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.
#102
"If you are bench pressing, make sure you have a spotter, If it’s not an option and you just have to... for the love of Pete don’t put the collars on the bar!"
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13points
#103
"If anyone on the streets asks you what size shoe you are, never ever tell them. Just say "not your size" or "my size". It's enough to let them know that you know what's up without instigating it any more than you need to. If you tell them there's a 95% chance you're about to get jumped for them."
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13points
#104
"You're more likely to be attacked in a transitional space. Going into and out of buildings, cars, and especially between the two. You let your guard down because you're thinking about what you're going to do when you get there, not what you're doing right now and not what's going on around you. Stay alert, stay safe."
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12points
#105
"If you're going to poke someone in the eyes, don't just poke them, poke and slash their eye, it will cause much more pain for the attacker and perhaps even permanent damage."
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12points
#106
"Asthmatics - if you are having an acute attack, a diaphragm thrust (Heimlich) can help significantly. Forces out the stale air that your closed-off bronchioles won’t let pass, and you inhale all fresh air. Also coffee has a bronchodilator in it (Theophylline) which can help a non-acute attack."
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12points
#107
"Signs of a rabid animal I feel are important & an obvious one. (Foaming at the mouth, intense aggression)."
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12points
#109
"Always save 20-40% of your salary in your savings, somewhere you can't touch it."
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12points
#110
"Tuck and roll/ragdoll when in a fall scenario, if possible. Relax and do not try to brace the fall with your arms and legs. That’s how broken bones happen. Not fun when your body’s essential infrastructure gets broken."
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12points
#111
"If you aren't trained and equipped for an in-water rescue don't attempt an in-water rescue of someone who is drowning. Try to reach them with something like a long pole. This works best if the victim is close like in a pool. Lie down so the victim can't easily pull you in. Try to throw the victim something that floats. Life ring. Life jacket. Wetsuit. Pool toys. Those bad styrofoam ice chests people sometimes take to the beach. It's handy if whatever you throw has a rope attached so you can pull the person in but it's more important to get the person something floating to stop the drowning. Then you can solve the problem of getting a non-drowning (and hopefully not panicking) victim out of the water. Try to get to the victim in a small craft like a jetski or rowboat. This one is very situational and often not available but always should be on the list."
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11points
#112
"Do not run from wolves, stand your ground, they won't risk injury to themselves if you're gonna put up a fight. Don't attack, they will defend themselves, but do not run."
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11points
#113
"If you are put in the trunk of a car unwillingly find the corner of the felt pull it up til you can see the taillight. A solid kick should pop it out. Wave to alert traffic or try to memorize the area you are being taken."
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11points
#114
"If you're not knocked out while being cuffed by zipties. Try to extend your wrist size to get them to think that's how tight your wrists are. Then intense your wrists and you should have some wiggle room to possibly get your wrists free from the ziptie."
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11points
#115
"Don’t eat anything heavy or made of dairy before doing anything amorous. Just don’t."
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11points
#116
"If you find yourself being chased by a crocodile, which will rear up and run on two legs for short distances; run in a zig-zag pattern, taking sharp turns. The crocodile will hopefully lose balance on a turn, topple over, giving you the chance to get away."
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11points
#117
"The headrest in your car can be removed and used to punch out a window to escape."
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10points
#118
"Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, venom lack. A few different King Snakes and Coral Snakes look very similar."
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10points
#119
"If you are being attacked in a parking lot break off a windshield wiper from any car near by. They can be used as a weapon if needed. Also, if an attacker grabs you from behind try and use your legs to push off from a car. The attacker will either be knocked off balance or injured by bumping into the car next to it."
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9points
#120
"Urine can neutralize chlorine gas, so if you find yourself in Ypres 103 years ago, piss on your sock and put it over your mouth."
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7points
