I can’t tell you how many level-headed friends I’ve had, who turned into the most finicky, nail-biting scream queens when the goings got rough. There was a tornado ripping through our neighbourhood. They didn’t know what to do. Practice these safety tips – install these in your mind. That way, if and when you find yourself in a situation that could cost you your very life… You’ll go on to see another day.
1. Learn First Aid
Sometimes, things are easier said than done. Not true in this case: as nobody can truly “know enough” about first aid – the number one method of saving lives in times of critical duress. Not sure where to start? Visit your local hospital or medical clinic and ask if they’re hosting first aid training classes. Most first aid training courses include determining when the time is right for calling 911, how to handle shortness of breath, treat heart attacks, strokes, and heat exhaustion. According to BBC News, the British Red Cross interviewed 2,000 people about their first aid and CPR knowledge. A staggering 14% of people would know how to effectively handle life-threatening situations.
2. Keep People Informed
When you’re out and about, life can rear its ugly head at you any moment and take you straight to the emergency room. If you’re so lucky. Our mothers weren’t being neurotic and picky when they bugged us all those times, about where we’re going, who we’re hanging out with. No matter how aggravating she was (and how intrusive I felt she was at the time)… I see, in retrospect, that she was looking out for me. Let people know where you’re going. Call someone, a friend or family member or lover, just to update someone about where you are. If something horrifying happens to you, and nobody knows where you are or how to reach you… It could be bad.
3. Involved In A Shooting?
Please note that this event is incredibly unpredictable – how you handle a gunner and the situation depends on way too many factors for this tip to strictly apply. But it is broad enough advice to save your hide if you adapt it to any situation properly. Priority number one: take cover. No matter where you are, whether you’re inside or outside, finding protective cover is shooting safety tip numero uno. Numero dos: Never directly engage with the shooter. Whether you know them personally, vaguely, or they’re a family member. Most shooters are too emotional to think rationally – conversation will not calm them down. Instead, a better thing to do is give 911 the following information:
Your name Site location The number of shooters Shooter ID/description How many hostages/victims Where you are exactly
4. What To Do In A Fire
Whether you’re in your home or at work in an office building, knowing your main evacuation routes (and their alternatives) is the #1 key towards escaping a fire. That seems easy to remember, right? The first step you should take is this: create a barrier between the fire and you. Something as simple as going into another room will give you more time to assess the situation and go for help. When you’re in a new room, close the door and stuff a wet cloth underneath the door gap. Smoke inhalation is toxic and “put you to sleep,” greatly diminishes your chances of safely evacuating. If you have another wet cloth, keep it over your nose and mouth to prevent from inhaling any smoke that happens to leak in the room. Remember to stay near the ground where it’s clear and cold, as heat and smoke tends to rise. There are many ways of house/building fires spontaneously happening. Electrical, candles, appliances, and simple carelessness. A lot of these horrific house fires could be prevented if homeowners could simply apply basic fire-safety methods.
5. Charge Your Phone
Here’s a special reminder: always keep your phone charged when you leave the house. It’s easy to just pick up your phone and go, thinking you’ll be alright with only 9% battery life left. Until life puts the hammer down on you: you’re in a car wreck. You come across a fire. You’re about to drown. There are dozens of real-world scenarios that could ruin our complacency at any moment. A full charged phone can be the single greatest tool that gets us out of those scenarios alive. Interestingly, your smartphones sometimes can be a danger itself. Recently, Samsung’s Note 7 burned a man, almost to death. Imagine it being carried to a plane with 100s of passengers? Which can eventually burn down the whole aircraft? The only possible solution is to return the phone to its brand and save the later-unexpected-battery-blasts-and-burns! Phew….This beats all!
6. Floods
Flash floods can happen at any time – if you live in an area susceptible to them, you know the deal. However, from talking with friends and family I can personally say that not a lot of us are prepared to deal with them. Deal with them how? Keep at least a weekend’s supply of water and non-perishable food. A flashlight with working batteries. A week’s supply of medical items (glasses, syringes, walking cane), a multi-purpose tool, copies of ID (med list and information, birth certificates), emergency blanket.
7. Robbery
When some bozo decides to rob you in the street or your workplace, it is crucial that you remain calm. Don’t make any sudden movements or try to be a hero. Again, the natural instinct is to try and disarm the assailant. Follow every demand to reduce chances of being abused or worse, murdered. Be sure to give police as much information about the robber(s) as possible. Think about distinct markings or traits that stood out to you and relay every single bit of information possible.
Last Thoughts
There is no possible way of over-practicing life-saving drills and tips. Please keep that in mind. Stay safe out there. Featured photo credit: pixabay.com via pixabay.com
