15 Safety Tips That Can Save Lives in Everyday Situations

Life is full of surprises, so even when you’re doing typical things, like driving, cleaning the house, or mowing the lawn, it is important to be prepared for the unexpected. In fact, being prepared for various emergency situations can prevent serious and even fatal injuries. 

Here are 15 safety tips to keep you safe during everyday situations, including driving, home care, medical emergencies, and more.  

Road Safety

1. First aid kit — location, location, location 

Keep your first aid kit in the glove compartment of your car, not the trunk. The same is true for a glass hammer and seatbelt cutter. Having these things in your trunk, while better than not having them at all, won’t help you have an emergency in the car itself. 

2. Don’t put your legs on the dashboard

It might feel relaxing, but in a collision, airbags deploy with explosive force. That force can impact and shatter your legs, hips, knees, and more, causing serious injuries. Therefore, it’s crucial to sit properly in the front passenger seat at all times. 

3. Don’t look at your phone when driving

This should go without saying — but it doesn’t. Distracted driving, including texting, browsing, dialing, searching for songs, etc., causes thousands of accidents a year in the US alone. No text, WhatsApp message, or song change is worth risking your life — or someone else’s. When you drive, put your phone somewhere safe where it won’t distract you. 

4. Helmets save lives

Whether riding a motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, or skateboard, wear a helmet, and fasten it correctly. This goes for you and anyone riding with you. The simple habit of putting on a helmet and buckling the chin strap can prevent many serious head injuries and save lives.

5. Do not move a person who has been in a serious car accident

Unless there’s immediate danger (like fire), don’t move someone who has been severely injured, as it can cause worse damage to their spine or other injuries. Instead, call 911 and wait with the injured person until emergency responders arrive.

Home Safety

6. Heed your carbon monoxide sensors

If your carbon monoxide sensor goes off, don’t stop to fiddle with the device or check to see if it’s working — just get out of the house. Then call 911 and wait for the all-clear from emergency responders. 

7. Know when to use a fire extinguisher and when to run

Small kitchen fire? A fire extinguisher may help. But if you see it’s growing and the fire extinguisher isn’t doing the job, get out (along with the rest of the people in your house) and call 911. You can replace a house, but you can’t replace people. 

8. Remove carpets, rugs, and runners from the floor

When there are small children or seniors in the house, remove rugs or carpet runners from the floor. While these might not seem hazardous, one upturned corner can cause someone with unsure footing to fall. While a child may not get seriously injured, a senior who falls is at a heightened risk of breaking their hip, which can cause irreparable damage and even death. 

9. Don’t mix cleaning products

It might seem harmless to double up cleaning products — the more, the merrier, right? Wrong! Mixing cleaning products like bleach and ammonia can create toxic fumes. Always read labels, use one product at a time, and make sure the area you’re cleaning is well ventilated. 

10. Lawnmowers are dangerous — show them the proper respect

Sharp blades and a machine that can crush — lawnmowers may be a typical feature of garden upkeep, but they aren’t toys. When operating a lawnmower, always wear closed shoes, check the yard for hidden objects, and never let kids near while in use.

General Safety 

11. Bring a list of current medications to the ER

Prepare a list of the current medications you take in case of an emergency. If you ever go to the ER, grab the list (you can keep it in your wallet so you won’t forget) and give it to the paramedics or nurses helping you. 

12. Call 911 immediately if you suspect a stroke

Strokes can come on suddenly, and every minute counts. Learn the FAST acronym: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911. Don’t wait to “see if it passes” — early intervention can mean the difference between full recovery and permanent damage.

13. Tie back long hair

Loose hair can get caught in machinery, pool filters, power tools, fans, kitchen appliances, and more. Getting into the habit of tying your hair back can prevent serious injury.

14. If you’re bitten by a wild animal, get the rabies vaccine

If you’ve been bitten by a stray dog, cat, raccoon, or other wild animal, or suspect that you’ve been bitten by a bat (their bites are virtually undetectable), hightail it to the ER for a rabies vaccine. Fewer than 15 people have survived symptomatic rabies without the vaccine, while on the other hand, the rabies vaccine is nearly 100% effective. 

15. Proper seizure protocol

You may have seen TV shows or movies where someone has a seizure and another person puts something in their mouth to prevent them from biting their tongue. Don’t do that. Just move any dangerous objects away from the person and roll them on their side until the seizure is over. 

Expect the Unexpected

The nature of emergencies is that they’re sudden and unpredictable. While we can’t control what happens to us, we can take the proper precautions to stay as safe as possible despite difficult or harrowing circumstances. Expecting the unexpected, i.e., knowing what to do in various emergencies, can prevent injuries and save lives.