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.
#61
"If you have a skin mole that has blurry edges, isn't symmetrical, is a weird shade of red, weeps fluids or acts like an open wound that won't heal, you might have skin cancer. Go to a doctor immediately. Melanoma kills fast. If you have benign skin moles, keep an eye on them. Get an idea of how they should normally look so you'll notice if any begin to change as I mentioned above. Don't forget to put on sunscreen!"
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19points
#62
"Have a glass breaker/seatbelt cutter in your car. A lot of knives come with both on them and can be as cheap as $15-$20. Better to have something you don't need than to need something you don't have."
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19points
#63
"If a dog is going to attack you do not run. Make yourself look as big as you can and yell and snarl like a maniac, failing that kick that dog. You are smart, you have two arms two legs and a mouth. A dog only has a mouth. You can defend yourself. Believe in yourself."
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19points
#64
"If something catches on fire on your toaster oven don’t open the door. Turn off the oven and let the fire burn itself out. Opening the door let’s oxygen into the oven which will feed the fire."
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19points
#65
"Know how to swim. You don’t need to be Michael Phelps, but it’s great to be able to swim decently and tread water. Also, if you’re ever kidnapped try to leave personal items along the way, like drop a ring or earring in the car or something. It can be helpful to find you and is evidence in trial."
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18points
#66
"At all costs, don't let an attacker drag you into a vehicle. You never want to go to a second location."
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18points
#67
"If you have back pain, don’t assume it’s a muscle or a disc. Get it checked out ASAP. I had a boss who dealt with back pain for years and never sought treatment. When he finally saw a doctor for it, they discovered he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He was dead in less than 6 months."
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18points
#68
"When you get stuck in quicksand lay down on your back. This helps you keep afloat."
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18points
#69
"At a bank robbery. Do not unmask the robbers. They will probably shoot you."
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18points
#70
Dammit_Alan said:
"The most important thing you can ever do in a potentially life-threatening situation is to breathe (when possible) and focus on doing things, calmly. 'You can always freak out later. Panic after you survive.'"
"The most important thing you can ever do in a potentially life-threatening situation is to breathe (when possible) and focus on doing things, calmly. 'You can always freak out later. Panic after you survive.'"
mxrmaidtits replied:
"My parents got into a car accident before I was born (a drunk driver hit their taxi). And luckily they were so drunk that they were incredibly calm about it, and were then told that’s what may have saved their lives."
"My parents got into a car accident before I was born (a drunk driver hit their taxi). And luckily they were so drunk that they were incredibly calm about it, and were then told that’s what may have saved their lives."
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17points
#71
"There was a post in 2 of a woman being harassed by a drunk guy and she just started barking at him."
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17points
#72
"Wear the seat belt on the airplane across your pelvis not your abdomen. I worked with a trauma surgeon that took care of patients from the Avianca flight 52. This is his advice."
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17points
#73
"If there is a problem with your boat, do not try to swim to shore, even if it looks close. You are safer on a half-sunken wreck than out there swimming."
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17points
#74
"F.A.S.T. which is a way to identify if you or someone else is having a stroke. Facial drooping: a section of the face, usually only on one side, that is drooping and hard to move. This can be recognized by a crooked smile. Arm weakness: the inability to raise one's arm fully. Speech difficulties: an inability or difficulty to understand or produce speech. Time: if any of the symptoms above are showing, time is of the essence; call the emergency services or go to the hospital."
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16points
#75
"If you get caught in a forest fire, find an area of dried grass without many trees around. Burn the grass, somehow, and lay in the patch of burnt grass. It's your best chance at survival."
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16points
#76
"If you are being choked. Make a touchdown signal, raise your arms straight up, then twist around, using your arms to break the choke. If they are very strong use the prayer method. Put your hands together in front of your chest like you are praying. Shoot your arms between the choker's arms and then spin."
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16points
#77
"If you get caught in a snow avalanche and you're buried and don't know which way is up (for digging), spit. Your spit will follow gravity and you can dig in the opposite direction to get to the surface and air and to be rescued."
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16points
#78
"Don't close your eyes when you're in a fight or when you hear gunshots."
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16points
#79
"If you're facing an emergency where you may be without running water for an indeterminate amount of time, don't fill your tub with water. Fill buckets, jugs, pitchers, pans, anything you can and place it in a high, dry place. If flooding or other issues affecting the sewer system occur, water in your bathtub & sinks could become unsanitary."
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16points
#80
"Hold your longest key, on your key chain, extended pointing out between your forefinger and your middle finger, if walking alone at night, or when you feel your safety might be compromised. It can be used as a weapon to stab someone in the throat, if attacked... learned this from a self-defense class years ago."
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16points
