More on staying safe
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Focus on arriving safely over arriving on time; do not speed or drive aggressively to make up lost time.
Aggressive driving rarely saves significant time but carries high risk; it is better to be late than dead.
3 people, independently
Use a flashlight to illuminate yourself or the pavement while crossing streets at night to improve visibility.
Attentive drivers can spot you sooner, particularly if you are dressed in dark colors.
- Do not shine the light directly at approaching cars, as it may blind them and cause an accident.
- Being visible does not replace the need to be careful and hard to hit.
5 people, independently
- Turn on your cell phone's flashlight when using unmarked pedestrian crossings at night so you are more visible to cars.1
- Choose reflective equipment or light-colored attire for nighttime walking or cycling, rather than depending only on flashlights.4
When lost, remain in your current location as safely and practically as possible to aid rescue efforts.
Staying in a single spot helps rescuers locate you quicker than wandering aimlessly; waiting can mean the difference between hours and days of being missing.
3 people, independently
Secure a seat-belt cutter within immediate reach of the driver's seat so it does not fly out during a crash.
If you cannot reach it or it flies away, you will be trapped.
one person who lived it
Play daily games like Scrabble with distant relatives to monitor their well-being.
If they don't play for a day, you know something is up.
one person who lived it
drivers, avoid, turn, risk54
Be aware that in some areas, using a turn signal may provoke other drivers to block your move or speed up to prevent merging.
Avoid getting into car accidents while trying to impress friends and avoid DUIs.
To prevent ruining your life.
one person who lived it
Play a spotting game with children in the car where they earn extra points for identifying motorcycles to train them to look for these vehicles.
This conditions them to see motorcycles right away and prepares them to be more watchful.
3 people, independently
Place your bag or work essentials in the back seat so you must check the rear area upon arrival at your destination.
This little habit could one day save the life of a child
2 people, independently
If you fall from a swing, turn your body to land on your shoulder rather than your face.
to prevent shattering teeth
one person who lived it
50 more on this
Be aware that in some areas, using a turn signal may provoke other drivers to block your move or speed up to prevent merging.
- This behavior is reported in specific regions like South Florida and California.
5 people, independently
Let off the gas rather than braking to let someone in who signaled.
Braking sends a chain reaction that gets amplified and causes stop-and-go traffic.
one person who lived it
Walk away from fights with drunk people to avoid severe consequences like manslaughter charges or fatal accidents.
It takes one punch for someone to hit their head on the sidewalk and die, leading to criminal charges; also, they could have a knife.
one person who lived it
Walk facing oncoming traffic on roads with no sidewalks.
You can see vehicles moving toward you rather than relying only on hearing.
one person who lived it
wear white or light-colored clothing during dark mornings or rain to increase visibility to drivers
dark clothes make you almost invisible in low light or rain
3 people, independently
Do not greet or smile at strangers when passing them in rough areas.
You're not in a friendly place.
one person who lived it
Match the height and boldness of letters on homemade roadside signs to nearby official street signs so drivers can read them.
Text that is too small cannot be read from the road.
one person who lived it
If you are walking behind someone at night and cannot cross the street, speed up to run past them so they see you are overtaking rather than following.
It signals that you are just a runner passing by, ending the creepy impression.
one person who lived it
Use a heavier hammer to drive nails with lower swing speed.
A heavier hammer allows you to push the nail through wood with less speed and enables faster stopping if you miss the target.
one person who lived it
Keep valuables in a backpack and hold onto it tightly throughout the ride.
To prevent loss.
one person who lived it
Before entering a show, check for the closest exit and decide on a meeting point with friends in case you get separated.
This allows friends to locate you quickly if an incident occurs.
one person who lived it
buy a high-quality paper shredder instead of a cheap one
cheap shredders will break, costing more in the long run than buying a good one initially
one person who lived it
Choose to leave violent situations and focus on improving your environment instead of fighting.
Hurting someone in such situations does not feel good afterward.
one person who lived it
Keep dogs away from delivery areas if they are not friendly; if they are friendly, note this in delivery instructions.
Prevents incidents where dogs jump on or wrestle with drivers.
one person who lived it
If asked about your emergency assistance later, state only that you did your best.
Admitting fault or wishing you had done better opens you up to lawsuits.
one person who lived it
If a single car approaches at a stop sign and you want them to proceed first, pretend to turn away or look indifferent rather than waving.
This avoids polite arguments about who goes first and signals that you are not crossing immediately.
- Only safe to do in suburbs or with a single car.
one person who lived it
Check mirrors and blind spots after signaling but before moving, as other drivers may ignore your signal.
Signaling does not protect you from drivers who give zero fucks about your signal.
one person who lived it
do not stop for pedestrians jaywalking outside of crosswalks
it creates confusion for other drivers who may pass on the right or rear-end you
one person who lived it
Do not honk at wild turkeys.
They may respond aggressively rather than fleeing.
one person who lived it
Keep kicks low in real-life confrontations to maintain balance and avoid injury from slipping.
One person landed on oil while kicking, corkscrewed into concrete, and nearly broke their kneecap.
one person who lived it
Signal turns and lane changes early to alert unseen road users like motorcycles in blind spots and to build habitual muscle memory.
It gives others time to react and ensures you never forget to signal when needed.
one person who lived it
Watch the hips and hands of other pedestrians to spot potential threats early.
These body parts provide the earliest indicators of untoward motion.
one person who lived it
Avoid physically assaulting minors, as their parents may press charges that could result in jail time for you.
- Based on one person's experience with local laws
one person who lived it
Place a bin near your mailbox for packages if you have a long or hilly driveway in a cold climate.
Prevents delivery drivers from having to slide into trees while navigating difficult terrain.
one person who lived it
Avoid drinking flaming shots because burning off the alcohol leaves you with a warm, less potent drink.
The process burns off the alcohol.
one person who lived it
Avoid fights entirely to prevent potential death or severe injury.
Even small conflicts can escalate, and being knocked out leads to lasting consequences.
one person who lived it
Avoid tailgating to account for drivers who may brake unexpectedly or fail to signal properly due to poor training.
Drivers in front may not have taken proper driver training and might do something stupid.
one person who lived it
Hold the hammer at the very end of the handle to increase precision.
This provides more precision than holding it closer to the head, which is a common beginner mistake.
one person who lived it
Avoid acting like a tourist, such as wearing city-branded shirts or taking excessive photos, to reduce the risk of being targeted.
People who appear temporary are easier targets.
one person who lived it
Threaten to file a complaint with your state insurance board if an adjuster is uncooperative.
Usually just threatening it makes things go smoother.
one person who lived it
Use emergency exits rather than the entrance you came in to escape an active shooter situation.
Exiting the way you entered is usually longer and creates choke points.
one person who lived it
Use your indicator when overtaking on motorways and filing back in.
It is dangerous to do so without signaling.
one person who lived it
Leave enough space between your car and the vehicle ahead to allow others to merge safely and provide a safety buffer for sudden stops.
Insufficient space prevents safe merging and increases collision risk if the car ahead stops suddenly.
one person who lived it
Avoid distracting yourself while driving, even when using hands-free devices.
Distraction can be dangerous regardless of whether hands are free.
one person who lived it
Never remove the protective guards on a meat slicer to get extra slices; one person suffered a severe cut requiring ER visits, surgery, and physical therapy after bypassing safety features.
it's not worth the risk
2 people, independently
Choose a martial arts school that is convenient and easy to access to ensure consistent attendance.
A distant best school is worse than a nearby one you will actually attend; learning martial arts projects confidence that likely outweighs actual abilities.
one person who lived it
Be aware that frequent false alarms may cause people to ignore car alarms, potentially worsening crime problems.
The New York City Police Department claims this desensitization occurs because false alarms are so common.
one person who lived it
If you constantly encounter aggressive people, check your own behavior and how you are coming off to others.
one person who lived it
Pay close attention to the behavior of other drivers to anticipate and avoid accidents they might cause.
Recognizing the 'body language' of bad drivers may allow you to avoid accidents initiated by others.
one person who lived it
Beware of offers that pressure you to decide immediately or risk expiration.
Urgency triggers panic and shuts down critical thinking.
one person who lived it
Play a game counting motorcycles or bicycles seen while driving to teach children sequencing and road awareness.
It helps teach sequencing and road awareness.
one person who lived it
Ask a bellhop or valet to hail a taxi for you, as drivers are less likely to refuse them due to fear of losing business.
Bellhops/valets have leverage over taxi drivers who rely on hotel contracts.
one person who lived it
Treat your keys like a grenade, remembering that wherever they land, they 'blow up' that area, to reinforce careful placement.
To remember ground zero
one person who lived it
Formulate specific, actionable demands rather than vague slogans when protesting.
Bringing up an issue without a solution is ineffective.
one person who lived it
If repeated behavior stops being funny for you, consider it harassment rather than a joke.
A joke involves mutual laughter and happens occasionally; harassment persists without your consent or amusement.
one person who lived it
Unplug electronics during thunderstorms to protect them from lightning-induced surges.
Electric current pulses from nearby lightning strikes can burn out appliances.
one person who lived it
Try de-escalation strategies before using personal protective devices, which may cause escalation.
personal protective devices would only cause escalation
one person who lived it
Research how to turn off a push-button start vehicle beforehand, including whether it needs to be in park.
Knowing this procedure prevents confusion during stressful situations like accidents involving impaired drivers.
one person who lived it
Take the scenic route to maintain consistent movement with fewer interruptions, which helps you drive more reasonably.
Consistent movement allows for more reasonable driving.
one person who lived it
Advocate for better road infrastructure like well-lit crossings and separated cycling lanes rather than relying solely on personal visibility gear.
one person who lived it
home, evidence, thieves, house35
Use a peephole, window, or doorbell camera to identify visitors before opening the door.
Hide spare house and car keys under the vehicle using zip-ties or magnetic holders instead of obvious spots.
Leaving keys in easy-to-find locations risks theft of both the car and home if the car is stolen.
- Ensure magnetic holders are hidden very well.
one person who lived it
If a home intruder knows you are there and is trying to get in, call 911, hide, and prepare to fight.
In this scenario, the intruder is targeting you specifically.
one person who lived it
- If confronted by a home intruder, state that the police are already nearby or arriving immediately rather than saying you are calling them.1
Check if landlines in your country automatically provide subscriber trace and address to emergency services when a child dials for help.
In the UK, this feature allows emergency services to locate the caller in seconds.
- Verify if this holds true for your specific country.
one person who lived it
If you own a gaming console, register your account to the device's serial number so you can track it if stolen.
One person was able to locate their stolen Xbox One at a nearby retail store using this method.
one person who lived it
30 more on this
Wait for the other owner to arrive rather than attempting to break the lock.
Breaking the lock is likely not worth the time and effort.
- Otherwise, your bike may have to spend the night there.
one person who lived it
Clip your keys to your wallet, chapstick, earbuds, and flashlight to create a bulky cluster that is hard to lose.
It is inconvenient to carry but prevents loss.
- One person found it inconvenient to drive with this setup
one person who lived it
Set up cameras to check on a geriatric dog during the day.
One person was surprised how much the dog moved throughout the day until he didn't.
one person who lived it
Place a wooden dowel in the track of sliding windows or doors when you are away to block entry.
Intruders cannot break in if they cannot open the entrance.
one person who lived it
Use a unique family call, such as 'WHOOOOP!', to get attention in loud or crowded places.
The sound carries well.
one person who lived it
Invest in a heavy safe that can be wall- or floor-mounted, and consider adding chem-markers.
Heavier safes are harder to move, mounting prevents removal, and chem-markers help prove contact was made.
one person who lived it
Install a dashcam to record evidence for accidents, scams, road rage, or police interactions.
It can save you money on insurance and help prove fault in incidents that are hard to verify.
2 people, independently
Lock suitcases when stored at home to prevent thieves from using them to carry stolen goods.
Thieves may use unlocked suitcases to transport items taken from the house and hide them from neighbors.
one person who lived it
If a license plate is unreadable in photos due to flash glare, check the rear quarter panel for a reflection of the plate number.
The flash can produce enough light to reflect the plate number onto the car's body panels, which authorities may accept as evidence.
one person who lived it
Call 911 and stay on the line during an active shooter event.
Your inside information helps law enforcement as they enter, and the call center can manage many simultaneous calls.
one person who lived it
Ignore calls from people claiming to be from Microsoft asking for computer serial numbers to protect against viruses.
These callers claim viruses are installed on your IP and ask for serial numbers to 'protect' you.
one person who lived it
Affix a sticker to the exterior of your vehicle claiming it is equipped with an AirTag, even if it is not, to deter potential thieves.
They will always think they cannot find it.
one person who lived it
Do not place GPS trackers behind or under steel components.
It decreases transmission and reception distance.
one person who lived it
Record conversations and save messages from an abusive parent to show others when they claim you are on good terms or left willingly, countering their narrative.
It provides evidence to counter false claims about being on good terms or leaving willingly.
one person who lived it
Have a backup plan for recording evidence in case dashcam footage fails.
Dashcams can malfunction when needed most.
one person who lived it
Use opaque phone cases if hiding cash underneath to avoid incentivizing theft.
Clear cases show the stash, giving thieves more incentive to steal the phone.
one person who lived it
Do not post planned departure or arrival dates on social media until after you return.
Some people monitor posts to identify when homes are empty for robbery.
one person who lived it
If you use an eSIM for data, insert a secondary physical SIM card to deter thieves from destroying the device; one person reported that thieves often assume removing the physical SIM disables tracking and thus leave the phone intact.
Thieves may mistakenly believe that removing the physical SIM card disables the device's tracking capabilities, leading them to keep the phone undamaged rather than destroying it.
one person who lived it
If you find lost keys with a fuel pay-pass fob, contact the fuel brand directly to have them locate and notify the owner.
one person who lived it
Install a security system designed to wake occupants during an intrusion.
Many home invaders do not bring axes or phone jamming equipment.
one person who lived it
Hide a spare house key buried under birdseed in a bird feeder.
one person who lived it
If you find a lost child, loudly announce your intent to take them to security or police while walking to the kiosk to deter accusations of abduction.
to prevent accusations of abduction
one person who lived it
If direct reporting is difficult, upload dashcam footage of a vehicle assault or crime to relevant authorities' social media pages (e.g., Sheriff's Facebook).
This ensures the video is available for potential evidence later.
one person who lived it
Pretend to argue with someone inside the house to simulate occupancy for visitors at the door.
for authenticity
one person who lived it
Use a peephole, window, or doorbell camera to identify visitors before opening the door.
5 people, independently
If you spot someone being followed in a store, pull them aside and ask slightly above volume if they dropped something to alert them discreetly.
one person who lived it
Spike hard disks so they are immediately recognizable as decommissioned for procedural safety.
It reduces the risk of accidental retention.
one person who lived it
Share Google location with a partner while traveling to quickly locate each other or lost phones.
one person who lived it
If you are concerned about unauthorized pickups, set a verbal password with your child that only authorized people must know.
one person who lived it
If you want to monitor neighborhood activity, one approach that helped someone was befriending a local homeless person during breaks.
one person who lived it
Be cautious of fire ants clumping together in floodwater.
Fire ants group together in hundreds, so you will encounter many at once rather than just one.
one person who lived it
Check smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries when adjusting seasonal fan settings.
It is a good time to do so.
one person who lived it
if you must walk in flooded areas, use the sidewalk rather than the street
there may be less chance of running into open manholes and the water is often a few inches shallower
one person who lived it
Store emergency shoes in sealed plastic bags or dry bags to keep them free of pests and moisture.
Sealed containers prevent spiders and insects from entering and protect against dampness or leaks.
one person who lived it
stick, heat, glass, avoid12
Wear goggles when using a Dremel or similar tool, even for a single quick cut, because cutting wheels can shatter from heat.
Cutting wheels can get too hot and shatter, shooting pieces of the disk at the user
one person who lived it
Place a space blanket behind your heat source and behind yourself to reflect heat.
They act as mirrors for heat.
one person who lived it
If you walk on ice, hold a long stick horizontally to distribute your weight and help pull yourself up if you fall through.
It prevents falling all the way through and aids in pulling yourself out.
one person who lived it
Sand down sharp edges on DIY piggy banks made from cut containers.
Children may try to stick their fingers inside, risking injury from sharp cuts.
one person who lived it
8 more on this
Set up tents in shaded areas to keep them cool.
Shade protects against the sun.
one person who lived it
Store change in plastic containers like old coffee cans or cookie bins.
Plastic is more robust than glass.
one person who lived it
Apply window tinting to large windows to reduce heat gain.
One person reported it made a huge difference.
one person who lived it
One person reported smothering flaming shots by placing a hand over the glass for a second, rather than blowing them out.
Blowing on the shot can act like a flamethrower.
one person who lived it
Spray soap water on glass to help mylar adhere, then squeegee out the water and tape the edges.
It helps the material stick better before taping.
one person who lived it
avoid using aluminum foil to cover LEDs if small children are present
the shiny material arouses their curiosity and leads them to pry it loose
one person who lived it
Avoid setting items on extremely smooth and slanted surfaces.
They are likely to slide or tip over, leading to regret.
one person who lived it
Avoid installing LED bulbs in headlight housings designed for standard filaments.
The LED chips are positioned differently than standard filaments, which misaligns the beam.
one person who lived it
installation, seat, car8
Turn off the propane at the tank valve to extinguish the flame on a grill, rather than just turning off the front knobs.
This confirms the gas is off and clears the propane from the lines.
one person who lived it
Use a tent in a garage as a temporary workspace for projects like sanding or finishing.
It frees up space while keeping items dry.
one person who lived it
Place the gas cap in the little rack inside the fuel door while filling up.
The rack is designed for the gas cap to sit in during refueling.
one person who lived it
Use a truck if you need ground clearance to access difficult locations.
It provides the necessary clearance to get everywhere you need to go.
one person who lived it
3 more on this
Have a hospital staffer install and check the car seat.
Staffers can ensure proper installation and show important details.
one person who lived it
When receiving help with car seat installation, actively learn the process yourself so you can correctly reinstall the seat every time you move it.
Parents frequently take car seats in and out of vehicles, requiring repeated correct installation.
one person who lived it
Read the car seat manual cover to cover before attempting installation.
Instructions can be difficult to comprehend.
one person who lived it
- Read the car seat manual and vehicle owner's manual carefully before attempting installation, as critical instructions—such as LATCH restrictions for middle seats or weight-based tightening techniques—are often found only there.1
access, passwords, financial, sharing18
Verify whether campus security personnel are sworn police officers with full jurisdiction or merely private security guards.
Target the financial interests of those you oppose by stopping support for them, such as through boycotts or withholding payments.
Hitting them in the pocket can bring forth change.
one person who lived it
Limit the personal information you share with strangers, as details about your life, work, family, and habits can be sold or used to hack accounts.
Scammers sell this information and use it to attempt account hacks.
one person who lived it
Periodically search your username on search engines to check for unauthorized sharing of your content.
To identify if your content is being stolen or passed off as original by others.
- This method may not work if your username consists of generic terms or part numbers.
- It does not prevent someone from using a similar name for unrelated creative works.
one person who lived it
Use a keyboard-based autofill tool to type passwords directly rather than copying them to the clipboard.
Malware listening to the system-wide clipboard can capture login info copied via copy-paste.
one person who lived it
14 more on this
Change default Wi-Fi keys to secure passwords that you can memorize.
Lists of default passwords are publicly available.
one person who lived it
Use a password manager or generator to avoid reusing passwords across sites.
If one site is hacked, every other site using that same password will also be compromised.
one person who lived it
Check payment pages for third-party JavaScript injections, as scripts added by webmasters can access your data.
Third-party scripts injected for features like chat helpers or animations can access everything on the page.
one person who lived it
Delete social media profiles like Facebook, LinkedIn, and MySpace, or set them to maximum privacy.
LinkedIn is described as a hacker's dream tool.
one person who lived it
Note that MSDS/SDS documents may not disclose all ingredients if they are hazardous but proprietary.
Proprietary hazardous ingredients must be placed in a database accessible only with a valid reason.
one person who lived it
Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts that support it to prevent unauthorized access.
To prevent account compromise even if passwords are breached.
2 people, independently
Restrict sharing access to 'View' or 'Comment' to prevent others from seeing deleted content via revision history.
Sharing with 'Edit' access allows viewers to see deleted content through revision history.
one person who lived it
Do not let non-residents into your dorm building, even if they claim to be uniformed officers or security, unless you verify their identity.
Uniformed personnel possess the same access cards and keys as other residents.
one person who lived it
Verify whether campus security personnel are sworn police officers with full jurisdiction or merely private security guards.
- Authority varies by institution; some have full-fledged police departments while others do not.
3 people, independently
Recognize that Gmail treats email addresses with different dot placements as the same account, so variations cannot be used to create separate identities.
Logging in without the dot still accesses the same account.
one person who lived it
Refuse to provide personal identification documents, such as passport photos, to strangers offering financial help online.
Scammers want personal info like full name, social security number, and address to access financial stuff.
one person who lived it
Avoid sharing unnecessary personal explanations, such as financial struggles, with strangers to avoid jeopardizing yourself.
Sharing such details allows others to exploit your vulnerability.
one person who lived it
If you want to protect yourself from phishing scams, use a separate email address exclusively for financial notifications.
Scammers often target your primary contact address; isolating financial alerts helps you spot spoofed emails sent to the wrong inbox.
one person who lived it
Consider using Firefox Monitor as an alternative to other breach-checking services.
It is from a recognizable vendor and scans the same sources with similar results.
one person who lived it