20 rules from the lessons of life safety that will come in handy in real life

2023 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-07-28 10:38

The recommendations did not appear out of nowhere.

1. If you hear any noise from above, run

When a crackling, rustling or someone's scream is heard from above, the first impulse is to throw your head back and take a good look at what is happening there. However, in this case, there is a great risk of getting in the forehead by what made the noise. It can be an icicle, a piece of fallen plaster, an object released from your hands - anything with which you want to avoid sudden docking. At best, it will be just unpleasant, at worst - everything will end in disability or death.

If you hear strange sounds from above, immediately run. Then you will figure out whether it was worth panicking. It is better to look stupid but stay alive than hesitate and become the victim of an accident.

2. Keep your emergency briefcase assembled

There are situations when you have to run away from home urgently. For example, something caught fire in the apartment from below or a threatening crack suddenly lay along the wall. In any case, it is better to leave the apartment not empty-handed, but at least with documents and valuables. That is, with everything that will make your life easier, even if the belongings remaining in the house are no longer available.

The best thing to do is to take the word “emergency briefcase” literally and keep the things you need in a bag that is easy to grab and run out of.

3. At the signal for evacuation, evacuate

Few take the alarm seriously. This has been going on since school with its training evacuations, which mean only one thing: you have to spend part of the break on roll call and standing on the street. When a person is no longer urged on in adulthood, it is tempting to not quit business or leave a warm bed at the sound of a siren. Surely now they will say that the alarm is training. Or just someone smoked under a smoke detector in the entrance, and the siren went off.

But then how lucky. You can safely ignore a hundred drills. Or you can ignore one and miss the moment when it was really possible to leave the building and survive. So it's better to play it safe.

4. Learn emergency numbers

It seems to be a simple advice, but people often start dialing 911 in a stressful situation, like in American TV shows. Or they understand that they have no idea how to call for help from their mobile. So let's fix:

• Ministry of Emergency Situations, fire service and rescue service - 01 from stationary and 101 from mobile phones.
• Police - 02 or 102.
• Ambulance - 03 or 103.
• Gas service - 04 or 104.
• The single emergency number is 112. And you can even call from a phone without a SIM card.

It would be nice to write down the numbers of other important services in your area. For example, where to call in case of hot and cold water leaks. It is important to promptly notify utilities, as the liquid can affect the strength of building structures.

5. Listen carefully or read messages from the Ministry of Emergencies

In ancient times, at OBZH lessons, it was recommended that in case of an alarm signal, immediately turn on the radio or TV and listen to what they say there. Now regular testing of sirens and constant SMS notifications from the Ministry of Emergencies spoiled us. It is tempting to wave your hand: "Another training alert" or "These rescuers are constantly warning about something."

But they usually warn about important things. If the information turned out to be irrelevant for you, you should rejoice: lucky. For example, for some, a message about a radical change in the weather is just a bunch of words. And some meteo addict will stock up on pills.

6. Fasten everything that would be worth fastening

If you've ever bought IKEA furniture, you're probably surprised at the recommendations to screw everything you can to the wall. It's amazing: for so many years, wardrobes and dressers stood by themselves, and then there were unnecessary gestures. But rest assured: if IKEA advises to attach something, it means that someone, somewhere, has already dropped this piece of furniture on himself, got hurt and complained.

If a thing can fall and injure, sooner or later it will fall and injure. For example, during strong winds, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, people most often get injured from flying off fragments of building decoration, torn off road signs and from items stored on balconies and loggias. Although hardly anyone thinks about it when they leave any trash there.

The rule, in general, applies to everything that you look at and think: "If only it does not fall." It will certainly fall, so it is better to secure the item in advance.

7. Do not go outside unnecessarily if it is restless outside the window

Any kind of bad weather is a bad reason to step out of your comfort zone. When there is a strong wind outside the window, abnormal cold or thunderstorm, it is better to sit at home. Of course, nothing might happen. Or someone's ski can fly from the balcony.

And even if everything seems to be quiet, it is better to take a break. Bad weather can return.

8. In any unclear situation, stay away from windows

It is not so easy. First, it's curious what's going on there. Secondly, it is difficult to remain in the dark, sitting in the back of the building. But it's worth doing for the sake of safety. During a natural disaster, it is better to choose places for shelter near the main walls and columns so as not to get damaged due to broken glass or a collapsed facade. In a shootout on the street by the window, there is a risk of getting a stray bullet. In case of taking hostages, you can become an accidental victim of snipers.

The recommendation does not work in case of fires, but more on that later.

9. If you cannot leave the building during a fire, stay by the window or go to the balcony

This is necessary so that firefighters will notice you faster and rush to help. But, of course, it is worth staying in the apartment only if all escape routes are inaccessible. Because leaving will be the most correct thing.

Keep in mind that the flow of air can intensify the flame. So you don't need to open windows unnecessarily. If you go out to the balcony, do it quickly and close the door tightly behind you. And don't forget to get dressed if it's cold outside - if possible, of course.

10. If steam comes from the ground, go around this area

And report the noticed to the rescuers or the organization that is responsible for hot water and heating in your city. It is even more worth doing this if you see that there is definitely a leak.

A breakthrough in a heating main can be extremely dangerous. Hot water pits are sometimes formed under the asphalt. A person and even more so a car can easily fail. And you won't wish anyone to fall into practically boiling water. So it's best to be vigilant.

11. Avoid trees damaged by lightning during thunderstorms

There is a myth that lightning does not strike the same place twice. To refute this misconception, you don't even need to look for scientific research. Suffice it to recall the principle of operation of a lightning rod, which was created precisely so that lightning strikes it countless times.

In a thunderstorm, you should, in principle, avoid everything high, and on the plain try to become lower yourself - to squat, for example.

12. Do not litter the balcony and escape routes

First, rubbish increases the risk of fire. For example, if the remains of a wooden chair, a tree from the year before last, and pieces of cloth are stacked on the balcony, an accidental cigarette butt from the top floor can set up a huge bonfire. But alone on a concrete slab, an unextinguished cigarette will slowly go out. Secondly, blocked escape routes make it difficult to quickly and easily escape from a fire.

In general, one should not forget about fire safety when thinking about security of a different kind. For example, the desire to install a metal door with a lock in the common vestibule or to block the exit to the emergency staircase with it is understandable, so that no one can walk around. And it's better to close the courtyard, otherwise everyone will start putting cars. Only then the firefighters cannot get through, and the rescuers spend a lot of time opening the doors. So it's worth doing everything wisely.

13. Learn to provide first aid so as not to harm

You also need to be able to help. Sometimes it is better to do nothing than to do something wrong. For example, in the event of an accident, passers-by often try to immediately pull the victim out of the car. But, if there are no additional threats like fire, it is better not to touch people without specialists. Otherwise, the injury can worsen, such as turning the spinal injury from reversible to irreversible.

Another common example is an attempt to correct a dislocation on your own. In films, the heroes do it to themselves, and with ease and in any conditions. But in life, as a rule, there is no need for such a thing. It is better to let the doctor take care of this, having previously injected the patient with an anesthetic.

14. Don't dive in unfamiliar places

And it is better in acquaintances, if before that you have not walked along the bottom. Driftwood may be lurking in the water, and the depth may be shallower than you expected. As a result, injuries are likely - up to a fracture of the spine.

Fishermen should be especially careful when the tackle gets caught on something. It is unlikely that they are kept even by the bottom. Therefore, it is better to carefully descend into the water, rather than dive.

15. Don't swim behind the buoys

The rule was not invented to ruin the fun of the swimmers. Just behind the buoys there may be an area where different water transport goes. And if it is simply unpleasant to get a paddle, the propeller will be truly ruthless.

16. Pause before entering the elevator

This should not be so, but sometimes it happens: the elevator did not arrive, but the doors opened. Therefore, it is better not to step into the mine automatically, but to firmly make sure that there is a solid floor under your feet.

17. Don't open the door to just anyone

In childhood, we all know this as the multiplication table. But in adulthood, caution often evaporates somewhere. And we boldly open the doors to any knock. Unfortunately, if you are not expecting anyone, there is hardly a pleasant surprise on your doorstep. At the very least, uninvited guests will take your time. And they can take property and life.

18. In the evening, choose crowded, well-lit places

And again, a common truth, which many neglect. Even if you are a huge man - oblique fathoms in your shoulders, 250 kilograms in deadlift, it is still better to choose safe routes and not take risks. In the end, the oblique fathom will be completely beaten by the puny shoulders, if their owners are 10 people.

19. Avoid collisions

When there is an opportunity to escape during an imminent conflict, it is better to do so. First, the outcome is difficult to predict. Even if you emerge victorious, this does not mean that you will do without losses at all. Second, by resisting too actively, self-defense can be exceeded. And then there will be problems of a different kind.

20. Stay out of the crowd

Curiosity can hurt, especially in the age of social media. I would like not only to find out what is happening there, but also to photograph for subscribers. If it turns out that something dangerous is going on, the whole crowd will move towards the exit. And it's easy to get hurt in a crush. So, if you are not sure about the source of public interest, it is better not to join the crowd.