You never know what scary, life-threatening event might be right around the corner.
Sure, it’s anxiety-inducing to even think about, and you can’t possibly know what to do in every situation, but one post on Reddit might get you a little more prepared to avert tragedy. The “What knowledge might save your life one day?” post is full of tips and tricks for how to think quickly on your feet and not die.
One of the most common pieces of advice given within the thread of more than 13,000 comments seems to be: Don’t let yourself get taken to a second location. In other words, if someone carjacks you or tries to force you into their vehicle, you do what you have to in order to not let that happen. (That advice comes along with a slew of suggestions for how to accomplish this, which I won’t endorse but will be keeping in the back of my own mind).
Another common category of advice is how to avoid getting killed/eaten by wild animals, including bears, tigers, wolves, rhinos, cougars and moose. There’s also one warning to never eat a polar bear’s liver, even if you’re starving and only have access to this animal’s dead body. “It’s got so much Vitamin A that it’ll cause an overdose and then death,” says u/dottmatrix. (This does seem to be true.)
By some of my favourite pieces of advice are of the more random variety. Things you may never have thought of — and hopefully will never need to implement — but seem to fall into the good to know bucket.
Road ragejoy
It’s difficult habit to get into, but I smile and stick my thumb up at anyone who drives poorly or aggressively. Makes me laugh and confuses them, rather than making them worse like flipping the bird or honking the horn. (u/SphincterTincture)
Eyes up
If a person asks you for something on the street — a light, the time, whatever — always keep the person in your eye-line. So if they ask for the time, don’t just look down at your watch. Raise your arm slightly so your watch is in sight. (u/ByEthanFox)
Shoes on
Have your shoes on when the flight you’re on is landing or taking off. Statistically that’s when bad stuff happens and you don’t want to be in bare feet for an evacuation. (u/fursty_ferret)
Where are you?
If you call 000, always say WHERE the problem is first, followed by the problem. If you happen to get cut off before you can say what the problem is, at least the dispatcher has a location to send an officer to check it out and advise if more police or fire is needed. (u/Dr_Frasier_Bane)
No polite choking
EMT here! If you’re ever choking on food in a public venue DO NOT go to the restroom to avoid causing a scene. Almost every death I’ve seen from people choking are found unconscious in a bathroom stall because they were too polite to seek help. (u/spuneli)
You don’t have to be ‘right’
If you’re first in line at an intersection, look both ways before going when the light turns green. You never know when someone is going to run a red light. (u/pumah) Because, as u/saugoof’s dad used to say, “The cemeteries are full of people who had right of way.”
When all else fails, protect your head
My mum does trauma and surgery in a really dangerous location and she’s always told me, “I can fix anything but your head.” This has saved me in two major car accidents. Always cover your head in any situation; car accident, getting beaten, animal attack, anything. (u/babytaysworld)
Stay calm
I’ll give the last word to u/blackdogwhitecat, who once read some good advice about why, above all else, you should try to stay calm in a scary situation: “If you have a problem, and lose your head about it, now you have two problems.”
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