attentive, and overall perform worse. Be careful on those roadtrips y’all!
#56
Being a coward and saying no to dangerous "adventures". If you think you won't survive that thing, don't do it.
Colleen Glim 1 week ago
Don’t engage with anybody who says “watch this”, or “hold my beer” and you should be okay for the most part
#58
If someone, particularly and older person, has fallen and is in a lot of pain, leave them lying there until paramedics can arrive to examine them, unless where they have fallen is unsafe. You can injure them further trying to move them if you do not know the proper way to do so.
My mother fell at the entrance to a grocery store while I was pulling the car around to her. I called 911 and had an ambulance on the way and some random guy came up and tried to lift her up, despite multiple people, including myself, telling him to leave her alone until the Ambulance arrived. Turns out she had completely broken her arm up at the ball joint into the shoulder. Her arm has never healed properly from this fall. Had the guy actually tried to move her, he likely would have made things much worse. I almost had to come to blows with him to get him to leave her alone until the paramedics could arrive to examine her and get her properly onto a stretcher to go to the hospital for care.
Ace 1 week ago
yeah, sort of, but the broken arm would not have been made worse, this is to protect against aggravating a spinal injury, so an unconscious patient should only be moved to ensure their safety. First-aiders are taught ways to turn a patient into the recovery position while minimising twisting if there are multiple rescuers, but in extremis you may have to move them alone. Not much good avoiding a possible spinal injury if you let them choke to deâth in the meantime.
#59
Tuck your chin forward if you're falling backwards and you might avoid a nasty hit to the back of your head and brain damage at the expense of whiplash.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
Wish my dad had had the presence of mind to do this when he fell off the ladder in 2000 :( It might not have done anything, but it might have lessened the catastrophic brain damage he sustained.
#60
Never ignore a sudden strong pain in your belly. Especially if you start to feel tired afterward. This advice saved me from bleeding to d***h when an unknown ectopic pregnancy ruptured my fallopian tube.
KatWitch57 1 week ago
Never ignore a sudden strong pain anywhere in your body unless you can easily identify the cause (like hammer meets thumb). All unexplained pain needs diagnosis, immediately.if severe
#61
Know where a semi trucks blind spots are.
Kelly Scott 1 week ago
And for the love of God, PLEASE, when you pull out to pass a semi, PASS THE BIG SCARY TRUCK! I can't figure out why people will pull out to pass a truck, then stop in their blind spot and slow race them for a couple of miles. It happened again yesterday. I finally laid on the horn and yelled out the window. Even the truck driver was trying to motion them forward. If you're too scared to go by the truck, stay behind it and don't try to pass in the first place. Idiots!
#62
If you have sudden pain in your head, the worst you have ever had, you should go to the ER. It could be an aneurysm. This is something you should be even more aware of if you have hit your head recently.
Eta: the headache after the fall would be a brain bleed not an aneurysm. Please see u/ThAw2t16 comment below.
#63
If you are filling gas up in a canister, place it on the ground and NOT in your car or trunk. Static energy can create an explosion.
Queen Typo 1 week ago
Also take note of the emergency stop button location. If fire happens, hit that button. If a spill happens, hit that button. Make sure you inform the attendant of the emergency in case they were occupied doing something that makes it so they didn’t see what happened. Stick around to speak with emergency responders. Don’t just leave cuz the attendant has it under control. The emergency responders will need certain pieces of information that you may be the only one who can provide it.
#64
Look both ways before crossing the street. Even if it's green for you. Even if you have right of way you still lose if a car hits you!
#65
Two identical cars on a motorway/interstate.
One doing 70, the other doing 100.
Both see a blockage in the road and because the 100 car has a driver with a faster reaction time, they both hit the brakes at **exactly** the same time and with as much force.
By the time the car doing 70 has stopped, the car doing 100 is still doing over 70.
An extra 30, nearly triples your stopping distance.
#67
In many places you can text 911. Remember to include your location because texting doesn’t include the same geotracking information that E911 systems use. And if texting 911 isn’t available in your area, you should get a bounce back message that it won’t work.
Rali Meyer 1 week ago
here is a "hack": other countries have different numbers. Check where you go
#68
That huge curled up piece of metal that looks like a spring?
Example, garages, heavy-truck suspensions, truck lift gates, rail and marine vehicles.
Avoid it completely.
Colleen Glim 1 week ago
The mainspring on my garage door blew a couple of years ago. Fortunately, no one was in the garage at the time. Still shook the entire house. Those things are no joke
#69
If you find yourself in a heated disagreement with someone don’t assume that because you have something to live for, that is also true for them. Many that have died as a result of a confrontation severely underestimated just how far their opponent was willing to go;.
#70
If you’re a woman, jaw pain can be a sign of a heart attack.
MushroomHead22 1 week ago
what isn't a sign for women heart attacks? seems everything can be a sign for them, i feel bad
#71
1. If you use the subway, be aware of where the switch is to cut power to the third rail, in the stations that you use regularly. If somebody has fallen onto the tracks, cutting the power eliminates the risk of electrocution, and makes it easier for an oncoming train to brake on time. If you're the one who fell onto the tracks, you'll be able to point the switch out to other people, who will be panicking and not knowing how to help you.
2. Everybody has the number for 911 or their country's equivalent memorized, but how many people know the number for poison control? Put it in your phone's contact list.
#72
Do not throw water on grease fires, if you have a fire blanket, use that, but you can also throw baking soda on it which will smother the flames.
Edited to add very important points: do not substitute baking soda with flour or baking powder as these are combustible and will make things a LOT worse!
Use baking soda, cover it if contained in a pot, keep oven closed if the fire is in the oven, or use a fire extinguisher that is safe for electronics.
Stay safe!
Forrest Hobbs 1 week ago
If you've got a cooker in the house, get a fire blanket. Hang it up on the wall in clear sight. Flour is an explosive when mixed with an appropriate amount of air. Yes, really.
#73
If you're ever being dragged underwater by a crocodile, poke it in the eyes. It's the only truly soft spot and will almost always make it let go.
#74
If you’re at the ocean and you see it suddenly receding, it’s soon going to be coming back as a tsunami. Get to high ground immediately.
#75
You're safer sleeping with your bedroom door shut than open, if there is a fire. The room can be completely untouched by fire if the door is shut, but burned to a crisp if it's open.
Forrest Hobbs 1 week ago
That depends on where the smoke alarm is. If it's outside the bedroom, having the door open means the sound is more likely to wake you up. What? You don't have smoke alarms on every floor of your home? Why not, you maniac?
#76
Paramedics won't saying anything to cops so saying nothing to cops and everything to paramedics.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
I think this person had a stroke while typing their comment and they really need to read the other entries on this list so they know what to do in their medical emergency.
#77
On a busy highway, call a wrecker and wait in your car if you have a problem. Your car is designed to survive a 70mph impact if another car hits you. Your body isn't.
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BarkingSquirell 1 week ago
A lot of what most of us consider common sense/knowledge but they were good tips and we can never be reminded enough.
BarkingSquirell 1 week ago
A lot of what most of us consider common sense/knowledge but they were good tips and we can never be reminded enough.
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