Life-saving facts that could help you in critical emergencies
Reddit user Yojimbe asked the internet to share some random facts that could one day save your life. In true internet fashion, the people delivered. They told us all about escaping tornados, performing CPR, coming face to face with wild animals, and staving off hypothermia.
You’re going to want to keep reading, because what’s on this list could literally save your life one day. You never know when you’re going to face off against a polar bear.
Chew An Aspirin
Reddit user IceKween14 says, “You need to CHEW an aspirin if you take one thinking you are having a heart attack.” It’s not enough just to swallow one. You need that medicine in your body pronto.
Watch Out For A Roasted Almond Smell
Reddit user wearsjockeyshorts added, “If you’re in an enclosed space like a room and smell roasted almonds, but no one is roasting almonds, you need to get out. That’s what cyanide smells like.”
How To Do CPR
Reddit user Resident_Cow informed everyone about the appropriate rhythm for CPR: “To save someone else’s life: 3 songs that have the right rhythm for CPR are ‘Nelly the Elephant,’ ‘Stayin’ Alive,’ and ‘Another One Bites the Dust.’ Sing one of these and press down on each beat, your dominant hand should be on top of your non-dominant, and they should be right in the center of the chest, between the nipples, your shoulders and elbows should be locked, and you should be using your whole upper body weight. Good luck my dudes, I hope you never have to use it.”
Get Out Of The Water If You Taste Metal
Reddit user GerlinPanteez said, “If you’re in a pool and there’s a metallic taste in your mouth, get out of said pool. There’s an electrical short somewhere in the water.”
911 Is Always Free
Reddit user ronnzi provided us with this reminder: “You don’t have to pay money on any type of phone to call 911, so don’t bother foundling for change if it’s a payphone.”
Leave Garage Door Maintenance To The Pros
Reddit user ajones321 gave us this gem: “If your garage door needs maintenance, leave it to the pros. Garage door springs can kill you if you remove them in the wrong way.”
Cook Your Kidney Beans
According to Reddit user N0madicaleyesed, “Dry red kidney beans need to be boiled and drained BEFORE you cook them or they’re poison.” He actually gave himself food poisoning when he failed to abide by this rule.
Morse Code
Reddit user not_the_droids taught us a bit of morse code: “The international morse code SOS is · · · − − − · · ·
“Three short, three long, three short.
“If all you can do is tapping, then you have to add longer pauses between your long taps to distinguish them from short taps.”
How To Run Away From A Polar Bear
If a polar bear is ever chasing you, Reddit user Life_in_grey_scale says to “take off an article of clothing and leave it on the ground as you run away.
“Polar bears have really bad ADD, and they will thoroughly inspect your dropped clothing before chasing you again.”
Lie On Your Side
Reddit user O-Ren_iishi reminded us: “If you’re drunk or have a drunk friend. Make them sleep on their side. Never on their back.” When drunk people sleep on their backs, they can asphyxiate on their own vomit.
Keep That Coat On
Reddit user MrTangerineMan says, “If you’ve been shivering cold for a while but you start to feel warm or hot to the point that you want to take of your coat, don’t! It means you have hypothermia.”
How To Break A Car Window
Reddit user CharmedL1fe says, “Need to break a car window? Aim for the edges/corners, not the center where the glass is strongest.
Was taught this by a friend who is a fireman.”
Never Swim Against The Current
Reddit user SailorVenus23 says, “If you’re ever swept away in a river, don’t fight the current; you’ll exhaust yourself and you won’t win. Try to swim diagonally down so you can reach the side instead.”
Watch Out For Allergies
Reddit user MyNameIsRay said, “One day, you might try a new food, or get stung by a bug, and not realize you’re allergic to it until it’s too late.
“If food makes your lips/mouth tingly, you’re probably allergic. If you have any swelling at all (ex: tongue feels heavy), you’re probably allergic.
“If you experience any sort of throat or chest tightness or have difficulty drawing in a breath, you’re in trouble. That’s especially true if it’s a sting-you’ll only get that reaction if you’re allergic and having a full-blown reaction.
“Don’t fool around, don’t delay. Time for an EpiPen and ambulance ride.”
Don’t Take Off Bandages
Reddit user AsMyLastEmailStated informed us, “If one tourniquet isn’t enough, add another, never remove bandages on a patient if they bleed through just continue to add more on top until you can get them to the hospital or doctor.”
How To Face A Wild Animal
Reddit user eKsIf told us, “This is kind of a good rule of thumb for most predators in the wild. Remember kids, humans were built for endurance, not speed. If you stumble upon a big cat or bear in the wilderness, do not attempt to run away; they will catch you. Slowly back away from the animal while remaining to face the animal’s direction and standing up tall. If they charge at you, despite all instincts yelling for you to run, your best chance is to stand your ground and make as much noise as possible. Making yourself appear dangerous to the animal, not weak, is the key.”
Escape A Tsunami
Reddit user nosleepatall reminded us, “If you are at the beach on vacation and one day ask yourself where all the water has gone, far beyond normal tide, run!!!. This has actually saved lives in the catastrophic Christmas tsunami of 2004 because someone has paid attention in school.”
How Tornados Work
A very helpful Reddit user replied to this thread and let us know “If a tornado looks like it’s not moving, it’s moving towards you.” That means it’s time to run.
When To Fight
Reddit user DepresstoImpress told us, “If a man is posing to fight by shouting and making sharp hand gestures, he’s most likely just trying to scare you away.
“If a man is calmly walking towards you with no emotion in his face, run like hell.”
Beware Of Floods
Reddit user cordial_mallard said, “If there is any flooding in your area, don’t take the elevator down into a parking garage. Take the stairs! I was in Houston for a wedding a number of years ago and several people staying at my hotel drowned when they took the elevator down into the garage to retrieve their cars.”
Light A Candle
Reddit user DaddyCatalso told us, “Burning a candle inside a closed vehicle like a car or plane (as long as common sense fire prevention is observed and as long as you’re in no danger form loss of oxygen) can help stave off hypothermia.”
Don’t Perform CPR On A Mattress
Reddit user Drolhilbano told us, “And if the person you’re doing CPR is in bed, pull them down on the floor. Otherwise, too much of your pressure goes into the mattress instead of their heart, making your CPR much less effective.”
Don’t Put Out A Grease Fire With Water
Reddit user maythorn reminded us, “Never use water to put out a grease fire, use baking soda or suffocate the flame with another pot/pan.
“I see videos all the time of people putting water on fires that start in their kitchen one with water because they’re freaking out and are inexperienced in the kitchen. The fire will get 1,000 times worse if you throw water on it.”
Check The Outlets If You Smell Fish
Reddit user DogMa_TcM wrote, “If any room in the house has a strong scent of fish, check the outlets. Checking the outlets and plugging out whatever the hell is plugged in there could save your life from an electrical fire.”
Follow The Birds
Reddit user BAFLAD told us, “First thing in the morning birds will fly low and straight to a water source. On the return flight, they will stay high and stop frequently to rest.
“So you can either follow them or go in the opposite direction depending on how they are flying in order to find potable water.”
Green Vs. Brown Coconuts
Reddit user AsianBenSwolo told us the truth about coconuts: “Brown coconuts contain oils that cause dehydration, so drink the milk of the green coconuts. However, you can burn the husks of the brown coconuts to repel mosquitoes.”
If You Fall Through The Ice
Reddit user Jacollinsver said, “When you fall into icy water, stay calm. Your body will go through a reaction and that reaction is to freeze up and your mind to panic. You need to wait 10 seconds for this reaction to pass and loosen your muscles.
“Next, raise your arms and put them lightly on the firmest ice in front of you, without applying actual pressure. The key here is to not use your arms to get out at all.
“Raise your feet and start kicking in the water like a kid with a diving board. Use this force to get your body out of the water, and on firmer ice.
“Once out of the water, don’t get up, but slide across the ice on your belly, making sure to spread the pressure of your body as wide as possible until you are in a safe spot.”
Beware Of Carbon Monoxide
Reddit user MattTheFlash wrote, “If you think your house or apartment is haunted and have been seeing, hearing or feeling a presence, get a carbon monoxide detector, you may be hallucinating and this is potentially lethal. Funny but real.”
Reintroduce Food Slowly
Reddit user makenzie71 wrote, “If you’ve been lost in the wilderness for days, upon your rescue do not try and down all the food and water in sight. The shock to your system can be fatal.”
Little-Known Signs Of A Heart Attack
Reddit user irishamerican told us, “Not all heart problems come with clear warning signs. There is not always an alarming chest clutch followed by a fall to the floor like you see in movies. Some heart symptoms don’t even happen in your chest, and it’s not always easy to tell what’s going on. Nausea, Indigestion, Heartburn, Stomach Pain, Shortness of Breath, Throat or Jaw Pain can also be signs of a heart attack.”
