Humans, just like any other species, have a latent “fight or flight” instinct, which can help us cope with dangerous situations. But in spite of this natural instinct, it sometimes can be very helpful to be prepared and have some tricks under your sleeve In case things go wrong. Keep reading to find out the ultimate safety trips to apply under different unexpected situations.
Surviving a Fire
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Move below the Smoke
Asides from the flames which can obviously burn your body, you should also be aware of the smoke since it can suffocate you to death. In order to prevent this, you need to always move below the smoke, kneeling and even crawling on the ground and always covering your nose and mouth with a damp cloth to avoid inhaling the smoke and soot.
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Try Door Handles
People get caught up in a fire inside a building or house and instantly want to jump out the window, even if it’s several stories high. While this sometimes is necessary, you should first try all door handles to check which ones are safe to open. Make sure to wrap a cloth around your hands to prevent from getting burned.
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Stop, Drop, and Roll
Getting out of the house is the first thing people should do if a fire is getting larger, but sometimes all ways out are barred. The best thing you can do to exit is to stop and remain calm, drop to the ground after you check there’s nothing dangerous laying around, and then roll or crawl until you find a way out.
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Exit the Place Quickly
You should have an escape plan in place. The idea is to get every member outside safely and quickly. Due to all that smoke, it can be difficult to see in front of you, so it’s important to know and keep in mind the various ways out of your building.
One way could be blocked by smoke or fire, so it’s good to know where the other ones are. In the case of an apartment building, make sure you know the emergency exit. Draw the escape plan as a map and go over it as a family sometimes.
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Have a Safety Kit and Your Emergency Contact at Hand
If some of your loved ones are able to get out of the home, knowing the number and contact information of someone to help in the event of an emergency is a good element of being ready.
A simple-to-get crisis kit will allow you to stay safe when a fire breaks out. This kit should have water, food, necessities to last 72 hours for each family member, lever or battery-powered flashlights, a radio, a first aid kit, and cash to settle some petty bills.
Putting together a plan for security is a crucial part of any crisis event, and families that are keen on the risks of fire will be better equipped to handle any drawbacks that come up.
With fire being a major source of domestic damage and accidents, through these tips and advice, you should be sure that in the case of house fires you will be able to save your life, that of your family members, and your visitors, and your property.
Related: Top 12 Ways To Stay Safe During A House Fire
Surviving a Dog Attack
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Hold Your Position
Dogs have short attention spans. Often, after some barking, dogs lose interest and go away.
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Improvise a Weapon
Not much that you can find in your pocket or pick up is likely to be very effective against a big dog. However, if you are lucky enough to find a thick branch or a nice fist-sized rock, you may be able to get a dog to stop attacking with a strong enough hit to the head.
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Don’t Be Loud
Loud sounds may make a dog think you are a threat and, thus, it may attack you.
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Keep Calm
Don’t panic and try to maintain your composure and think clearly. Look for a way out in any direction, including up if you can climb a tree or up a ladder. If there are no obvious means of escape, then prepare to fight back or defend yourself. Lastly, don’t forget you have a voice. Scream for help so that anyone who’s within earshot can assist you.
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Fight Back if Necessary
Remember that one of the most sensitive spots on a dog is its eyes. A quick jab in its eye will seriously disorientate a dog, giving you more time to escape or defend yourself. If bitten, the last thing you want to do is struggle or pull away as this can cause open, torn wounds.
If you stay still and protect your delicate body parts (e.g. your ears, face, and neck) the dog will only be able to inflict puncture wounds on areas of your body that have thicker skin.
Related: How to Handle a Dog Attack
How to Handle a Car Accident
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Try to Stay Calm
If you are sure that you had nothing to do with the accident and it was entirely the other driver’s fault; it is prudent that you remain calm and try to deal with the situation with a cool and level head. Try to talk peacefully even if the other party is being irrational, better still, wait for the authorities to arrive and sort it out instead of dealing with it on your own.
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Call for Medical Assistance
If you, or anyone involved in the car accident, seems to be hurt and suffering from car accident injuries it is absolutely crucial that you seek and call for medical assistance. Car injury doctors are always on call and will rush to your assistance in no time.
Unless there is someone present on the scene that is specially certified to provide first aid, don’t try to help the injured people yourself but rather wait for the concerned authorities to arrive.
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Document the Whole Accident
If it is possible at the time, try to take pictures of the damage done to both parties concerned. Try to include as many details as possible; the crash site, traffic signs, road conditions, etc. This is vital for legal reasons, especially if the police have made a car accident report, and you will be thankful for the first-hand evidence if the accident is turned into a case, and that case makes it to court.
However, if you feel like you or others involved are hurt or injured in any way then it is crucial that you consult car injury doctors before you do anything else.
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Never Admit Fault without Legal Assistance
Regardless of the severity of the accident, it is wise not to talk to anyone, except the police, regarding the details and specifics of the accident. Be polite to the other parties concerned but never admit fault even if you know it might be because of your shortcomings.
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Go to the Doctor to Get Medical Assistance
For severe injuries, visiting an emergency room or following up with the primary care physician is not optional but compulsory. On the other hand, if the injuries are minor you may want to visit a doctor a few hours or even a day later. However, it is recommended to seek primary medical care even if you feel fine and safe.
Schedule an appointment for a detailed physical evaluation. Many common or serious injuries do not show their symptoms right away. It may take several hours, or even days, for the symptoms to appear. Here we have listed a few common conditions you are more likely to experience after a car accident.
- Internal bleeding
- Soft tissue damage or whiplash
- Fractures
- Sprains and strains
When discussing your condition or injuries with the doctor, make sure to elaborate on everything honestly. Explain the type of pain or discomfort you are going through, the intensity of injury, and how it has influenced your everyday routine. By communicating every detail to the doctor, they can better understand your injury and carry out a diagnosis and treatment accordingly.
Related: All You Need to Know About Car Accidents
How to Keep Safe During a Thunderstorm
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Look for Shelter
During a thunderstorm, it is more likely that most elevated, pointy objects standing alone in open ground are highly likely to get struck but this is not a certainty. Sometimes even an open ground next to a tree can be struck. Therefore, the safest places for shelter during a thunderstorm include;
A car or any enclosed metal device is the safest place because the electric current travels through the metal and is earthed on the ground. A ditch or a trench can be helpful since these are usually below the ground and it is hard for the lightning to strike these first. A group of shrubs that are of uniform height can be helpful.
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Stay Away from Fragile Objects
While indoors, stay away from windows, doors, and skylights as strong winds can break and shatter glasses. In addition, the blinds and drapes of windows and doors should be kept closed. Closing them prevents shattered glass from flying around or blowing in.
During a lightning strike, metal pipes conduct lightning. Therefore, it is advisable not to shower, do laundry, and wash your hands or dishes. Furthermore, during thunderstorms do not use cell phones or corded electronics such as computers or phones. Electrical wires are good conductors of lightning.
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Plan Ahead
Practical measures such as trimming overhanging branches or removing clutter from downpipes and gutters are some simple tasks that can be performed to prevent anyone at home from harm during stormy conditions. Storm-proofing can make a significant difference between a disaster waiting to happen or peace and safety.
If there is a prediction of a severe thunderstorm, you should park your car in a garage where it is protected. Driving during a storm can be dangerous. However, if you are caught in a storm while driving, head for a strong roof area, such as a garage.
If there is no available shelter, pull to the side of the road and cover your face with clothing for protection from broken glass. The last, and essential thing to do, is to make sure that all loose items that could blow away are secured before a storm strikes.
Related: How to Protect Yourself from a Thunderstorm
How to Keep Safe During a Hurricane
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Stock on Useful Supplies
You need to stock items that you’ll need during and after the hurricane. Prepare as if your basic utilities won’t be available, such as power or water. Items you should stockpile include first aid kits, drinking water, cash, canned food, flashlights, fire extinguisher, batteries, emergency generator, and a battery-run radio.
If you are on medication, have an adequate supply handy. It is also important to have your phone nearby. This helps in case you need to call for help or just check in with family and friends. If you have a car, it should be filled up with enough fuel in case you need to evacuate.
The car should also hold an emergency car kit to save time in case you are advised to evacuate. If you do not have a car it is important to organize a means of transport. Preparing beforehand reduces your chances of panicking. This increases your safety as you are able to make rational informed decisions.
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Look for Your Safety Zones
In your home, you should stay away from glass doors and windows. These pose the risk for injury if they are shattered during the hurricane by winds carrying debris. The glass might cut you if you are nearby.
If you live in a single-story home, the safest place is an interior bathroom or closet that’s near the center of your house. If you live in a two-story house, the safest place is a closet near the stairwell on the first floor.
You can use a mattress to reinforce the door or cover yourself to protect you from falling debris. Clear the room as much as possible so there are no things lying around that could pose a risk.
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Get Your House Safe-Proofed
When a hurricane warning is issued, you should reinforce your home as much as possible to reduce risks of injury. This can be done by boarding up windows as well as doors you don’t plan on using. Reinforce the doors you plan to use with strong hinges or latches. Reinforce your roof with hurricane clips.
Clear your gutters so that water can flow through freely. You should also clear things around your home that could be blown around or become potential missiles during strong winds. These are a hazard as they can be blown into the house thus putting you at risk of injury.
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Prepare an Exit Plan
If you are told to evacuate, you need to get out of your home as fast as possible. Evacuations are called when your area is no longer considered safe from the hurricane.
An effective evacuation that poses the least danger to you is when you have planned ahead. This would imply that you have a means of transport with the necessary supplies handy. It also means that you know a secondary location to go to. It is wise to have several evacuation go-to points.
This is because roads may be blocked or closed by the hurricane or some routes could be unsafe. As you leave, be keen to watch out for hazards such as tree limbs or downed electrical lines.
Related: How to Keep Yourself Safe During a Hurricane
How to Drive During a Snowstorm
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Place Snow Tires or Chains on Your Tires
Snow tires are built with larger gaps in their design treads so the car’s traction against the surface is increased; they have a jagged gap of approximately 8.7 mm as opposed to regular tires that have a thin gap of 7.5mm.
If you don’t want to invest in tires, snow chains are like a garment that fits around your regular tire to increase traction and protect the tire itself. There are also snow tire spikes, which are external devices you usually set on snow tires.
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Remove Snow or Ice from Windows
A big part of driving safely through ice or snow is the ability to have good visibility while you’re on the road. Since snowstorms can make the environment “foggy” or white, it’s a big chance you won’t be able to see properly.
So make sure to clear the snow from all the car’s windows and light-heads. Also, check that your wipers function fully in case you get caught in the middle of heavy rain or a snowstorm and you need to remove snow from your windshield right away.
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Do a Brake Test before Going on the Road
Since most of us aren’t physicists, we can’t tell for sure what the traction gear will be when we hit the road in our cars while it is snowing. You might want to do a little brake test on your vehicle right before you go out with your family.
Drive around slowly in the driveway or on your street, stepping lightly on the brakes so you can test how fast or slow they respond. That way you’ll get an idea of how your car is currently reacting to the road at the moment.
If you feel your car slip away, you might want to reconsider your trip. In spite of running this test, we always recommend avoiding sudden or quick steps on the gas or brake pedals, since they’ll make your car lose control.
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Keep Your Lights on
Poor visibility is very common while driving on snowy days or through snowstorms. To improve this situation, turn all of your lights on – even your flashing lights if necessary – and also make sure that your car is very visible from as far away as possible.
You can consider placing a bright-colored flag on your car so others see you from afar and are aware of their distance.
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Extend the Distance between You and Other Cars
Cars tend to move around more to the front and back and to the sides when driving through ice or snow.
Since you won’t be able to prevent this from happening, the best you can do is put more distance than usual between yourself and other cars, so that if you lose control you won’t impact other drivers and put others at risk.
Even though we can’t prevent bad things from happening to us, having these useful tips at hand can help us reduce the risk of getting harmed or being in danger.
