Everyday life isn’t just about sunshine, rainbows, and cat memes. It’s also not the harsh, joyless reality that we often see on the evening news. Life’s… complicated. That means that you have to be ready to dodge or take the punches that it’s guaranteed to throw your way. Part of that is knowing about the things that could save your life. Forewarned is forearmed, after all.

The internet is a great resource for learning new things (as long as you take all advice with a large grain of salt and double-check everything), and the people of Reddit have been sharing some insightful tips and tricks over on r/AskReddit that might end up saving your life. Bored Panda has compiled this list of handy advice for you to look through, so go ahead and have a read. From health tips to help about what to do if someone attacks you, you’ll find everything (and more!) below.

Remember to upvote the bits of advice that you believe are the most important. Meanwhile, let’s go expand our minds and learn something new, dear Pandas. It might make the difference between staying safe and getting hurt. Also, be sure to scroll down for Bored Panda's chat with fitness expert Jack Bly.

• Read More: 35 People Are Sharing Clever Tips That Could One Day Save Your Life

#1

If a service dog comes up to you without its human, FOLLOW IT.

Image credits: Rusalka1960

#2

Fighting mental health sometimes requires medicine and counseling. Don't be too proud or scared to seek help.

Image credits: nameABOVEall

#3

If someone breaks into your home and you use a bat to protect yourself, put a sock overtop of it so if they grab the bat, you can take it back because the sock will slide off.

Image credits: kookiekutterklub

#4

When in an emergency situation, tell someone to call 911 by pointing at them and saying "Hey you, in the [descriptive] shirt...call 911].

Shock is a real thing and some people need to be delegated roles explicitly.

"You there, control the traffic around the scene." "Run to the nearest library or mall and get a defibrillator, you will see a sign of a heart with a lightening bolt through it."

Delegate and be descriptive. Get them working for you.

Image credits: 1------6EQUJ5-11--1-

#5

Crawl out of a burning building, breathing as close as possible to the floor as you move.

Toxic smoke rises while air remains more breathable nearest the floor.

Image credits: Back2Bach

#6

If you are deep frying something and the entire freakin pot is on fire, DO NOT PUT IT OUT WITH WATER!!!.

1) Turn off the gas/electric range. Don't pour water on it.

2) Cover the pot with a lid. Don't pour water on it.

3) If you don't have a lid, dump baking soda on it. Don't pour water on it.

If you pour water on it your house might burn down and your face might melt.

Image credits: doughnutholio

#7

If you ever get held at gunpoint and asked to get in a vehicle, you fight with everything you've got to not do that. Run zig zag, punch and kick, do whatever even if you die in the process. Because 99% of the time, people who get in the car do not come back. Especially if being moved from a public place to a private place.

Image credits: ohheyitsshanaj

#8

If you are being chased by a swarm of bees, do not jump into a lake or other body of water to escape. This isn't a cartoon. The bees will simply wait above the water to sting you, and now you have created a situation where you move slower, can't breathe as well, and suffer worse if the toxins affect you. You may even swallow a bunch of bees gasping for air. Also, water has unseen predators that you've now introduced to the equation. If pursued by bees, just keep running and running. They will defend their hive to a large proximity, perhaps even a mile. Just run until they feel they've won.

Image credits: jusjerm

#9

Never hesitate to call police to report a missing person the "24 hour rule" is a myth.

Image credits: ironwolf6464

#10

If the accelerator in your car gets stuck and you cannot stop, shift your car into neutral.

Image credits: just-s0me-teenager

#11

Trust your gut, if something doesn't feel right then move to the other side of the street or change direction or don't go down that dark alley that moans.

Image credits: Theijuiel

#12

If you're outside in a lightning storm and your hair starts floating, seek immediate shelter. You're about to be struck by lightning.

Image credits: Deodorized

#13

When you're waiting to make a left turn, keep the wheels facing forward until you're ready to go. If you get rear-ended, it can make the difference between just a fender-bender or getting launched into oncoming traffic and getting t-boned. They used to teach this in driver's ed, but I don't think my kids ever heard this from their instructors.

Image credits: FatFreddysCat

#14

If you are taken to the hospital and the doctors ask you if you have taken any drugs don’t just think about the illegal stuff also tell them if you’ve had small things like Advil or Tylenol it could save your life.

Image credits: mylifeisathrowaway10

#15

When someone shouts 'duck' , don't question it and freakin duck.

Image credits: ZedlsBae

#16

If a canker sore in your mouth or on your tongue isn't healing in about 2 weeks, it might not be a canker sore.

I'm going in to surgery today, and they will likely remove 100% of my oral cancer, because of early detection.

Image credits: T1N0M0

#17

If someone gets stabbed, do NOT take the knife out if possible. If it stays in it acts as a plug to the hole and will reduce bloodloss. Apply pressure around the wound as best you can and call an ambulance.

Image credits: eternal8phoenix

#18

Assume other drivers are out to kill you... healthy paranoia when paying attention to other drivers is a great basis for successful defensive driving

Image credits: baliniri

#19

A lot of choking deaths are actually due to embarrassment. If you're choking, fight the urge to save face. Don't go to the bathroom to fix it yourself, don't sit silently and try to spit up the food yourself. Ask for help asap

Image credits: s0ftsp0ken

#20

Actual fires spread shockingly fast. We all like to play "What's the one thing you'd grab if your house was on fire?" but the real right answer is that if it's not alive, you should leave it and get the hell out. People tend to imagine a fire burning on the floor in a corner somewhere, but the reality is often that it's running across the ceiling and circling around the walls. Just get out.

Image credits: IThinkThingsThrough

#21

Don't swim in Florida waterways at night, dusk, or dawn, because teeth. But if you should find yourself in the mouth of a hungry gator, don't go for the standard eye poke, go for the nostril poke. Jamming your finger in their nostril breaks the seal they use to keep water out of their airways when submerged and they will release you instantly.

Image credits: taku240se

#22

3 minutes without air. 3 days without water. 3 weeks without food.

Image credits: porkscrapple

#23

If you feel uneasy like someone is watching you, someone or something (animal) likely may be watching/stalking you. Trust your gut feeling. Your brain picks up on things subconsciously that you do not notice.

Image credits: Waffle_Making_Panda

#24

If you are stranded in the desert do not drink the “water” in a cactus. It will induce vomiting which will dehydrate and kill you faster

Image credits: Feature_Agitated

#25

If you get pulled out into a rip current at the beach, swim parallel to the shore to work your way out of the riptide rip current before trying to swim back to shore. Fighting against it directly is only going to exhaust you a ton faster.

Image credits: soulreaverdan

#26

Yell at a knife, whisper at a gun.

If you yell at an attacker with a knife, there is a small chance that could startle them and they drop it. At the least, you are attracting attention, and can get out of the situation.

Always whisper at someone with a gun, or at least, speak slowly and calmly. If you yell, that could startle them, and you could get shot.

Most weapons are used as intimidation, so if it's your wallet they are after, talk calmly, give them your wallet, and back away slowly.

Image credits: TuckerWarlock

#27

If you pull a weapon in self defense, use it, immediately! I've known a number of people to be seriously injured from hesitating.

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Image credits: Annasman