Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Bad luck is something that affects everyone, no matter who they might be. Here’s the issue, though: you physically can’t be capable of weathering every potential accident. However, what you can do is prepare for the most common possibilities. And, in some cases, a small piece of information that you read or heard ages ago can be enough to avoid a major disaster.
Today, Bored Panda is featuring various internet users’ helpful advice about the small facts and tidbits of knowledge that might save your—or someone else's—life one day. Scroll down to read their warnings and advice on survival in the modern world.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Teach your kids that if an adult they don’t know asks them for help, do not go with them or help them!
Responsible adults ask other adults for help.
Pencil 5 days ago
While you're at it, teach kids what the word "stranger" means. Lots of kids, particularly younger ones, assign particular physical characteristics to what "strangers" "look like" in their minds. So they don't always understand that a man who "has a mustache like daddy" is still a stranger.
RELATED:
#2
Rabies has a 100% fatality rate once symptoms start
100%
But symptoms typically take at least a week to appear
If you ever get bit by a mammal that you aren't sure is vaccinated, get the rabies shot immediately.
Jason Kennith 5 days ago
When my sister was on a mission in Costa Rica, a random dog ran out from underneath a pickup truck and bit her in the foot. She said that rabies shots are very hard to get in Costa Rica, but the mission president (or someone similar) had some, and she had to get ten shots in her foot. Obviously, it was an unpleasant experience, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
#3
If someone tries to kidnap you, shout 'Fire' instead of 'Help'. More people are likely to come and see what the problem is.
PenguinEmp 5 days ago
I've done this! It works. I had a dude chase me into the building. I closed the lobby door and I just kind of collapsed. Then he tried to kick the door so I yelled fire fire. Now to that day and ever since I have never yelled so darn loud in my life. People arrived in moments and dude was chased away. I couldn't speak for a day I was so hoarse!
Living life is risky, no matter what. Accidents can and do happen, whether you’re driving a car, walking on the sidewalk, taking a shower, or just making dinner. Illnesses can catch up to you even if you’re extremely careful. Layoffs, natural disasters, and other unforeseen events have the potential to turn your day-to-day routine completely upside down.
However, you can’t and shouldn’t live in constant fear. So, you prepare for emergencies as best you can while also not letting paranoia dominate your life. If you stay cooped up at home because you’re scared of getting hurt, you’re missing out on all the opportunities that life has to offer. Not only that, but accidents can also happen at home, whether it’s slipping in the bathroom or choking on a piece of food, so you shouldn’t hold on to the idea of being 100% safe anywhere.
It helps your confidence if you know what to do in emergency situations like fires or if someone else around you needs medical assistance. You can attend various courses in person or online to get to grips with the basic skills and knowledge you need.
#4
If you find more than one person unconscious, DO NOT APPROACH. There's possibly gas and toxins about, you'll just be another victim if you get too close. Phone the authorities and report it instead.
Uncle Panda 5 days ago
These stories almost always have three fatalities before somebody hesitates, and maybe this is why. One person down, it's a crisis so you run in; two people down, still makes sense to run to help; but three people down is no longer a coincidence, it's a warning.
#5
Actually I have a story for this. At some point I read somewhere online that if a car was going to hit you, you should jump to avoid being run over or "swallowed" by the car. So one day while walking to class, some lady ran a red light and came at me at full speed. In the split second I saw her coming at me, I remembered that little bit of information and jumped. I ended up bouncing off the hood of her car and slid a good 5-6 feet and got up relatively unscathed-just a few cuts and bruises.
Jason Kennith 5 days ago (edited)
People really should stop running red lights. Your business meeting can wait a few seconds if it means sparing someone's life.
#6
Don't panic when caught in a rip current. You're not going to be swept out to sea. Flip on your back to conserve energy and paddle parallel to the beach until you break free. Rip currents can take you out lightening fast, and panicking is deadly in that situation.
When you’re under immense stress, it’s incredibly hard to think clearly. So, it’s very useful if you practice what to do in emergencies as often as you can until those skills become habits. Then, when disaster strikes, your body and mind will move seemingly on their own: you’ll instinctively know what to do because you’ve already put in hours of your time to practice.
Emergency skills aside, the best thing that you can do to be prepared for whatever bad luck existence throws your way is to live a healthy lifestyle. That means putting in regular effort to improve your diet, fitness, mental health, and social life. The healthier and fitter you are in all aspects of your life, the better you’ll weather any illnesses or accidents that might come your way.
The World Health Organization warns that the biggest health risk globally is ischaemic heart disease: it is responsible for 13% of all people who pass away around the world. In 2021, 9 million people lost their lives due to heart disease.
#7
I don't know if it's trivial but I now there are still a lot of people who don't know the mnemonic FAST in order to quickly remember and identify a stroke.
* 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: Note the time that you observe these symptoms and call 9-1-1 immediately
This has saved many lives and I feel like more people should know it.
Lila Allen 4 days ago
Also, if you smell burnt toast and no one is making toast ...you might be having a stroke or aneurism
#8
If you’re in a forest and don’t hear any noises such as birds or any other wildlife, but you know you should be hearing them, get the f**k out.
#9
Three tips from the chemical lab:
Hot glass looks like cold glass,
Hot metal looks like cold metal,
Hot ceramics look like cold ceramics.
Huddo's sister 5 days ago
I know from experience that a hot bbq looks like a cold bbq! When I was on a school excursion we stopped at a park and I assumed the push button bbq was off because no one was using it. I put my hand on it and burned three fingers, then I was too embarrassed to tell the teachers what had happened so didn't get first aid for it. Thankfully it wasn't a bad burn, but my fingers stung for a while!
As per the CDC, adults are urged to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, as well as spend 2 days on muscle-strengthening activities.
You also need to get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, and focus on your positive relationships while avoiding negative people. Meanwhile, avoid overly processed and junk foods and steer clear of bad habits like smoking and drinking. Even tiny habits, healthy and unhealthy alike, can compound quickly, so every little thing that you do does matter.
#10
Wash your hands. Do it. It is insane, how easy it is to avoid putting germs and viruses into your body.
Jumping Jellyfishes 5 days ago (edited)
I always wash my hands upon returning home from being out. Norovirus (stomach flu) is that "claimed" 0.01% that hand sanitizer doesn't k**l.
#11
Don't be too embarrassed to *be safe*. I read a crazy stat once about how many people (especially men) DIE because they were choking in a restaurant and went to the bathroom because they were embarrassed. This also applies to running away from a fight, getting away from a scary boyfriend or spouse, not engaging with a crazy neighbor, etc. Just don't be too embarrassed to save your life.
#12
Birch bark has flammable oil in it that will let you light a fire in the rain.
Which of these survival facts did you personally find to be the most helpful, dear Pandas? What one piece of advice would you give someone that could potentially save their life in the future? Have you ever been in an emergency situation that caught you completely off guard? If you’d like to share your thoughts, feel free to do so in the comments below.
#13
If you drop a knife, let it drop, don’t try to catch it.
#14
Don't use water to put out a grease fire.
#15
If you ever get a gut feeling about something, go with your gut.
#16
If someone tries to kidnap you, fight back & there's a good chance they'll give up because you're too much trouble.
Becky Samuel 5 days ago
Never, ever, allow yourself to be taken to a second location. Do whatever it takes, because once they move you the chances of you being found are next to zero.
#17
If you’re a passenger in a car and you have a legitimate fear of being in that car, like “I need this car to stop and I need to be out of this vehicle right now” and you’re not sure if the person driving will actually stop, say you need to throw up.
People who are trying to take advantage of a drunk person or who are driving dangerously may not pull over if you ask them directly. But nobody wants puke in their car’s carpets.
Boris Long-Johnson 5 days ago (edited)
If you’re desperate 99% of modern cars with an electric handbrake work the same - if pull it up and hold it it will initiate a full emergency stop using the FOOT brakes unlike a car with a manual handbrake where it usually just brakes the rear.
#18
If you're on the beach and you see the tide recede extremely quick, run as fast as you can to higher ground. There could be an incoming tsunami. There are other signals like getting a notification on your phone or the ground shaking but this one is for if you're on an island and you're caught off guard.
#19
I like cars, driving is fun, but it's also still one of the leading causes of premature death in the world, be smart my dudes.
Wear your f*****g seatbelt, I don't care what the state/country specific laws say even if you're in the backseat, and make sure every other passenger is wearing them, momentum wins every single time if you're not belted in. Ensure you're wearing it properly, deal with the discomfort of the belt running across your torso. Some minor discomfort is a much smaller problem than breaking your pelvis in the event of a crash.
For the love of all things holy, don't use your phone while driving. If you use your phone for GPS, get a phone holder for your car, punch in your route, and leave it. If you absolutely need to reply to a text/call/whatever, pull over somewhere and reply, otherwise your life is more important and any sane person would be understanding if you reply later.
Avoid get-there-itis. I get it; nobody wants to be late, miss something, have to spend extra time on the road, etc. But never let your desire/need to get somewhere take precedence over the safety of yourself and others. I'd rather be late to work or my destination than get in a wreck because of erratic driving.
Don't drive drowsy, it's just as bad as drunk driving. If you find yourself getting tired to the point where keeping your eyes open is a struggle, swap driving with an able passenger. Or if you're alone or without a suitable replacement driver, stop somewhere and take a quick nap.
Know your car, they come with a manual for a reason. Understand what everything in it does and what it needs maintenance wise to stay in a safe operating condition. Keep on regular maintenance like oil, fluids, tires, brakes, and the like; especially before going on an extended road trip. Paying for maintenance sucks, but it beats getting in an accident because your brakes were borderline needing replacement, your tires were quite bald, etc. The safety of any machine is a function of both its operator and the condition of the machine.
Speeding, everyone does it, but understand that it will only save you so much time. Go with the flow, going 5-10 over is fine if that's what the herd is doing. But anything beyond that can be quite excessive, especially for things like turns. Engineers get paid a lot of money to analyze the safety of roads, trust them when a sign says you need to slow down for a sharp turn. Be especially conscious of speeding if you're driving in an unfamiliar area, take it slow if you don't the road.
Driving can be and is a frustrating experience, but letting your anger get the best of you clouds your judgement. S**t happens, take a deep breath and don't get too worked up over the actions of other drivers. Nobody likes to get cut off, but there's no sense in getting angry over things you can't control, like other drivers. Road rage is never okay.
Always be vigilant. See a car bouncing between the lines? Someone pulling a trailer with poorly secured items? Someone riding your a*s? Put distance between your vehicle and them when it is safe to do so. You're only as safe as the worst driver around you.
Driving is deceptively easy and simple, but never get too complacent. Remember that as a fragile meat sack going tens of miles per hour in a multi-ton hunk of metal, glass, plastic, and flammable fluids you're in a constant battle between physics and stupidity. Physics will win every time no matter how "safe" your car is how "good" of a driver you or someone else is.
Auntriarch 5 days ago
If someone is driving too close behind, accelerating away from them is not your only option, you can also pull over and let them pass if possible. Usually pulling away is the answer, but just sometimes it's better to let them get away from you.
#20
If you like grapefruit. Always tell your doctor if you are going to be given a medication. Grapefruit reacts with a large amount of medications and can actually cause an OD when eaten while taking certain SSRIs.
#21
One of the most effective and used medicines for a heart attack is aspirin. When someone is having a heart attack, have them chew on an aspirin.
"When taken during a heart attack, aspirin slows clotting and decreases the size of the blood clot that is forming."
#22
If you feel like someone is following you on a street, make a phone call (or if you have to fake a phone call) to someone. State clearly and loudly where you are and that you expect to be back soon, and stay on the phone.
Honestly think this saved my friend and I’s a*s once.
Offbeat Quinoa 5 days ago
I did this once when I wasn’t sure if I was being followed or not (except I actually called a friend). I stopped on the sidewalk and loudly said “I’m walking too slow on X street while I’m talking to you and someone’s behind me so I’m going to stand outside X store and let them pass. Oh they have such a nice red jacket! Nice jacket sir, have a good night!” Still unsure if he was actually following me but he’d been walking way too close behind me and turned every time I had. Felt safer after loudly announcing what he looked like. :)
#23
When you entering any building try to remember where is the exit, always keep the way in your memory and count floors. its like a game, and i hope that habit will never be useful.
#24
Phloem, the thin skin-like layer of a tree between the outer bark and wood, is a really nutritious food source easily harvested in the dead of winter. Most trees in North America are edible.
Maggie Fulton 5 days ago
Thank you, Euell Gibbons. How many people are old enough for that reference…
#25
If you throw up and it looks like coffee grounds it means you are bleeding into your stomach. Also if you are somewhere and the air starts tingling it means lightning is going to strike nearby.
#26
Hit an attacking dog as hard as you can on the bridge of the nose. It will stun it and give you time to get away. Doing that saved my last dog’s life anyway.
#27
If your car breaks down in a very remote place, burning a tire will draw attention to you. The thick, black smoke can be seen for miles.
Jason Kennith 5 days ago
Best to do this with a spare tire, if you have one. No need to sacrifice your good tires, unless absolutely necessary. It's a shame that most modern cars don't have built-in spare tires. Nowadays changing a tire is a skill lost to time and people just call for a tow truck. I'm glad my uncle taught me how to change a tire.
#28
If you're in a storm with lightning and there is nowhere to seek shelter, find the lowest point you can, crouch into a ball with your head between your knees and only your shoes touching the ground (if you're some kind of yoga god and can do this on one foot, even better) Do NOT lie down. You want as little contact with the ground as possible. Avoid water, ideally find rocks/gravel as they are less conductive than soil and sand. Also don't group together, if you're going to get hit you don't want everyone to get hit when the lightning charge travels along the ground. Space yourselves out 60ft or more if possible.
#29
You lose warmth from latent heat loss 25 times faster in wet clothes than without. In other words if you fall into cold water, get naked and get dry as your first priority.
FreeTheUnicorn 5 days ago
Depends on what the clothes are made of. Wool or synthetic, keep them on, cotton kills, get it off immediately.
#30
Grizzly bears attack to eliminate a threat (don't be a threat).
Black bears attack to eat.
What do you think ?
BeesEelsAndPups 4 days ago
If you notice that you are on fire, you might be on fire. Stop drinking gasoline, and cover yourself in a blanket. Preferably not one drenched in more gasoline.
BeesEelsAndPups 4 days ago
If you notice that you are on fire, you might be on fire. Stop drinking gasoline, and cover yourself in a blanket. Preferably not one drenched in more gasoline.
You May Like 50 Facts People Just Learned That Are So Awesome They Had To Share (New Pics) “You Won't Be Leaving This Page Without Learning Something New!” 50 Of The Most Interesting Facts (New Pics) 42 Life-Saving Tips That Could Actually Come In Handy One Day
Evelina Šiukšterytė
Greta Jaruševičiūtė
Rugile Baltrunaite
Related on Bored Panda
