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Despite a wealth of knowledge and experience, many of us have only a pretty faint idea of all the things we need to know in a life-or-death situation. Indeed, there are probably more first-aid kits in your vicinity than there are people who know exactly how to use them.


So one netizen decided to brush up on their knowledge and asked the internet about lesser-known tips that could ultimately save a life. So prepare to take notes as you scroll through all the answers denizens of the net provided, and be sure to upvote your favorites. Comment below if you have any tips that people didn’t list here. 

#1

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s If you find yourself lost in the wilderness somewhere, and your phone is starting to die, change your voicemail to include where you left from, what time and date you left, and what you see around you. That way, if someone tries to call you, you have the essential information in a recording.

ThisGuyIRLv2 , Becca Tapert Report

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LK
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If your phone has the power, use the What 3 Words app, and get the three words that pinpoint your location to within a 3 metre square. Start your message with 'I've used What 3 Words, and my location is...' Then give the rest of the information as above.

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#2

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Instead of saying “someone call 911/an ambulance,” point to a single person and tell them to call 911. If you need additional assistance (an AED, for example), then point to another individual and ask them to get you what you need.

If you don’t address anyone in particular, everyone will assume someone else has already called 911/gotten a first-aid kit/whatever, and then no one will do it.

(Source: a mandatory safety course I had to take for work some years ago.)

femmemmah , Thibaut Santy Report

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Olivia Lisbon
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11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The bystander effect. People in groups can become weird in many ways.

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#3

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Always always listen to your “Spidey senses.” If something feels off- pay attention to that feeling. Hair on the back of your neck stands up when walking to your car in a parking lot? turn around and go back in the store. I cannot tell you how many crime victim reports include the phrase “Victim states they had a feeling something wasn’t right…but continued to…”

After-Opportunity-61 , Dustin Tramel Report

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Monday
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worst case scenario you're wrong and you waste a bit of your time.

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One of the leading causes of death worldwide is heart disease, which unfortunately often manifests in a heart attack. Unlike a lot of medical terminology, a heart attack really is an attack, often requiring immediate medical intervention. In an “ideal” situation, and there is nothing ideal about this condition, paramedics arrive shortly to keep the patient stable as they are taken to the ER.

However, there is still downtime between the onset of an attack and the arrival of specialists. This is where the humble little aspirin comes in. Some studies show that it can slow the onset of a heart attack if ingested quickly, hence the recommendation to chew it up. It will taste horrible and might be a difficult swallow, but it’s better than death. Drinking the tablet may be ultimately too slow. 

#4

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s If someone (especially old people!) hits their head and is knocked out or just overall fuzzy, and then they get better and feel fine, TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.

A brain bleed presents as nothing until all of a sudden you die. And can look like a lucid period in which they seem fine.

Natasha Richardson was a good example of this.

sejestedusername , Jan Krivec Report

#5

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s If I’m hiking or trekking somewhere remote I carry a tube of medical grade honey.

It can be used to treat wounds, burns, skin problems, and is a good antibacterial.

And it also does double duty as a calorie-dense food source with some moisture content, that could help you survive an extra week or so.

Some studies even suggest consuming honey might offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and anti-anxiety benefits. Especially useful in emergency situations.

Ivymantled , Holly Mandarich Report

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#6

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s If someone tells you they've been thinking about killing themselves, you can remain calm. Take a little time and sincerely hear them out. Try to understand what they're telling you. Do not hide from their pain--it's lonliness and hopelessness that kills them, but their feelings can't hurt you.

Tell them whatever you can honestly say about their personal value, but don't make up lies. Ask them if they will be safe when they leave. Encourage them to talk to a professional.

All you can do is be there and be real.

Their life is not in your hands.

Any choice they make is their own.

Black_Sam , Jakob Owens Report

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Lace Neil
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I attempted twice, but both times my older brother saved my life by doing this. Today, I'm in a much better place than I used to be and am thankful to my brother for what he did.

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But ultimately, a person should call 911 or 112, depending on where they live. These days, many emergency services will take both numbers, to save time, as a traveler might be in danger and may not remember what number to use. However, in many life-or-death situations, people do not react correctly, particularly if they are in public. For example, recently a girl was murdered in public in Delhi, India, as bystanders looked on. 

#7

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Prioritize your safety first. If you are the first to arrive on scene and see people need help the very first thing you should do is: Stop, look around for potential dangers and do what you can to mitigate them. Live electrical wire shorting out in water nearby? CPR isn't your priority, shutting the breaker off and moving the wire away is. Don't forget to look up when doing the scene survey. EMS has a name for people that don't check first: canaries.

Burstar1 , rosario janza Report

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Olivia Lisbon
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

During my first aid exam we had to show we were taking this into account by jumping into the scene like a ninja and going “I’m on the lookout for danger!” before we did anything else.

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#8

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Shouting "FIRE!!" instead of "Help!" will get people to react faster. Cop told me that one.

AnnBell62 , Stephen Radford Report

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#9

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Never, ever, take a motorcyclists helmet off if they are not in direct danger after having an accident. The same as not getting someone out of a car.
There could be a serious head injury (despite wearing a helmet) and helmet could be the only thing holding their head together. Waaaay too many people think you have to take the helmet off immediately.

SathanSax , Jeremy Bishop Report

As shocking as this sounds, this is another instance of the “bystander effect,” where a group of people will not react to an emergency situation or crime because they assume that someone else will call the authorities. This is why people are instructed to ask specific people for help, as most humans do actually want to do something, but will often fail to take action unless directly prompted. 

#10

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Take first aid class. And especially parents or people with older relatives.

Was always interested in because a parent saved me from choking as a baby, and one day the said parent had a stroke in front of me. I was terrified but acted correctly. If you think it's easy during first aid class, in real life it's the same, but 1000 times faster because of adrenaline and fear.

Now they're safe and healthy. Can't fathom if I didn't knew a s**t, they died and I would have spend my life thinking "What if ...".

Least-Designer7976 , Sincerely Media Report

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#11

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s The amount of comments that seem to assume that learning to cric/trach someone is a skill you can teach yourself off the internet is actually alarming. Unless you’re a provider with it in your scope, absolutely do NOT try these procedures especially if you have no medical background. No, you can’t just shove a ballpoint pen or straw through someone’s Cricothyroid membrane, please do not do this.

JumpDaddy92 , EMI Report

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Susie Elle
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try breathing through a ballpoint pen and you'll understand why this doesn't work

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#12

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s If someone is drowning, don't jump in to save them. Chances are you'll both drown because the panicking person will cling onto you. Your best bet is to find something that floats and throw it to them, or swim out to give it to them but keep a safe distance.

If someone does grab you or tries to climb on top of you, fight them off and swim downwards to get away, they won't try to follow if you go underwater.

OpinionatedNonsense , Tim Marshall Report

Often, if there is a crowd and no one is reacting, people feel self-conscious about making a scene, calling the authorities, or anything else. We don’t like public attention or to stand out, so people tend to hold on to hope that someone else will take care of it or has already done something. So, as the post here says, in an emergency, point at a specific person and tell them directly what to do. Chances are they will intervene to help. 

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#13

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s When using an epi-pen do not cover the end opposite to the needle with your thumb. There's a hole at the other end, if you cover it you create a vacuum and nothing will come out of the needle.

Skunkernator , Stock Catalog Report

#14

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s A simple phone call to check-in can help someone decide that going on is the right choice today.

Life is low points and high. Help someone get to the next high point. Call a friend.

anon , René Ranisch Report

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R Dennis
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I contacted someone who worked for me when he was a teen. Just randomly sent him a long message about old times and that I felt like I needed to see how he was doing. We messaged for a little and near the end, he told me he was in the middle of a mental health crisis and was about to self-harm. He had been seeking a sign and me contacting him out of the blue convinced him to get help (he did). I still don't know why I decided to get in touch, but I am glad I did.

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#15

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s When doing chest compressions for CPR, you have to push HARD. I'm talking "break their ribs" hard (which is a normal occurance during CPR). Do not let tv shows trick you into thinking you can give a light little shove and they'll come back.

kiwiiikee , RDNE Stock project Report

If that sounds hopeless, and there are countless examples of people killed or hurt because of inert bystanders, know that in many cases people will actually intervene. Based on a study using CCTV cameras in Lancaster, Amsterdam, and Cape Town, bystanders would actually run to help a victim, call for the authorities and sometimes even risk their own lives. Unless the perpetrators were actively armed, most people do look out for our fellow citizens.

#16

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s If you find someone unconscious but still breathing and with a pulse, please put them on their left side. This will save them from aspirating on saliva or vomit.

PaulyRocket68 , De'Andre Bush Report

#17

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Epilepsy first aid. If you see someone having a tonic clinic seizure (the kind where they lose consciousness and go into convulsions):

-DO NOT put anything in their mouth under any circumstances. You could lose a finger (remember, these are motor movements with no control over force) or they could choke.

-Move anything that they could injure themselves on a safe distance away

-Stay with them (a safe distance away while they are convulsing) and time the seizure.

-Turn them on their side into the [Recovery position](https://www.tomwademd.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Recovery-Position.jpg) when it is safe to do so. This will prevent choking and keep the airways open.

-If they immediately go into another seizure after the first one stops or the seizure lasts longer than five minutes, call emergency services. This is known as status epelepticus and can be life threatening.

-The individual will likely be confused and feel unwell when they regain consciousness. Explain what happened, and check whether they have a history of seizures. If this is the first time they have had a seizure, treat it as a medical emergency.

SwiggityStag , Matias Ilizarbe Report

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Olivia Lisbon
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But don’t expect them to be coherent or know what happened as soon as they wake up. Or for them to remember anything you said half an hour later. My mum has videos of me waking up after a seizure and her telling me what happened - I remember absolutely none of it. My dad once needed fifteen minutes and a mirror to convince me to lie on the couch after I had a seizure at the top of the stairs, fell and smashed face-first into a wall, and then tried to go about my day like nothing happened.

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#18

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s cpr is diffrent for children than adults. and again different for babies than children

child234 , Michel E Report

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LazyPanda
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11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you do a CPR on a baby you kinda hug them with your hands around the rib cage and do CPR with your thumbs. When it's a small child you press with your index and middle finger. It's also very important to give a child five mouth to mouth blows before the CPR, which you don't have to do with an adult if you don't want to anymore. Also when you do CPR on an adult it's 30:2, with a child it's 15:2. I'm studyijg to be a nurse and I hope you guys undestood what I wrote, I'm very sorry for my english, it's not my first language

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#19

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s A fire extinguisher. People forget to pull out the safety pin

MolassesReef , Piotr Chrobot Report

#20

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Juice box, soda, gatorade - basically anything with sugar in it, (preferably a liquid so it's less of a choking hazard), can immediately help someone with dangerously low blood sugar.

This most often (but not always) happens to diabetics who's medication vs. sugar intake got unbalanced, which can be as simple as them taking their meds but forgetting to eat breakfast.

If someone you know is diabetic and they start suddenly, inexplicably acting strange, that would be a good time to give them sugar. It's possible that it will cause their blood sugar to go higher than it should be, but having it too low is more immediately life threatening.

3mothsinatrenchcoat , Fernando Andrade Report

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Susie Elle
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A high blood sugar is less acutely dangerous than low blood sugar, so don't be afraid of 'but what if it gets too high'?

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#21

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s #1: Take a Basic First Aid/CPR class. A lot of Fire departments offer them for free. Call your local Fire Dep (NON Emergency Line) and ask.

#2: Learn the symptoms of a stroke. Knowing what to look for if someone is having a stoke can really make the difference. Time is a big factor here.

#3: Learn the symptoms of a Heart Attack. Recognizing the symptoms can save someones life.

#4: Learn how to properly perform the Heimlich on a choking victim and Yourself. I recently learned that someone I knew passed away because he did not know how to do this on himself. He was 25.

#5: Beware of your surroundings. Listen to your gut. If something dose not feel right, leave.

#6: If you are in the wilderness and everything gets quiet, There is a predator near by.

#7: Cliff Diving or diving into water from any height. "Swim It before you dive it." I do not care if your friends are doing it, You do not know what is under the water or how deep the water is until you find out for yourself. Swim it first. And do this every time you go to dive your fav spot. What was safe last year may no longer be safe, Swim it first. Many ppl each summer are injured or die for not following this rule.

I know that some of these may seem like common knowledge but they may not be as common as they should be. Example the lose of my 25yo friend.

OnixPanther , Martin Splitt Report

#22

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s If you're engulfed in flames, don't run. Drop to the ground and roll over until the flames are extinguished.

If someone else is on fire, tackle them (if safe) and cover them with a jacket or other piece of closing. Focus on their head first since hair catches fire very quickly.

Algum , Nguyen Duc Khoi Report

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Monday
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless of course you are surrounded by what set you on fire in the first place. Then absolutely run until you're out of it before dropping and rolling.

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#23

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Narcan. People know it saves lives, but fewer know just how easy and safe it is to use. One blast of nasal spray can bring someone back. Where I live (Canada), it's available free at the pharmacy along with free training to anyone who wants it.

StrawberriesRGood4U , Missvain Report

#24

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s A chair can be used to Heimlich maneuver yourself.

welltriedsoul , Renè Müller Report

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shanila.pheonix_
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

or any edge, like a table can work too, i think (i'm still training to get cpr certified in my school)

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#25

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Keep water in the car a blanket a towel clothes flashlight and a lighter.

JockSandWich , Noelle Rebekah Report

#26

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s IF you’re ever impaled or stabbed obviously don’t remove anything but if it passed through or is no longer in the wound use a tampon to help with bleeding control also works w bullets wounds and serious nose bleeds. Duct tape and any semi sturdy material lasting can create a usable chest seal I’ve seen some first aid kits contain small rolls of duct tape recently

Stinkypete0814 , Diana Polekhina Report

#27

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s chewing an aspirin in case of a heart attack can save your life

TheUselessOne87 , danilo.alvesd Report

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Kayjunmoon
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would say this stand alone comment, whilst possibly true in some cases is actually dangerous to just post and leave like this. If nothing else my husband’s cardiologist just last month says this is no longer recommended blankly like this.

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#28

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Important to recognize signs of s stroke, immediate medical attention may save your/their life:

- inability to move or feel on one side of the body/face

- problems understanding or speaking

- dizziness

- loss of vision to one side

- strong headache different from usual

Call an ambulance immediately or go directly to the hospital!!!

Thesleepypomegranate , Carolina Heza Report

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Olivia Lisbon
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also remember FAST. Face (‘is their smile symmetrical?’), Arms (‘can they hold them both up at the same height?’), Speech (‘is it normal or slurred?’) and Time (both ‘how long have the symptoms been present?’ and also ‘no time to wait - get help fast!’

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#29

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Don't put a spoon in the mouth of a person having a seizure.

The-Guy-In-Grey , Markus Spiske Report

#30

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Heimlich maneuver, especially the modern day version. You now should do 5 hard back blows + 5 abdominal thrusts.

Whyyyyyyyyfire , Texas Military Department Report

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Pink Aesthetic
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11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read somewhere you shouldn't thrust a baby. Lay them on their stomach on your leg so they're in a tilted position facing slightly downwards from your knee, if that makes sense. Then pat their back slightly, then moderately. Do your own research first though!

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#31

Heart attack symptoms differ between men and women.
Women are more likely to experience discomfort in their jaw, neck, upper back and abdomen, than they are chest pain.

BookishHobbit Report

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Olivia Lisbon
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Medicine is such a male-oriented field, it’s beyond sad we’re only just starting to catch up.

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#32

This is super obvious but I just wanna share the story. Learn your CPR and Heimlich maneuver. My mom almost choked to death one night when I was a teenager. I was lucky I wasn't wearing my headphones because I heard some horrible sound, ran downstairs and my mom was almost blue in the face choking. I panicked, got around her and attempted the Heimlich but I was too high up and ended up leaving a contusion on her sternum and ribs which pained her for weeks. I basically punched my mom right in the chest. She directed my hands to the right spot, I cranked down and she coughed up the obstruction. One of the scariest moments of my life. It scares me to think that if I was playing video games or listening to music that night my mom would be dead.

MinglewoodRider Report

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LazyPanda
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And learn the right spot to do this. You may cause some pain to adults, but if you press the wrong spot on children, you can easily damage their liver and they could die very quickly, with no simptoms until it's too late. Also it's inportant to give a person five strong slaps between their shoulders on the back and than do a Heimlich.

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#33

If you attend large scale outdoor events like concerts or NYE parties, learn how to recognize the signs of a crowd crush and how to navigate out of it.

- Keep your hands at your chest, like a boxer, this protects your rib cage to keep a space around your lungs so you can breathe.

- If you fall, curl into a ball and cover your head.

Etc.

snowstormspawn Report

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Lace Neil
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been in several mosh pits, and fellow moshers will always help one another. I've never felt unsafe, not even in the pit at a Slipknot gig. Friends who have attended pop concerts say that this does not happen at the front at pop concerts, which is sad.

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#34

Here is something that is incredibly wide spread and needs to be addressed.

Tampons are not an effective method of bleeding control. This is a myth. There is a reason combat medics do not carry kits full of tampons. Paramedics do not bring gunshot victims to the trauma bay with tampons sticking out of their wounds.

Pressure dressings and tourniquets control bleeding in extremities and junctions (armpit, neck, groin). Bleeds in the torso will often require surgical intervention and are not easily controlled even by professionals at the field level.

A tampon will absorb blood. It may help stop a small non-life threatening bleed. Anything significant will require a lot more. If you stick a bunch of tampons in a gunshot victim then now they are both shot and full of blood soaked tampons.

Iifiwasaclorm Report

#35

Situational awareness

JamesRitchey Report

#36

diabetics with low blood sugar often appear drunk. If you see a homeless person stumbling around seemingly intoxicated all it takes is a simple "excuse me are you diabetic?" and if they say yes you can buy or give them something sugary. If they say no you can go about your day.

No-Direction-8591 Report

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Taibhse Sealgair
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This has resulted in a number of issues in recent years where law enforcement officers incorrectly assume a driver is intoxicated when in fact they were having LBS problems.

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#37

Immediate chest compressions on someone who has just gone into cardiac arrest. You don’t need to know exactly what your doing or do them perfectly; or give mouth to mouth. I’ve seen chest compressions lead to people beating the odds with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

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Pink Aesthetic
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chest compressions chest compressions chest compressions! I recommend watching Dr Mike's videos on YouTube :)

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#38

If you god forbid, have to do cpr on a baby and decide to do mouth to mouth, DO NOT take full breaths. Their lungs are MUCH smaller than yours. Fill up your cheeks with air and blow.

When giving the Heimlich, remember to thrust up not just in.

littlemarcus91 Report

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Olivia Lisbon
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This…actually wasn’t covered at all in my First Aid course. Though we did practice CPR on baby dolls too. I’m definitely going to ask about this during the next recertification.

#39

Probably too late for this post, but if you know a depressed/depressive person that is suddenly not depressed just out of the blue, check on them.

They may be genuinely feeling better, or they may have decided that they're going to attempt suicide, and that makes them feel better.

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Lace Neil
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This. My sudden better mood was what alerted my brother that something was up in time to save my life when I attempted.

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#40

A flight plan. Tell people where you are going and when you expect to come back if you’re going to be in a remote area.

“Hey Ryan, I’m driving up to Upper Preet on hwy 10 to buy a pie. I’m coming back via New Preet on the dirt road. I’ll be back by 5. If you don’t here from me 7, call Dale.”

dsyzdek Report

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#41

Staying calm. The first step in any stressful situation is keeping yourself in check. It's easy to freeze but if you practice body awareness you can snap yourself into moving.

Learn cpr, do it to the beat of staying alive, kids cpr is different so learn both.

Remember to assign someone to call 911. "You with red shirt call 911!" People freeze, give them a direct command and leave no question qho you assigned to do the task. If you are alone, put phone on speaker and keep doing compressions If ur doing cpr. Don't stop the compressions.

Carry narcan, it's about to be otc yall! Yay!!!!

If the person is breathing put then in recovery position.

I think a lot of people know these though but it's all the know how I have.

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#42

Unlike in the movies, performing CPR on a person doesnt just bring them back to life. CPR needs to be sustained to keep the person alive, and can keep somebody alive for a few hours If you're good enough. Keep giving CPR until help arrives.

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Pink Aesthetic
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This! CPR keeps the oxygen-blood moving to your heart and brain. Always call an ambulance after CPR!

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#43

CPR instructor here! Most medical emergencies can be avoided with proper planning. Whether it be logistically, nutritionally, or just choosing to not be stupid or blackout drunk - we all have the agency to avoid most emergencies before they are emergencies.

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#44

The removal headrests in car seats, their secondary purpose is to be used to smash out car windows in a emergency, hence the bid sharp steel prongs

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#45

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s A defibrillator. A lot of public spaces have one, but using one i's not universal knowledge yet

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smugdruggler
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are quite a few of these AEDs in my town now, and you don't need training because part of the automation is giving you verbal instructions. You just have to listen and do what it tells you.

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#46

Prioritize the top 3 organs: Brain, heart and lungs.

If someone gets hit on the head, has weird neurological symptoms, complains about breathing difficulty, or heart/chest/left shoulder pain, etc SEEK ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. If it seems like nothing, that's fine, just get it ruled out. You can live for days to years with issues in other areas of your body, but you only have minutes if any of your top 3 go down.

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Sligon54
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'Prioritize the top 3 organs: Brain, heart and lungs.' Isn't that haggis?

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#47

Credit cards, sunglass lenses, or other flat (or mostly flat) small objects can be placed over puncture wounds to the chest to prevent the lungs from filling up with excess air. Quite a few combat gauze manufacturers even include a small plastic dome in the packaging for this reason. But in a pinch, anything flat that can form an airtight seal over the puncture wound will keep pressure out of the lungs while you keep pressure on the wound itself like you would for other bleeding injuries.

I’ve heard of some people who got really creative with this over the years. Things such as shot glasses, dodgeballs, challenge coins, and cellophane wrap have been used to save lives in this manner.

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Jed
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... aluminum foil or plastic wrap taped down around the edges, the palm of your hand, ...

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#48

If you are worried a small child ingested something dangerous like a toy or battery, instead of asking them, “did you eat -*insert item*-?”, ask, “where is -*insert item-*?” or “can you show me where -*insert item-* is?” Children often panic and think they’re in trouble or might not understand well if you ask them about ingestion, but are much more direct and clear-headed if you ask about their location. This only works for children who are a little older than a year who can understand basic instructions. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate and just get them to the closest ER and have a second person call poison control at the same time (if you’re able).

Also for children (and adults), the dose often makes the poison. Just because things like play-doh are labeled non-toxic doesn’t mean it’s safe for a child to eat a larger amount. The salt content in an ounce can kill a small child. Poison control is your friend.

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#49

If you get trapped in an avalanche just spit so you know which way is down(gravity) then dig the opposite way up.

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Apocalypse Whippet
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But first you have to be able to clear a small space to spit into, if there wasn’t a natural pocket there.

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#50

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s In an active shooter situation remember run, hide or fight in that order. If you can run away feasibly do that. If you are unable because say exit is blocked and you have time and location to hide try that next. If you have no choice but to fight then that is what you must do but be strategic to improve your odds. What can you use to distract or throw at shooter to get the upper hand. If there is more than one person there to fight do some planning e.g. one person attacks shooters left side one from the right. If more people are available divide up which limbs on shooter you will target, etc. FEMA and other government websites have very useful training on how to improve your odds of survival in these situations.

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#51

Cold weather? Car breaks down? One candle can keep you sufficiently warm. But you should also keep a cold-weather emergency kit.

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Sligon54
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if it gets really cold you can always light the candle.

#52

If you’re being chased by bees don’t jump inside the water they’ll just wait for you to get out

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Olivia Lisbon
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What about the cartoon “breathing through a reed” thing? Would that work? How long is a bee’s attention span?

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#53

when you have to fight, you fight like your life depends on it, because it probably does. Dont punch them twice and call it a day, because thats just gonna make them more determined to end you. fight until theyre unconsious, fight till they cant move. obviously, fighing is a last resort, but its important to have the right mindset.

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Lace Neil
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, if they are trying to get you into a car, don't comply. If you get in the car with someone who wishes you harm, the chances that you will survive are lower than If you resist. If it is your car and you are being car jacked, try to crash the car.

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#54

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Epi pens are commonly known how to be used, but there’s actually 2-3 more doses inside of it. You have to break open the cartridge, but there are more doses inside just in case you need them. Very useful thing to know, especially when in the backcountry.

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Olivia Lisbon
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are they commonly known how to be used? I mean, they should be, but I’ve never even seen one.

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#55

Chest compressions! Chest compressions early in a cardiac arrest are everything! They're the difference between recovery and brain death!

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#56

If someone’s been impaled by something, and the object is still lodged in their body, don’t try and remove it. Stabilize it with tape and call 911 ASAP.

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Taibhse Sealgair
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And, if the object is in their eye, cover BOTH eyes to help prevent them from trying to look around with the non-injured eye which will cause the injured eye to move.

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#57

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Ziplock bag or any sort of plastic bag for sucking chest wound.

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#58

A tourniquet, but you need to learn how to use it.

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#59

There's a really great program called Stop the Bleed. It teaches civilians the proper techniques for helping others who have suffered a serious injury and are bleeding uncontrolllably.

https://www.stopthebleed.org/

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Freya the Wanderer
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've taken their course. I learned a lot, and it has stuck with me. Now I hope that I never have to use what I learned--

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#60

If you know someone who has diabetes or suspect has an incorrect blood sugar based on odd behavior or otherwise, give them a glucose tablet, sugar candy, or other sugar product that can be consumed quickly AND call for help AND/OR direct someone to call for help. While having a high blood sugar level is bad, a really low blood sugar level can cause more harm in a short period of time.

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#61

There a special bandage for snake bites the bandage shows how tight it should go on when tight enough the bandage shows squares instead of rectangulars.

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#62



*A hug.*

"Stay .We need you here."

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#63

Deodorant. It is like pepper spray but legal in most countries.

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Lace Neil
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was at college, a fellow student was attacked by a man while walking home. She sprayed him in the eyes with her Charlie body spray. He lost all interest in attacking her after that and she was able to escape unscathed.

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#64

LifeVac anti-choking device 100% if you have children.

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#65

“Prioritize Your Safety First”: 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else’s Honey. Give to a child who has ingested a small battery. Slows down the release of battery acid whilst waiting for the ambulance.

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Annymoose
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Call poison control and ask what to do. Don't give anyone who has ingested anything dangerous ANYTHING based off an internet post.

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#66

112 is the universal help nhs number for foreign contries

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#67

Office Ties or belts can make a good tourniquet. Out of style doesn't mean out of use.

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Xenon
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Guy with gaping wound on leg "ew, no. That tie is soooo last year!"

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#68

A belt. Put a half twist in it around a limb, tighten with anything at hand and it’s an improvised tourniquet. It will work just as well as the real thing and buy enough time to get EMS there.

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#69

If you need to make somebody vomit, make them eat a spoonful of powdered baking cocoa. It’s so dry and bitter you will vomit.

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Pink Aesthetic
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11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or they will choke to the powder. One method is pushing your fingers down the person throat too. Do your research though!

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#70

Assess first who needs first attention.

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#71

A ceramic spark plug can easily shatter a car window if a small child, elderly person or animal is locked in the car on a hot day

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SirWriteALot
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is stupid. Anything pointy will shatter a car window. No need to call a mechanic to get a spark plug to smash the window. Also, break it in the corners, not the center.

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#72

How to properly apply a tourniquet

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#73

I think ice. It can stop bleeding.

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Ladee Warrick
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can also cause frostbite so be careful. Apply pressure and call for help instead.

#74

Actually many of the same procedures and treatments used for gender affirming care are used in some cancer treatments as well. Unfortunately though, this means that if someone suffering from that cancer was trans, in most states they’d be denied the care they need to actually just live.

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#75

Tampons for bullet wounds. Pads to stop bleeding.

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