In a matter of seconds, you can go from pleasantly driving in your car to finding yourself in a serious accident. In the face of an emergency, panic often takes over when it’s important to stay calm and act quickly. That’s why knowing and preparing how to react to life-threatening circumstances is the absolute key, and this TikTok user can help you out.
Ben J. Handy started a video series on how to deal with dangerous situations. Whether you’re being followed, encountering a bear or, knock on wood, finding yourself in a plane crash, these tips can potentially save your life.
We wish for you to stay safe and healthy, so we collected some of the best tips Ben has shared with his followers. Continue scrolling and tell us what you think in the comments below! And if you’re in the mood for some more advice, you can check out our previous post about it right here.
TikTok user Ben J. Handy created a video series where he talks about different life-threatening situations and how to deal with them
#1 Your Car Has Just Gone Into A Body Of Water
I'm talking about where deep water like you've gone off a bridge, something like that. You hit hard, you're in shock. What are you going to do first?
Decide now, deciding now could save your life. The first thing you do before anything else, you unbuckle the seat belt. You need to be able to move, that seat belt isn't protecting you anymore, it's a death trap.
If you're trapped in a bubble of air, if the windows are up and there's no water coming in your car, you talk to anyone else in the car, make sure their seat belts are off and you explain what you're going to do. You've got to open that window. We don't make windows that crank anymore, so if your engine's dead, you're going to need to smash that window. If you have a tool, use that. If not, you gotta do it with what you got, so protect whatever part of the skin is going to hit that. And remember, it's hard to break a car window, you've got to hit it really hard and break it. You're trying to protect yourself from getting cut, you could break your hand doing this, but you need to get that window broken so water's coming in the car. You cannot open the car door because of the pressure. The water pressure outside will hold that door shut. You need to open the window so the water will come in and that'll equalize the pressure. If you can kick the window, that might work too. But once that pressure is equalized, you could open the door.
If you had to break the window, it might be dangerous to go out through the window, so it's better to wait until you can open the car door. That applies to everyone in the car. If the windows were open and the water's pouring in, you just just need to get out.
Once you get out, you might get confused, it's dark, you're in shock. If it's fall or winter, that water is incredibly cold. People forget which way is up, they lose track of up. I know it sounds stupid, but it really does happen in those situations. So little bit of air out of your mouth and follow the bubbles. The bubbles are going up. Follow them up.
You go up to the surface, on the way to the surface, you're listening for boats. If there are boats in these waters and the sound is getting higher, that boat is coming towards you. If the sound is getting lower, that boat is going away from you. You want lower, you want it to be going away so you can surface. That boat will take your head off if you come up and it's there. Once you're on the surface, you've got to find shore. Again, you're in shock you might be bleeding, you might have broken bones, you're not thinking straight. Some people just start swimming the wrong way. Look for light and swim there. Shedding clothing will help you. You're carrying the water weight with you, so getting clothes off will help you get to shore.
Decide now, deciding now could save your life. The first thing you do before anything else, you unbuckle the seat belt. You need to be able to move, that seat belt isn't protecting you anymore, it's a death trap.
If you're trapped in a bubble of air, if the windows are up and there's no water coming in your car, you talk to anyone else in the car, make sure their seat belts are off and you explain what you're going to do. You've got to open that window. We don't make windows that crank anymore, so if your engine's dead, you're going to need to smash that window. If you have a tool, use that. If not, you gotta do it with what you got, so protect whatever part of the skin is going to hit that. And remember, it's hard to break a car window, you've got to hit it really hard and break it. You're trying to protect yourself from getting cut, you could break your hand doing this, but you need to get that window broken so water's coming in the car. You cannot open the car door because of the pressure. The water pressure outside will hold that door shut. You need to open the window so the water will come in and that'll equalize the pressure. If you can kick the window, that might work too. But once that pressure is equalized, you could open the door.
If you had to break the window, it might be dangerous to go out through the window, so it's better to wait until you can open the car door. That applies to everyone in the car. If the windows were open and the water's pouring in, you just just need to get out.
Once you get out, you might get confused, it's dark, you're in shock. If it's fall or winter, that water is incredibly cold. People forget which way is up, they lose track of up. I know it sounds stupid, but it really does happen in those situations. So little bit of air out of your mouth and follow the bubbles. The bubbles are going up. Follow them up.
You go up to the surface, on the way to the surface, you're listening for boats. If there are boats in these waters and the sound is getting higher, that boat is coming towards you. If the sound is getting lower, that boat is going away from you. You want lower, you want it to be going away so you can surface. That boat will take your head off if you come up and it's there. Once you're on the surface, you've got to find shore. Again, you're in shock you might be bleeding, you might have broken bones, you're not thinking straight. Some people just start swimming the wrong way. Look for light and swim there. Shedding clothing will help you. You're carrying the water weight with you, so getting clothes off will help you get to shore.
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54points
Bored Panda reached out to Ben J. Handy to find out more about him and the inspiration behind this series. He told us that he likes to describe himself as the most successful failed screenwriter you will ever meet: "I wrote screenplays all through the '90s and managed to scrape together starvation wages this way with options and a single sale."
Ben and his writing partner wrote the screenplay for Chain of Command, which is the last movie produced by Cannon Pictures. However, the company went into bankruptcy after producing the film.
While most screenwriters find it much easier to sell their wares after a single film is produced, Ben said that he could not enjoy the usual "afterglow" because this one was not released for 5 years.
#2 Somebody's Broken Into Your House
The first thing you've got to do is plan ahead, you and everyone you live with have to have a meeting. If something like this or a fire happens, how are you going to get out? Does anyone need help getting out and who's in charge of helping that person? And where do you meet afterwards?
Step two, do not confront the person. Don't say I'm here and I have a gun and I've called the police. Don't do anything. Just pick up your phone, call 911. Stay on the phone with the operator. They hang up, you don't. That applies anytime you call 911. Say "this is my name, this is my address, there's somebody in my house, I need immediate assistance. I don't know if they have a weapon (or if you know, say, I know they have a weapon)." Your goal is to live.
If you confront this person, your odds of dying increase enormously. Hide. Get out.
Step one, get out. Step two can't get out - hide. Step three if you can't hide - lock doors, barricade doors. Do whatever you can to stay away from them.
Step two, do not confront the person. Don't say I'm here and I have a gun and I've called the police. Don't do anything. Just pick up your phone, call 911. Stay on the phone with the operator. They hang up, you don't. That applies anytime you call 911. Say "this is my name, this is my address, there's somebody in my house, I need immediate assistance. I don't know if they have a weapon (or if you know, say, I know they have a weapon)." Your goal is to live.
If you confront this person, your odds of dying increase enormously. Hide. Get out.
Step one, get out. Step two can't get out - hide. Step three if you can't hide - lock doors, barricade doors. Do whatever you can to stay away from them.
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45points
"So I got kind of depressed after being unable to move forward with my writing career and moved on to everyone's dream job ... payroll." The creator of this video series worked in different accounting-adjacent jobs for the next couple of decades: "I find I am very good at this, and my bosses all love me, but ultimately it is just a job, and not at all how I define myself."
"During that period I also got married, had a kid, bought a house, grew a beard and generally learned all about the human condition called 'middle-aged'," he added. "I am happy to define myself as a great husband and father, as these are the two things that have given me the greatest joy and are my greatest accomplishments in life."
#3 Someone Is Following You
If there is a police car following you, but you're not sure it's a police car, you're allowed to call 911 and say "I'm being pulled over by a police car, can you confirm that it really is a police car?"
If it's a regular car, drive somewhere very public: police stations, airports, bus depots, places with lots of cameras where their presence will be documented. That will dissuade almost anyone.
If it's on foot, carefully take pictures of them.
If it's a regular car, drive somewhere very public: police stations, airports, bus depots, places with lots of cameras where their presence will be documented. That will dissuade almost anyone.
If it's on foot, carefully take pictures of them.
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38points
Luckily, a few years ago, Ben did a self-review and realized that he wanted to pick up the pen and start writing again. Since then, he’s been creating some short stories and working on a novel.
"I occasionally post a link to one of my short stories on my TikTok bio. I am not too worried about being published; that kind of goal-oriented writing led to my depression before, so I just write what I like and share it with whoever asks."
#4 You're In A Plane Crash
This causes a lot of people to panic and I'll let you know traveling on a commercial airline is actually very safe these days. The likelihood of a plane crash is very low. In fact, more likely to choke to death on something you eat while flying than you are to die in a plane crash.
Something that can help you survive is a decision you make before you get on the plane. What you wear. If you survive a plane crash, the plane is likely to catch on fire and the temperature will rise very quickly to an extreme heat, hot enough to melt artificial fibers like polyester. You don't want to be struggling to get to the exit while covered with melted plastic, so you're better off wearing natural fibers like cotton and wool. Jeans are a great choice. Pantyhose is a terrible choice.
Next, where you sit on the plane. There was a study done years ago that said it was safest to sit in the back of the plane. That has been refuted since, there is no part of the plane that is actually safer in that you're more likely to survive the crash itself, but if you sit within five rows of the emergency exit, your chances of getting out after the crash increase a lot. So sit within five rows of the emergency exit. When you get on the plane, you want to look where the emergency exit is and go from your seat to the emergency exit. Putting your hand on the back of the seat, go
count the number of seats and remember how it feels. If you're in a crash and you're there and you're trying to get out, you want as many senses of yours to know how to get out. You don't want to just know how it looks to get the emergency exit, you want to know how it feels.
When the flight attendant tells you what to do, listen. Sometimes they have specific information for that airline, for that particular airplane, whatever it is, studies show that people who listen to that safety speech are much more likely to survive both the crash itself and getting out after the crash.
While you're on the plane. Stay in your seat and keep your seatbelt on when that seatbelt light turns off, that just means if you've got to go to the bathroom, get up now, but otherwise stay in your seat buckled up. If the plane hits turbulence, it can drop really suddenly. Now the plane could be fine and the pilot knows what they're doing, but you will go flying up when the plane goes down, if your seat belt isn't on, so keep your seatbelt on the whole time now.
Finally, the plane crashes. You've got to get out. You have 90 seconds on average before that plane burns up to the extent that no one else is getting out alive. Your enemy now is the bias of normalcy. Your new normal is getting off that plane.
Something that can help you survive is a decision you make before you get on the plane. What you wear. If you survive a plane crash, the plane is likely to catch on fire and the temperature will rise very quickly to an extreme heat, hot enough to melt artificial fibers like polyester. You don't want to be struggling to get to the exit while covered with melted plastic, so you're better off wearing natural fibers like cotton and wool. Jeans are a great choice. Pantyhose is a terrible choice.
Next, where you sit on the plane. There was a study done years ago that said it was safest to sit in the back of the plane. That has been refuted since, there is no part of the plane that is actually safer in that you're more likely to survive the crash itself, but if you sit within five rows of the emergency exit, your chances of getting out after the crash increase a lot. So sit within five rows of the emergency exit. When you get on the plane, you want to look where the emergency exit is and go from your seat to the emergency exit. Putting your hand on the back of the seat, go
count the number of seats and remember how it feels. If you're in a crash and you're there and you're trying to get out, you want as many senses of yours to know how to get out. You don't want to just know how it looks to get the emergency exit, you want to know how it feels.
When the flight attendant tells you what to do, listen. Sometimes they have specific information for that airline, for that particular airplane, whatever it is, studies show that people who listen to that safety speech are much more likely to survive both the crash itself and getting out after the crash.
While you're on the plane. Stay in your seat and keep your seatbelt on when that seatbelt light turns off, that just means if you've got to go to the bathroom, get up now, but otherwise stay in your seat buckled up. If the plane hits turbulence, it can drop really suddenly. Now the plane could be fine and the pilot knows what they're doing, but you will go flying up when the plane goes down, if your seat belt isn't on, so keep your seatbelt on the whole time now.
Finally, the plane crashes. You've got to get out. You have 90 seconds on average before that plane burns up to the extent that no one else is getting out alive. Your enemy now is the bias of normalcy. Your new normal is getting off that plane.
26points
#5 Being Attacked By A Dog
Planning ahead can help save your life. First of all, if a dog is acting aggressive around you, leave. Get away from the situation.
You want to be big, you want to be confident and you want to back away slowly. Dogs very seldom attack somebody who's facing them. It's when you run away that they're more likely to trigger that instinct to come after you. So back away and let them have their space.
If you can get a stick, you hold it between you and the dog. It's not a whacking weapon, it's not a club, it's a spear. The dog is not going to be able to get at you because it's going to bite down on that stick and get hurt. If it does come at the stick, don't let it just have the stick, push, poke it in the mouth with the stick, that will usually drive a dog away.
If you don't have a stick, all you got is your phone. Use it like that. It's bad, but it's all you got. Plan ahead.
You want to be big, you want to be confident and you want to back away slowly. Dogs very seldom attack somebody who's facing them. It's when you run away that they're more likely to trigger that instinct to come after you. So back away and let them have their space.
If you can get a stick, you hold it between you and the dog. It's not a whacking weapon, it's not a club, it's a spear. The dog is not going to be able to get at you because it's going to bite down on that stick and get hurt. If it does come at the stick, don't let it just have the stick, push, poke it in the mouth with the stick, that will usually drive a dog away.
If you don't have a stick, all you got is your phone. Use it like that. It's bad, but it's all you got. Plan ahead.
25points
Like most people, Ben J. Handy was impacted by pandemic shutdowns. He started making TikTok videos to pass the time while sitting indoors: "For the first year, I had less than 1,000 followers, then I made a satirical conspiracy theory video that got over 16 million views and my account jumped to 100,000 followers in a week and I have been growing since."
Only later did Ben start making clips with tips on a variety of topics. His first video of this kind was dedicated to new parents. He told us about an idea he had and acted on when his kid was born.
"It was to set up a scavenger hunt while they were young with a treasure map they look at every day (framed and hanging in their room). The goal would be to let the child realize the map was real one day and they would take you hunting for buried treasure (which you buried years earlier)," he told us.
#6 An Encounter With A Bear
If you're having an encounter with a bear, you've got to remember two things.
First thing you've got to remember is this is an incredibly dangerous animal.
I don't know why, but people seem to think they're cute and cuddly and they get killed because of it.
The second thing to remember that's good news is bear encounters very rarely turn into bear attacks.
Bears do not attack humans very often. I don't have a good reason for it.
My personal theory is the bears that attacked humans, we killed them. Now the new bears know "Yes, sometimes these guys fight back. We don't like that with bang, bang guns."
So what you're going to do is you're going to remind this bear that you're a human, that you're not prey, you're going to do that by being as big as you can, standing up, and you're going to slowly wave your arms. Some people say that it's to make yourself seem bigger, but, that's actually just to make the bear see you as a human. Not many animals have that profile, and it helps the bear go, oh, that's one of those human things, we don't mess with them.
If you've got a small child with you, you have to pick that child up right away.
You want to be very calm and collected about it, but pick it up.
We're not yelling. We're not screaming. We're not growling at the bear. We're not waving around. No, we're human and we're slow and calm. And now we're going to Zoidberg away. What does that mean? Slow motion. Zoidberg. We're going to move away sideways, not with our back to the bear, not with our front to the bear.
If our front is to the bear and we're backing away, we might trip. And as soon as we go prone, that bear is going to think, you know, that does look like food.
If our back is to the bear then the bear is going to go, you know what? It's not looking. I can eat it.
We're going to get away. You're not going to outrun that bear. That bear can run faster than a racehorse over any terrain, including downhill.
There's a myth about that. That's not true. Bears can run really fast. Downhill, too. You will not outrun that bear, period. Usain Bolt would not outrun that bear. If you have a backpack, you keep it on, you don't drop it.
If it does attack, that will protect your back. I'm not going to give it food. You give it food and it starts going "You know I want more food and you seem to be made of food."
Don't give it food. Keep your backpack on. Carry children. Move away slowly and wave your arms. Sideways.
If the bear attacks, black bears only attack humans if they intend to eat them because they only attack when they're really hungry, so you fight back, if it's a black bear.
Brown bears and grizzly bears will attack for food or for territorial reasons and you won't win that fight, so you go prone and it might let you live if it was for territorial reasons.
First thing you've got to remember is this is an incredibly dangerous animal.
I don't know why, but people seem to think they're cute and cuddly and they get killed because of it.
The second thing to remember that's good news is bear encounters very rarely turn into bear attacks.
Bears do not attack humans very often. I don't have a good reason for it.
My personal theory is the bears that attacked humans, we killed them. Now the new bears know "Yes, sometimes these guys fight back. We don't like that with bang, bang guns."
So what you're going to do is you're going to remind this bear that you're a human, that you're not prey, you're going to do that by being as big as you can, standing up, and you're going to slowly wave your arms. Some people say that it's to make yourself seem bigger, but, that's actually just to make the bear see you as a human. Not many animals have that profile, and it helps the bear go, oh, that's one of those human things, we don't mess with them.
If you've got a small child with you, you have to pick that child up right away.
You want to be very calm and collected about it, but pick it up.
We're not yelling. We're not screaming. We're not growling at the bear. We're not waving around. No, we're human and we're slow and calm. And now we're going to Zoidberg away. What does that mean? Slow motion. Zoidberg. We're going to move away sideways, not with our back to the bear, not with our front to the bear.
If our front is to the bear and we're backing away, we might trip. And as soon as we go prone, that bear is going to think, you know, that does look like food.
If our back is to the bear then the bear is going to go, you know what? It's not looking. I can eat it.
We're going to get away. You're not going to outrun that bear. That bear can run faster than a racehorse over any terrain, including downhill.
There's a myth about that. That's not true. Bears can run really fast. Downhill, too. You will not outrun that bear, period. Usain Bolt would not outrun that bear. If you have a backpack, you keep it on, you don't drop it.
If it does attack, that will protect your back. I'm not going to give it food. You give it food and it starts going "You know I want more food and you seem to be made of food."
Don't give it food. Keep your backpack on. Carry children. Move away slowly and wave your arms. Sideways.
If the bear attacks, black bears only attack humans if they intend to eat them because they only attack when they're really hungry, so you fight back, if it's a black bear.
Brown bears and grizzly bears will attack for food or for territorial reasons and you won't win that fight, so you go prone and it might let you live if it was for territorial reasons.
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21points
#7 You're Getting Mugged
Let's remember why you're getting mugged, and it is because somebody who is willing to mug you saw you as being isolated and vulnerable. Isolated is the key thing here. Vulnerability comes from how equipped they are. They've already decided you're vulnerable. It doesn't matter if you've taken martial arts classes, they decided you're vulnerable. Maybe they've got a gun. Who knows, but you have control over isolation. So travel in groups, travel in well-lit areas. However, we're also going to have some other prep work I'm going to get into now.
You're getting mugged, let's talk about the worst things you could lose in a mugging. The worst thing you could lose your life, the second thing - your health, That can be taken from you through either violence or sexual violence. Number three, personal items, sentimental items that you couldn't replace with money, like maybe a wedding ring. Number four - things that could lead to identity theft, your I.D., your phone, stuff like that. And number five, the last thing we care about the least is cash.
What does the mugger want the most from you? With a big number one, it's cash. The thing they want the most is the thing we care about the least. This is a transaction now, and we want it to happen as fast as possible. Every second that this transaction goes on is more likely they're going to think, Hey, while we're at it, give me that ring. Give me your phone. Let's go down this dark alley. Never go with them to a second location. The only reason they would ever take you to another location is because they want to do something too much worse than rob you. Kick, bite, scream, yell, run, whatever, but don't go.
Typically, a mugging works by a threat of violence. They're usually going to show you a gun or a knife or something. They're going to say “give me your money, give me your wallet.” You're going to say, “I don't keep any money in my wallet. I keep all my money here.” You're going to pat a pocket where you have put a money clip. You don't have to buy a money clip, a paper clip works fine. A $10 bill on the outside with two singles on the inside. $12 is all it takes. You say “I keep all my money here. I'm going to take it out and give it to you.” Take it out. They're going to see the 10, they're going to like that, you're going to throw it away and then you're going to run the other way and you're going to scream, you've got to be loud now, noise is the opposite of isolation.
They saw you as isolated. Now you're not. The best anti mugging device is actually not a mace or a gun, it's those noisemakers, you pull a pin and they make a tremendous amount of noise and they won't stop until you put the pin back, those things are great. So now you're getting away, you're noisy, you're not isolated. What they want most is over there. That is how you survive mugging. It only cost you $12 and you didn't get hurt.
You're getting mugged, let's talk about the worst things you could lose in a mugging. The worst thing you could lose your life, the second thing - your health, That can be taken from you through either violence or sexual violence. Number three, personal items, sentimental items that you couldn't replace with money, like maybe a wedding ring. Number four - things that could lead to identity theft, your I.D., your phone, stuff like that. And number five, the last thing we care about the least is cash.
What does the mugger want the most from you? With a big number one, it's cash. The thing they want the most is the thing we care about the least. This is a transaction now, and we want it to happen as fast as possible. Every second that this transaction goes on is more likely they're going to think, Hey, while we're at it, give me that ring. Give me your phone. Let's go down this dark alley. Never go with them to a second location. The only reason they would ever take you to another location is because they want to do something too much worse than rob you. Kick, bite, scream, yell, run, whatever, but don't go.
Typically, a mugging works by a threat of violence. They're usually going to show you a gun or a knife or something. They're going to say “give me your money, give me your wallet.” You're going to say, “I don't keep any money in my wallet. I keep all my money here.” You're going to pat a pocket where you have put a money clip. You don't have to buy a money clip, a paper clip works fine. A $10 bill on the outside with two singles on the inside. $12 is all it takes. You say “I keep all my money here. I'm going to take it out and give it to you.” Take it out. They're going to see the 10, they're going to like that, you're going to throw it away and then you're going to run the other way and you're going to scream, you've got to be loud now, noise is the opposite of isolation.
They saw you as isolated. Now you're not. The best anti mugging device is actually not a mace or a gun, it's those noisemakers, you pull a pin and they make a tremendous amount of noise and they won't stop until you put the pin back, those things are great. So now you're getting away, you're noisy, you're not isolated. What they want most is over there. That is how you survive mugging. It only cost you $12 and you didn't get hurt.
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21points
When asked about the series "What To Do In Dangerous/Embarrassing Situations", Ben said that it actually came about because so many young people enjoyed the advice he has given and kept asking him what to do in a variety of circumstances.
"I have always made a point to imagine situations (sometimes dangerous, sometimes embarrassing, sometimes both) and what I would do. I believe that it is important to make decisions now about what to do if these situations occur so you can act promptly. This minimizes the danger and lessens any embarrassment."
#8 You're In A Car Accident
The accident is going on around you right now. What do you do? Relax. You're making the decision today that you're going to relax, a relaxed body is far less likely to suffer serious injury.
Then the accident is over, first thing you do - self assessment. Wiggle fingers, wiggle toes, you're looking for spinal damage.
Second thing you do, you're touching anywhere that hurts. For blood, for bone. If you've got spinal damage, broken bones or bad bleeding, you might have to wait for an ambulance, you might have to apply a tourniquet.
You're going to verbally instruct everyone in the car to do the same thing.
If you can all get out, you're going to get out, but now your focus is visibility for oncoming traffic.
If you've got a white T-shirt under a black jacket, open the jacket up for better visibility then get clear of the accident.
Then the accident is over, first thing you do - self assessment. Wiggle fingers, wiggle toes, you're looking for spinal damage.
Second thing you do, you're touching anywhere that hurts. For blood, for bone. If you've got spinal damage, broken bones or bad bleeding, you might have to wait for an ambulance, you might have to apply a tourniquet.
You're going to verbally instruct everyone in the car to do the same thing.
If you can all get out, you're going to get out, but now your focus is visibility for oncoming traffic.
If you've got a white T-shirt under a black jacket, open the jacket up for better visibility then get clear of the accident.
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13points
He explained that for many of these videos, such as what to do if your car crashes into water, he looks into the topic: "I usually do a bit of research on the subject, just to make sure I am not spouting a bunch of hooey." However, some clips are based on his own life experience.
Ben mentioned that he receives a lot of positive feedback from the people that watch his video: "I believe they are well liked."