"Prioritize Your Safety First": 30 Things That May End Up Saving Your Life Or Someone Else's

Jun 12, 2023

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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.

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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

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.

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

I was told this in EMT school. I was told this again in Psychology class in nursing school.

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

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

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.

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

Wasn't this exactly how Bob Saget died too?

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

Ohhh the last paragraph would explain why im constantly craving raw honey

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Shouting "FIRE!!" instead of "Help!" will get people to react faster. Cop told me that one.

AnnBell62 , Stephen Radford Report

What if you yell "adorable kittens!"?

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

This this this!!

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.

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

... or a fractured neck.

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

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

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

THIS! PANICKED PEOPLE WILL CLING ONTO YOU NOT THINKING ABOUT YOUR SAFETY!

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.

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

I hope it mentions this on the pen somewhere too.

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

Chest compressions chest compressions chest compressions!

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

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.

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.

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

Same goes for someone who is passed out drunk.

cpr is diffrent for children than adults. and again different for babies than children

child234 , Michel E Report

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

A fire extinguisher. People forget to pull out the safety pin

MolassesReef , Piotr Chrobot Report

Same with a grenade?

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

Tonic:"clonic" seizure.

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

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'?

#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

#3 Women have vastly different symptoms than men.#6 Sometimes the predator is you.

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

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.

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

It's the first time I ever heard of it.

A chair can be used to Heimlich maneuver yourself.

welltriedsoul , Renè Müller Report

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

Keep water in the car a blanket a towel clothes flashlight and a lighter.

JockSandWich , Noelle Rebekah Report

+ a first aid kit. Amazon has many of them and they're not that expensive.

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

GUYS IVE BEEN STABBED DOES ANYONE HAVE A TAMPON

chewing an aspirin in case of a heart attack can save your life

TheUselessOne87 , danilo.alvesd Report

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.

Don't put a spoon in the mouth of a person having a seizure.

The-Guy-In-Grey , Markus Spiske Report

Don't put anything in their mouth, in fact.

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

Thesleepypomegranate , Carolina Heza Report

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!’

Heimlich maneuver, especially the modern day version. You now should do 5 hard back blows + 5 abdominal thrusts.

Whyyyyyyyyfire , Texas Military Department Report

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!

Note: this post originally had 75 images. It's been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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Justin is a writer at Bored Panda. He was born in the US but has spent most of his life in Europe. After graduating with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from LCC International University in Lithuania, Justin has resided in Latvia, Austria and Georgia before returning to Lithuania. In his free time Justin enjoys hiking, journalism and cooking.

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Remember to always do your own research about these things though! Some advices may be outdated etc

Outdated? Many are junk and have always been. Some are even dangerous.

Please do not use this posts, any posts on Bored Panda or any other social media for guidance about medical or emergency situations. These posts are potential very dangerous. Highly irresponsible for Bored Panda.

I kind of agree with you. I think this is a good started to encourage people do do more research on safety on first aid. I agree that there is some outdated stuff here, which is why if you think there is something useful here, just do some quick research to make sure what you are looking at is true. When you say "any posts on bored panda or any other social media" You are going a little overboard. A lot of this stuff could save a life. As someone who has taken classes for this stuff, I can tell you this stuff is more correct than not. I think a more accurate comment would have been something like "While these posts can be informative and spark interest in safety knowledge, it's important to keep in mind that they may not always be scientifically accurate or up-to-date. It's always a good idea to conduct your own research and verify information before making any conclusions. Thank you for being mindful and taking the time to educate yourself!"

Wear a condom. Don't stay with someone that is wrong for you because you're scared of being single The size of the clothes you try on at store vary. Regardless, just wear what makes you you feel great Strangers opinions don't mean s**t Brush your teeth twice a day and remember to floss Talk about your feelings, jeeez, it feels so good and its not a burden Experiment, try new things and be kind Pfffft but what do I know!

Remember to always do your own research about these things though! Some advices may be outdated etc

Outdated? Many are junk and have always been. Some are even dangerous.

Please do not use this posts, any posts on Bored Panda or any other social media for guidance about medical or emergency situations. These posts are potential very dangerous. Highly irresponsible for Bored Panda.

I kind of agree with you. I think this is a good started to encourage people do do more research on safety on first aid. I agree that there is some outdated stuff here, which is why if you think there is something useful here, just do some quick research to make sure what you are looking at is true. When you say "any posts on bored panda or any other social media" You are going a little overboard. A lot of this stuff could save a life. As someone who has taken classes for this stuff, I can tell you this stuff is more correct than not. I think a more accurate comment would have been something like "While these posts can be informative and spark interest in safety knowledge, it's important to keep in mind that they may not always be scientifically accurate or up-to-date. It's always a good idea to conduct your own research and verify information before making any conclusions. Thank you for being mindful and taking the time to educate yourself!"

Wear a condom. Don't stay with someone that is wrong for you because you're scared of being single The size of the clothes you try on at store vary. Regardless, just wear what makes you you feel great Strangers opinions don't mean s**t Brush your teeth twice a day and remember to floss Talk about your feelings, jeeez, it feels so good and its not a burden Experiment, try new things and be kind Pfffft but what do I know!