ADVERTISEMENT

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

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

gaveintotheredlight , Andrik Langfield Report

Add photo comments
POST
NotTodaySatan!!
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This sounds good in principle, but once you're in the black hole of depression you aren't logically thinking of anything, sadly.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

Antonskarp , Martin Hearn Report

#3

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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!

IHaveTheMustacheNow , Patrick Schiele Report

Add photo comments
POST
Luther von Wolfen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A friend of mine is alive because she fought like hell and didn't get in the car. She later found out that there had been several murders in the area. The killer abducted the women into his car first.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#4

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference There is a time to leave. To stop. To walk away.

It can save your life. Listen to your gut.

BeardsuptheWazoo , Leon Biss Report

#5

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

taversham , Official U.S. Navy Page Report

Add photo comments
POST
H Edwards
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If anyone bothers to listen to the safety announcement at the start of the flight, they tell you this.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

MaxHannibal , Jon Tyson Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#7

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

ChampagneRaven , Kat J Report

Add photo comments
POST
NotTodaySatan!!
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My stepdad was an abusive alcoholic and this pattern was our lives. When I married, my husband and I were having issues and in talking to my mom I learned my husband wasn't abusive like my dad (thank goodness) but I was so used to the pattern, I NEEDED it to feel normal. When my husband didn't get angry and blow up so I could have the calm after the storm when I knew everything would be good for a few weeks I would create arguments to get the calm. I didn't realize what I was doing and felt horrible. It took years and my husband being aware so he could point it out when I was doing it. It was always petty things. We really haven't had many *true* arguments in the 20 years we've been married. My point? Being aware you were abused isn't always enough to keep you from continuing a cycle.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#8

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference That a wagging tail does NOT always mean that the dog is friendly.

hayitsahorse , Hermes Rivera Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mazer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It just means the dog is excited. There are a number of ways to read body language of a dog, it can be very empowering. If you have a fear of dogs you need to 1 - stand still (resist the urge to run), 2 - ignore the dog. Don’t pull away from it or try to pet it, pretend you are s tree, in most cases the dog will realize you are not a prey item and once it’s curiosity is satisfied, they will usually just leave. I have worked with people fearful of dogs, these are good tools. There are many more but it would take too much time to write

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

MaliciousPorpoise , Ray Harrington Report

Add photo comments
POST
matilda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've read on bored panda a while ago about one boy or girl that learnt this at school and they told others while they're on a beach and thanks to them, people evacuated and survived!!!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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

wjr131 , www.pxfuel.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
Caro Caro
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Place your hands in the center of the chest, between the nipples. Push in the sternum 5 to 6 centimeters. Do this 30 times at a rate of 100-120 times per minute (2 x per second). Do the chin lift and pinch the nose. Breathe 2 times. Inhale normally and exhale evenly into the victim's mouth for 1 second. Look out of the corner of your eye to see if the victim's chest rises. Never interrupt the chest compressions for more than 10 seconds. Continue CPR, alternating 30 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

HelpfulForestTroll , INDNAM Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mazer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never pull out an object which has caused a wound. The object is helping to stem blood loss

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#12

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

Heiditha , Tim Marshall Report

Add photo comments
POST
ZAPanda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also note the rescue swim stroke: backwards/on your back with a frog-style kick, holding the victim face up against your chest, both your arms under their arms.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

PM_ME_LARGE_CHEST , marneejill Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#14

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference If someone points a gun at you, maintain eye contact with the person.

Eye contact makes it harder to pull the trigger.

reddit , JC Gellidon Report

#15

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

arondieo , Sauerlaender Report

Add photo comments
POST
Burs
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am always super afraid that one day I will have to break fast and my instinct will be to push the gas instead of the break

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

TheCopenhagenCowboy , Joshua Anderson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Burs
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only if the area is really big like in USA. In most areas of Europe it’s better to chose a direction and keep walking, soon you will find a road or a house.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#17

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference SLEEP WITH THE DOOR CLOSED. Fires, while you sleep, can leave your room almost completely untouched if closed.

iglooman500 , Lillian Grace Report

Add photo comments
POST
TmKhr
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We can't close our bedroom door at night, our cats would go crazy for not being able to go back and forth every now and then

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

waffleiron525 , Creativity103 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Dave van Es
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you don't have a hammer to break the glass, use the headrest of your seat.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

MopedSlug , pxfuel Report

Add photo comments
POST
Burs
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If a gard dog comes to you avoid eye contact or sudden movements like running but do not turn your back on them! Just move slowly backwards. If one jumps to try to bite you close your fist and put it in the mouth. It will hurt like hell but it will be way less deadly than if they bite the neck or legs

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

reddit , Erikaiijima Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#21

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference F.A.S.T. which is a way to help you detect the early signs of a stroke on yourself or others

FACE: 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.

-eDgAR- , Jose Navarro Report

Add photo comments
POST
PenitentEyeball
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for your generosity, (I asked if it was for strokes and got answers). Even though some were sarcastic

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

Joe1972 , lucas Favre Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ebony
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except for in Pennsylvania where some poor woman was harrassd and raped on the train where there were other passengers nearby. None of them called 911 nor helped her. Instead, they took out there phones and recorded it. WTF!!!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#23

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

HeyKidTryThis , Skica911 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bob Stuart
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Practice all this stuff where it is safe, like an empty parking lot. You need to develop fairly accurate reflexes, not just remember instructions. I've avoided two big wrecks on black ice through instant familiarity with a skid.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 911 is not the emergency number in most countries. Find out what the emergency number is in whichever country you’re planning to visit.

IridiumCow , RODNAE Productions Report

Add photo comments
POST
Philippe Guibert
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Europe, this was not the case, 112 is the emergency number. But if you call 911 in Europe, you will be directed to an english-speaking operator.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

lazarus870 , Priscilla Du Preez Report

Add photo comments
POST
H Edwards
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know someone who called the emergency services because he missed a plane.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#26

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference 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.

Sol_Muso , petitefox Report

#27

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference "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.

Oznog99 , Bill Smith Report

Add photo comments
POST
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The confusion seems even to exist in translations. I looked it up for Dutch and some sites translate inflammable in Dutch to "onbrandbaar" which means "non-combustible".

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference Purple flags at the beach mean dangerous sea life in the area. Most people understand the other flags, but purple can be confusing.

TheRabidFangirl , Don Johnson 395 Report

#29

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference Most drunk driving deaths occur on Saturday night between 1 and 3 am. Avoid the roads during these times if you can help it.

reddit , Gabe Pierce Report

Add photo comments
POST
NotTodaySatan!!
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And most regular vehicle accidents occur within 10 miles of your home/work as it is the area with which we are most comfortable and our attention is lower.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

30 Life-Saving Tips That Aren't Hard To Remember But Can Make A Huge Difference You can give yourself the Heimlich Maneuver.

buyongmafanle , In Home CPR Report

Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.