For most of our younger existence it feels like survival is just a given and life is forever.
But that truth is soon turned into myth when you realize life is fragile and death can be whenever and wherever.
The good news is we can all be capable of saving ourselves and others in any given situation just by acquiring some basic knowledge and necessary facts.
Any knowledge is good knowledge, whether it’s how to fight a crazed gunman with a twig or the heimlich maneuver.
So get your pads and pencils out kids, time to study triage.
Redditor danikm10 wanted to us all to be prepared so they asked:
“What is a little known fact that can save a life?”
Head Above Water At All Times
“You can still drown up to 72 hours after a non-fatal drowning or other aquatic incident via water remaining in your lungs afterwards and causing edema (swelling).”
“Shortness of breath, wheezing or raspy breathing, chest pain are all signs to look for and one should get medically checked out ASAP.”
“Even without any symptoms after a near-drowning/aquatic incident it is highly recommended.”
“Source: science and 10-year Lifeguard/First Aid Instructor Trainer.” ~ YourFriendlyUncle
It’s still coming for you…
“If a tornado looks like it’s still, it’s moving towards you.” ~ Reddit
“When we stayed in Tx, we had a little rack that held empty pop cans.”
“Usually when a tornado was brewing, the air pressure would be great enough to start crumpling the cans. I found it fascinating.” ~ osirisrebel
“Learned that one that hard way as a kid.”
“My grandma thought it was a regular dust devil until she realized that it wasn’t getting smaller, and it was picking crap up to throw.” ~ ClancyHabbard
Good catch Sir
“My mom had a dentist appointment a while back. With novocaine still in effect, she headed to the gym for a workout (this was pre-COVID).”
“One of the trainers greeted her, and when she responded with a slightly lopsided smile and slurred speech, he immediately was concerned and asked her to raise both her arms.”
“It took her a second, but then she realized he was thinking she may have been having a stroke.”
“She explained that she’d been to the dentist, and they both got a laugh out of it. But kudos to that trainer.”
“He’s an observant guy, and he might save a life someday.” ~ Reddit
Be the Spotter!
“That drowning people don’t flail around and scream.”
“This is why there are usually spotters (the guys and girls in the chairs) and rescue (the guys and girls on the shore/around the edge).”
“Spot the person who comes up and goes down rather than the screaming flailing people who are playing.” ~ ModsAreHallMonitors
“Secondary drowning, or “dry drowning”, is a serious concern for those rescued from a near drowning as well.”
“If it’s believed the victim has taken any water in their lungs at all, they need to be checked out at the hospital.” ~ NorCalShasta
It’s All Elementary my dears…
“Learn the elementary backstroke. It’s a stroke that requires less energy to swim. Lay on your back. Keep your chest inflated to stay afloat.” ~ Lark_Iron_Cloud
“Just a backfloat will work. I barely learned to swim in high school, but I got the elementary backstroke down and could do a frog kick decently.”
“Plus they were teaching survival swimming/drownproofing. I hope something like that is still around.” ~ Sirius_J_Moonlight
Bright Colors and Twilight!
“Preferably wear neon orange if going in the woods.”
“Same for all the joggers, bicyclists and walkers-Including your dog- so many people appear as dappled shadows when you’re driving-all times of the day not just in twilight.”
“I’ve had some scary moments avoiding people and oncoming traffic!” ~ pickalelly
“Dude I have some idiots in my neighborhood.”
“Like to go on walks at like 4am/2am/11pm… freaking whenever it’s dark.”
“I’ve almost ran them over 10+ times because they also like to walk in the middle right side or right middle right side of the lane (to far into the street to be safe).”
“And they where black clothes.” ~ oreo_milktinez
Mixing and matching can be a mess…
“Do not mix household chemicals unless you know specifically what the result will be.”
“Specifically do not mix bleach with anything other than water.” ~ surprise_me_today
“My cat peed on the floor on our concrete basement and my dad (not exactly a science major) was like “pour bleach on it”.”
“So I, being 12, did. I poured bleach onto highly distilled ammonia.”
“I stopped being able to breathe, didn’t know why. I closed the bottle and ran upstairs with my lungs absolutely burning my head aching.”
“I closed that door to keep my cat out of it but refused to go back in.”
“When my mom came home I told her about it and she freaked out.”
“I felt really bad like I did something wrong and my mom just yells up the stairs.”
“YOU TRIED TO GAS OUR DAUGHTER YOU DUMB FOOL!!” ~ LadyCashier
Keep the Mouth Clear!
“Do NOT put anything in the mouth of someone having a seizure.”
“They cannot choke on their own tongue, but they can choke on a wallet, belt, etc.”
“DO turn them on their side, time the seizure, and call 911 (or your local emergency services if not in America).” ~ phoria
“Also, check to see if they’re wearing a medical ID bracelet or necklace, or if they have anything with an emergency contact number on it. (Some phones have a medical ID feature, for example.)”
“Often times, they won’t need to go to the hospital and ambulances are stupid expensive in America.”
“If possible, call their emergency contact first.”
“The ambulance should be called if there are many seizures in a row, if the seizure lasts for more than 5 minutes.”
“If they are severely injured themselves during the seizure, or if it is the person’s first known seizure.” ~ Violet112358
Survival is Messy!
“CPR is nasty. 2 inches of compression will break ribs and mash the insides of the chest cavity.”
“It feels gross, it sounds gross, it looks gross, and it’s freaking HARD.”
“There is no way to comfortably give CPR.” ~ Reddit
No Pulling!
“If you get stabbed by something don’t pull it out.” ~ dietderpsy
Well that is a lot to digest.
And a lot to incorporate into my brain. I pray to never have to use any of this.
Being stabbed and drowning haunt my dreams. Of course now I have eight new things to haunt me, but I’m better prepared.
Life is fragile, doesn’t mean we have to be.
