12 Facts That Can Save Your Life One Day

You must have seen in films and TV shows how people struggle when they end up in water with their car. They always try to open the door, but it’s stuck. According to experts, the best and fastest way to exit a sinking vehicle is to immediately take off your seat belt, lower your window, and escape from there. It’s only a matter of seconds until the car sinks completely and the door is likely to stick.

Bright Side collected 12 crucial pieces of information you had no idea would prove to be so important during an emergency.

1. This octopus has enough venom to kill 26 adults at once.

 

Despite its very small size, the blue-ringed octopus is one of the most deadly marine animals on the planet. It is true that its venom can kill a total of 26 adult humans in a matter of minutes. They will only attack humans if provoked and their venom needs only a few minutes until the first symptoms are experienced. Within 5-10 minutes from the bite, the victim begins to feel paresthesia, numbness, and difficulty breathing. Nausea and vomiting are 2 other major effects. There are cases where people are said to have been conscious but were unable to speak or move. So, if you ever notice this small creature, do not provoke it in any way and just move far away from it and on with your life.

2. Square wave systems may look beautiful, but they hide powerful currents underneath.

Square wave systems, or as they are scientifically called, Cross Sea, is a phenomenon caused when waves from certain weather systems continue to exist even though the wind has shifted. According to people from areas that experience this odd sight, there is way more than meets the eye. The waves may seem beautiful, but there are powerful currents hidden under the surface and that’s why the waves still exist even though the wind has shifted. If you ever see these waves being formed while you’re in the water, you should exit the sea as fast as you can to be on the safe side.

3. You can ask Siri to call an ambulance for you in an emergency.

 

In 2016, the mother of a 1-year-old girl in Australia saw her daughter turning blue from her baby monitor. She immediately rushed to perform CPR to her, but on the way dropped her phone on the ground. However, she remembered that she could use Siri and shouted “Hey Siri, call an ambulance.” Siri called the paramedics and the mother communicated with them by telling them her address. The paramedics arrived and restored the little girl’s breathing. The mother later sent a letter to Apple to thank the company for inventing Siri, who saved her daughter.

4. Upbeat music slows down your reflectors.

 

Who doesn’t listen to music while driving? Well, we’re not trying to tell you to stop listening to music altogether, but to just stay away from upbeat, loud music that makes you want to jump. Based on a study, people who drove while listening to upbeat music showed an increased heart rate, which is a deadly mix while behind the wheel. These people seemed to concentrate more on the music, than on the road.

However, the study showed that listening to music you don’t like can also have negative effects on your driving. This music can cause irritation, stress, and distraction and therefore make you reckless. Also, the study found that despite the belief that classical music calms people’s nerves, people who drove while listening to it were reckless and erratic. Finally, the study concludes that the best music to listen to should match each person’s heart rate, which is somewhere between 60-80 beats per minute.

5. If someone points a gun at you, you should maintain eye contact.

 

Having to deal with an armed person is one of the most terrifying ideas that pass through anyone’s mind. However, as hard as it may sound, keeping close eye contact with the gunman is the best thing to do. Looking at them straight in the eyes will make them feel uncomfortable and even feel bad for what they are doing. Even if they wanted to steal from you, they might walk away because they are embarrassed and not take anything from you. Remember that the person on the other side is still a human being and only feels stronger because they’re holding a weapon.

6. If you are being followed, turn right 4 times.

If you’ve been driving for a long time and you continue to see the same car behind you even though you’ve taken a few turns, it’s possible that you’re being followed. The best advice you can follow is to stay calm and turn right 4 times in a row. This will result in you getting back to where you were and if the other car is still behind you, there is now no doubt that they are after you. If that’s the case, try to get to a noisy road, with lots of people around, and maybe then they’ll leave you alone.

7. You can use sanitary pads to dress large wounds.

 

During WWII, a woman named Kimberly Clark developed Cellucotton, a material that could absorb very large quantities of blood. Using this, she created bandages for soldiers. After the war, this new invention was used to create sanitary pads for women. For all the obvious reasons, these pads can be used for any type of serious or big skin wound and will help keep it disinfected and blood-free until you can find medical professionals to help you. Just wrap a pad around the affected area and tape it down.

8. Do not eat snow no matter how desperate you are for water.

If you ever get stuck out in the woods and you desperately need to find a water source, you might be tempted to eat some snow. But, you should erase that thought immediately. In such a freezing environment, you should avoid putting something so cold into your system, due to the dangers of hypothermia. Hypothermia is caused by extreme exposure to cold and putting something completely frozen into your body will only make the hypothermia occur faster. Instead, you should try to start a fire and melt as much snow as you want. This way the higher temperature of the water will offer some warmth to your insides.

9. Do not pick up a person that has fainted.

 

When someone faints, they undoubtedly cause great panic around themselves. The one thing you should never do is try to shock them by slapping them or pouring water on them. You should also never lift them up. According to Mayo Clinic, the best way to go is to lift their feet above heart level and keep them there until they gain consciousness. The elevated feet intensify the blood flow to the brain and therefore bring back the oxygen, the lack of which caused them to faint. Make sure to loosen their belt, if they have one on. After they have gained full consciousness, you can help them get up and don’t let them drink any caffeinated drinks or coffee.

10. Before natural disasters, make sure to fill your bathtub and sinks to have a good supply of clean water.

 

According to the FDA, after major natural catastrophes, like tornadoes and hurricanes, the water supplies are severely contaminated, if not cut off completely. You can be prepared by buying bottled water and also filling up all your sinks and bathtubs with water, so that you won’t have a shortage in the after-catastrophe period. You will need that water to wash your food and your hands. Another solution to safely use tap water is to boil it before you use it. By boiling it, all the harmful organisms die which then makes it safe to use.

11. Hide in the tub in case of a tornado.

While most people will tell you that rushing to the nearest shelter or a bunker when a tornado is arriving is the safest thing to do, there might not be enough time for that. Bathtubs have proven to be the most secure places inside your house to hide in case of a tornado. According to AccuWeather, bathrooms have strong framing and the pipes help keep their structure together. Also, the tubs are so well anchored to the ground that they are usually the only things standing in houses after these catastrophes. Make sure that you take a big cushion with you to protect yourself from the debris that may fall on you. If you feel that the wind is so strong that it might take you with it, just grab on to the faucet.

12. Use some foil to fill the gap in the battery compartment if you don’t have the correct size.

Let’s say you are stuck in the middle of a tough situation, or even a natural disaster, and you are in desperate need of AA batteries, but can only find AAA. If you can locate some tin foil, you can easily use it to fix the problem. You can roll up some foil and add it into the gap in the battery compartment of your flashlight or any other necessary item. The tin foil will do its job and transfer the electricity to the device.

How helpful do you think the above tips would be during a state of emergency? Please share your opinion with us down in the comment section.