We recently stumbled upon an AskReddit thread where user u/luciflerfather3 asked: "Whatβs a fact that could actually save your life?" β and the responses are eye-opening. Below are some life-saving facts youβll definitely want to remember.
1. "SLEEP WITH THE DOOR CLOSED. If a fire happens while you're sleeping, having the door closed can leave your room almost completely untouched."
2. "A wagging tail does NOT always mean that the dog is friendly."
3. "Whether youβre being attacked or taken, try to scratch the bejeezus out of the person*. This way youβll have their DNA under your nails."
4. "Former 911 operator here. DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT CALLING 911! If it's not an emergency, they'll tell you to call non-emergency. An emergency is not just a violent crime; it's a crime or potential crime in progress or an issue affecting safety."
5. "Flammable and inflammable mean the same thing!!!!"
6. "Purple flags at the beach mean dangerous sea life in the area. Most people understand the other flags, but purple can be confusing."
7. "In the event you need to break a car door window, don't try to smash the window in the dead center. Car door windows should be tempered glass, which is much more brittle along their edges, so strike there instead."
8. "If you get lost in the woods, stay where you are! The chances of finding the way out on your own are pretty slim, and youβre just creating a larger search area."
9. "You can give yourself the Heimlich Maneuver."
10. "For some reason, there are a lot of people who seem to think you can take any two meds together as long as they aren't the same type. For example, an antidepressant and an OTC cold medicine. MANY meds have dangerous interactions. You can check on drugs.com and ask your doctor."
11. "If you get trapped on thin ice, lie down on your stomach and crawl/wiggle your way back to shore from the direction you came from. Chances are, if the Γ¬ce held you when you were standing up, it will continue to hold you with your weight dispersed over more surface area."
12. "If youβre on or close to train rails, trains move faster than they appear to."
13. "Check your nuts once a week and don't be afraid to go to the doctor if you notice something."
14. "If your car's accelerator pedal gets stuck or something else is causing unintended acceleration, put it in neutral."
15. "If a guard dog comes at you, look to one side and slowly turn around. Then walk away. If a dog hunts you, scream before it reaches you and fight if it didn't scare. The first has saved me from two rottweilers once."
16. "If youβre ever swimming and find yourself in a position where youβre too exhausted to continue but have no flotation device, turn on your back and float."
17. "Most drunk driving deaths occur on Saturday night between midnight to 3 a.m. Avoid the roads during these times if you can help it."
18. "If you're near the ocean and the water suddenly disappears/recedes unexpectedly, get out of there and get to high ground because it's likely a tsunami."
19. "If you see a bear cub, a very angry mother isn't too far behind."
20. "Chemical burns are not like fire or heat burns β many will not immediately trigger a reflex action of pain."
21. "Don't escalate confrontations, even if they've hurt your pride or made you look bad in front of others. There are people out there who don't care about going to prison and/or don't care about fair fights."
22. "If youβre scuba diving and youβre going to vomit, do it right into the regulator. Donβt take the regulator out of your mouth because after you vomit, the natural instinct is to inhale. The puke will blow out of the exhaust valve with your bubbles."
23. And, lastly: "There is a time to leave. To stop. To walk away. It can save your life. Listen to your gut."
Do you have a life-saving tip that a lot of people might not know? If so, tell us all about it in the comments!
Some comments have been edited for length and/or clarity.