As the proverb goes, caution is the parent of safety. The truth is that we never expect the worst to happen; hence we rarely prepare for what we would do if it did. For many, the only training they have ever done was fire and first aid training in school. In fact, according to research by the British Red Cross, only 5% of individuals have the knowledge and confidence necessary to give first aid in an emergency. Such a low percentage shows that the majority of the population is, in fact, unaware of how to respond to potentially detrimental situations. While health and fitness tips are important, tips that could save your life one day are, arguably, even more so.
Still, while knowing first aid is arguably No 1 of the life-saving skills one may possess, fire, a car crash, a tsunami, or a heart attack are just a few of the things that can be deadly. Hence, when someone in the AskReddit community asked, “What’s a tip that everyone should know which might one day save their life?” thousands of people jumped on the thread to share potentially life-saving tips with others. Things such as driving on a slippery road or putting an intoxicated person in the recovery position are just some of the life lessons not taught at school, yet, those might be the things that will save your life (or that of someone you love) one day.
Below, we’ve compiled some of the best answers from the thread, sharing the many tips that can save your life or someone you care about. Learned something new or discovered any good tips? Make sure to give them an upvote. Ever been in a life-threatening situation? Anything you learned from it or wish you had known earlier? Share your thoughts in the comments.
#1
"If you're stranded with little to nothing cell service, phone is about to die, car battery is dead, etc. change your voice mailbox to your location and status!"
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52points
#2
PayPerRock said:
"Don't pour water on a grease fire."
"Don't pour water on a grease fire."
WallyPlumstead replied:
"One of the many things i watched on tv as a kid were Elvis Presley movies. In one of his movies he has a date with a girl in her apartment. She cooks a roast in the oven for their dinner. Elvis arrives and the food is burning. Flames are shooting out of the oven. She makes a move to throw water on the fire, but Elvis stops her and grabs a container of salt and throws handfuls of salt onto the fire which promptly puts it out. One day I'm sitting in the living room when I hear my mother yell from the kitchen. I race there and flames are leaping out of the boiler. Huge grease fire. Almost as high as the stove itself. Mother makes a move to throw water on it, but remembering how Elvis did it, I stop her. Then I grab a container of salt and throw handfuls of salt onto the fire which immediately extinguishes the flames within seconds. Mother looks at me with a surprised expression on her face and she asks me, "how did you know to do that?" Thanks, Elvis. Thank you very much."
"One of the many things i watched on tv as a kid were Elvis Presley movies. In one of his movies he has a date with a girl in her apartment. She cooks a roast in the oven for their dinner. Elvis arrives and the food is burning. Flames are shooting out of the oven. She makes a move to throw water on the fire, but Elvis stops her and grabs a container of salt and throws handfuls of salt onto the fire which promptly puts it out. One day I'm sitting in the living room when I hear my mother yell from the kitchen. I race there and flames are leaping out of the boiler. Huge grease fire. Almost as high as the stove itself. Mother makes a move to throw water on it, but remembering how Elvis did it, I stop her. Then I grab a container of salt and throw handfuls of salt onto the fire which immediately extinguishes the flames within seconds. Mother looks at me with a surprised expression on her face and she asks me, "how did you know to do that?" Thanks, Elvis. Thank you very much."
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50points
#3
"We had a sheriff come in to talk to us about active shooter situations. Going through that training taught me a ton, but the one piece of advice I got that stuck with me was: "Have a plan, and every day go through the plan in your head. This will help you to not panic if it actually happens. Never try to engage but if, God forbid, you must defend yourself then you swarm. Be savage and do not let up. Their due process was done when they decided to bring a gun into your building". Can't state enough how much they advise to never engage but have a plan for everything."
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44points
#4
"If you’re underwater and not sure which way is up. Blow out and air bubbles will float upward."
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44points
#5
"On an airplane if the oxygen masks drop put yours on first then put it on the kids. It's fine for them to get lightheaded. But if you do then you both die."
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41points
#6
Tootsie-Roll:
"If in a relationship if someone gets angry enough to raise a hand to you once, leave."
"If in a relationship if someone gets angry enough to raise a hand to you once, leave."
legendariel:
"Especially if they strangle you. Abusers who strangle are much more likely to escalate to murder."
"Especially if they strangle you. Abusers who strangle are much more likely to escalate to murder."
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39points
#7
"If you go into the wilderness, bring a whistle. If you get lost, a whistle's sound will carry much farther than your yell, and you'll be able to do it for much longer."
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39points
#8
"If you’re in the passenger seat of a car, never put your feet on the dashboard. In the event that you’re in a car accident, knee bones into your skull won’t end well."
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35points
#9
"Every time you get into your car in a parking lot or whatever, immediately lock your doors as soon as you shut the driver door."
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34points
#10
"If you’re caught in a rip tide, swim parallel to the shore until you get out of it. Don’t try to swim against the current."
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33points
#11
"If in a structure fire or environment on fire, cover your face above all. Inhalation will kill you before severe burns will."
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33points
#12
"No matter how crazy somebody acts, remain calm. Not to prove anything, but because the person may be suffering from a mental disability and can be triggered by your aggression and escalate a given situation."
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33points
#13
"If you're stabbed or impaled and the offending object is still in your body, do not pull it out. Doing so can make you bleed out."
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32points
#14
"Never leave your drinks unattended. Everyone will try to put something in there, even the bartenders."
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32points
#15
"You can perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself by making a fist and pushing upward quickly on the space between your rib cage and navel. You can lean on a piece of furniture and quickly thrust your abdomen against the edge. I've done it twice. Still alive."
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32points
#16
"Wear light-colored clothing or reflective clothing at night if you are walking around. This helps people in cars see you and not run you over."
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31points
#17
"If you ever get kidnapped and are in the kidnapper's vehicle, wait until you are around a lot of traffic and pull the steering wheel to make the car crash. People will immediately go to see if you are okay and call emergency vehicles. You’re going to be injured or killed whether you cause an accident or go to the second location anyways. Might as well pull attention to yourself."
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30points
#18
"If you're ever sailing on a ship deemed unsinkable, pack extra lifeboats."
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30points
#19
"If you’re in a crowd and there’s a possibility of a human crush, go with the waves of people instead of against it and, when possible, go back and diagonally to get out of it. If you’re rigid, you’ll get pushed over and trampled to death and you absolutely don’t want to get to the front."
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29points
#20
"If you ever feel intense pressure in your chest that radiates up into your jaw you are probably having a heart attack."
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28points