23 Unique Life-Saving Tips That You'll Be Really Glad You Know

As much as we’d like to think that we’re in control of our lives, disaster can strike at any time.

We can’t predict when life-threatening situations will arise, and that is a scary and hard fact to swallow. But luckily, there’s a way to help prevent tragic consequences that can come from these situations. As you’ll see from the life-saving tips below, even though you can’t stop bad things from happening, you can certainly prepare yourself enough to survive them.

Whether you’re adventurous or not, these will definitely come in handy either way.

1. If you’re going hiking or camping, always leave a note. Give specific details about where you’ll be so it will be easier for people to find you if you get lost or stranded.

2. If you’re stuck somewhere and have a limited amount of food, chew gum. It will help suppress your appetite and keep you from eating your supplies too quickly.

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3. Whenever you go into crowded buildings, take a minute to figure out where all the exits are. This will allow you to find the best way to get out safely during an emergency.

4. Put that phone down while you’re walking! It pulls your attention away from everything around you, and it could lead to something much deadlier than this — like walking in front of a moving car.

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5. You may find it a little gross, but condoms are great for storing water if you have nothing else to use.

6. Stay low to the ground if you’re in a burning building — there’s more breathable air down there and it will help you avoid dying from smoke inhalation.

7. Super Glue works great as a temporary solution to hold together minor wounds when you don’t have supplies or the ability to stitch them up.

8. When you can’t get any professional medical treatment, you can use gunpowder to sterilize your wounds.

9. Vinegar works well to kill bacteria and treat skin burns and infections.

10. Call out to a specific person when you’re in a situation where you need help — they are more likely to do something if they’re singled out.

11. Remember the number three when it comes to your survival — you can go three weeks without food, three days without water, three hours without shelter from severe weather, and three minutes without air.

12. Pull over to the side of the road and take a nap if you’re too tired to drive — it can prevent a fatal accident.

13. If you ever get stabbed, don’t pull the object out — it will make you bleed much faster. Until you can get medical attention, try to keep it covered to prevent blood loss.

14. Baking soda easily puts out cooking fires.

15. You can still call 9-1-1 on your cell phone if you don’t have service or even a SIM card.

16. A compact mirror can help you signal for help and even start fires when the sun reflects off of its surface.

17. Look for a stream or fence if you get lost while you’re hiking — the stream will lead you back to a larger body of water and the fence will most likely lead to a road.

18. If anyone you know ever gets a concussion, hold their head up to avoid fluid filling up in their brain.

19. If you shine a really bright flashlight in an attacker’s eyes, it will give you time to run away.

20. If you’re caught in an extremely cold environment, try to avoid eating snow even if you don’t have any water — it could cause hypothermia by making you lose too much heat.

21. If you ever get attacked by a bear while hiking or camping, play dead if it is brown (like in the picture below), but fight back if it is black.

22. If the plane you’re on ever crashes into water, wait to inflate your life vest — this will help you get out of the plane easier and more quickly.

23. If you’re choking and no one else is around, you can perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself.

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(via Business Insider)

See, you don’t have to be afraid of scary situations as long as you remember these helpful facts. I bet now you’re feeling like you can take on the world — just make sure you’re being careful, okay?