Are you in a car?
Maybe boarding a flight?
What about just lying on the couch?
No matter where you are,
you could be one breath away
from a catastrophe.
What you do in the second
after disaster strikes
will decide
if you and your loved ones
survive or not.
Get ready.
It’s a beautiful day
and you’re taking a relaxing drive
when you realize
that your brakes aren’t working.
You're hurtling out of control
into a busy intersection.
A crash is imminent.
You have less than a second to decide
if you should brace for impact.
What should you do?
Research has shown that
pushing your body
back into your seat is a good thing
for your spine.
Always keep your eyes on the road
in front of you,
since turning your head
will put added strain on your neck.
And tense up those muscles and limbs.
You might break a bone or two,
but your internal organs
will have some much-needed
extra protection.
You’re enjoying a hike,
reconnecting with nature
when suddenly
you see an unexpected
furry creature approach.
Quickly identifying
what type of bear is coming for you
could save your life.
If you’re facing off against a grizzly,
stay calm.
If it doesn't pounce on you,
try talking to it in a calm
but strong voice
and move slowly to higher ground.
But if it comes after you,
your best bet is to play dead.
Lie on your stomach
to protect your vital organs,
keep your backpack on
to protect your back
and cover your head with your hands.
You might still get a hefty paw swipe
from the bear,
just make sure you're not a threat.
Unfortunately,
black bears
are known to be more aggressive.
If you're attacked by one,
don't play dead.
Look for a safe place to hide,
like a car or building.
Don’t try to run too far away.
Trust us, you can’t outrun a bear.
Also, they are fantastic tree climbers.
Any small flame
can turn into a major fire
in a matter of seconds.
By the time you hear the fire alarm,
you'll only have seconds
to react.
Don’t jump up
head straight for the exit.
Smoke can obstruct your vision
and asphyxiate you
before the flames
can touch your skin.
Get down to the ground
to avoid breathing smoke.
Crawl to the door and touch the knob.
If it's hot,
it means that the fire may be worse
on the other side.
Put a towel under the door to prevent
more smoke from entering the room
and look for another way out,
such as a window.
If you have your phone handy,
call emergency services immediately.
Remember, staying close to the ground
and crawling is critical
to surviving a fire.
Every year,
about 30,000 people need
to be rescued from rip currents
in the United States.
Unfortunately,
about 100 people die
from this unexpected
but common phenomenon.
If you feel the current
pulling you into the ocean,
don't try to fight it.
You'll only exhaust yourself
and drown.
Instead,
focus on staying afloat
and swimming parallel to the shore.
It might feel like it's taking forever,
but you'll get yourself
out of the current.
After you escape its pull,
you can begin to swim
back to the shore.
Walking on ice is always a gamble.
If it breaks,
you have a split second
to make a decision.
A sudden
dunking in freezing water
will leave you breathless
as your body endures
severe pain
and fights off going into shock.
Panic will start to set in,
but you must remain calm.
Don't try to pull yourself
out of the water with your hands,
you'll only tire yourself out
and break the edge of the ice.
Instead, try to float
and push yourself out of the water
like a seal.
Lie horizontally on the ice
to evenly distribute your weight
and crawl back
in the direction you came from.
That ice supported
your weight before,
so it may hold you on your way back
to safety.
After years of petitioning
by several organizations
concerned for the safety
of young children,
seniors and crime victims,
starting in 2002
all new-model cars in the U.S.
have come equipped
with a glow-in-the-dark
safety handle in the trunk.
If you're ever trapped in a trunk,
look for a shiny handle like this one.
If you're in an older car
with no built-in safety feature,
you can kick out the taillights
to get someone's attention.
On Halloween night of 2022,
more than 100,000 people
were gathered in a narrow
party alley
in Seoul when things got out of control
and a human stampede formed.
They began to move uncontrollably,
crushing people who fell to the ground.
More than 150 people perished
in the ensuing chaos.
To survive a situation like this,
you’ll need to hold your arms
in front of you,
like a boxer,
to avoid being crushed
and losing your breath.
Also, plant your feet
firmly on the ground,
but don't push against the crowd.
Move with it
to avoid falling
and exhausting yourself.
Try to work your way
to the edge of the street or alley
and pull yourself onto
anything you can find
to get out of the stream
of panicking people.
A common misconception
is that if you manage to jump
at the precise moment
an elevator hits
the ground,
you will avoid serious injury.
What would really happen
is even if you could time
your jump perfectly,
your head would be crushed
under the elevator roof,
killing you almost instantly.
Your best chance for survival
will be to lie on your back
so that the force of impact
is distributed across your entire body.
Use whatever soft objects
you have on hand to protect your head.
Jackets and a backpack,
even the clothes you are wearing
can cushion the blow.
It won't be easy to do,
but it's the only chance you've got.
In 2020, 14 people
were pushed onto New York
subway tracks.
If this ever happens to you,
being quick on your feet
can save your life.
Look for the third rail and avoid it
like the plague.
It'll be a little higher
than everything else on the tracks,
and touching it will electrify you.
If you don't see lights
coming down the tunnel,
dash to the end of the platform
to use a service ladder.
If all else fails,
hit the ground
with your head to the side.
There should be just enough room
for the train to pass over you.
You’re relaxing at home
when you hear a huge explosion.
You’re far enough away
that you haven’t been killed
by the initial blast,
but what you do next
will decide your fate.
A shockwave is coming.
After the explosion,
the ensuing fireball
will push the air toward you
faster than the speed of sound,
generating enough force
to level buildings.
And maybe even you.
Stay away from windows,
as they'll be instantly shattered.
If you're outside,
look for the most stable structure
you can to hide in
and hold your breath.
The overpressure caused
by the blast wave
could rupture the tissue of your lungs.
Blast lung injury
is the leading cause of death
for victims near an explosion.
Well, you've survived the initial blast,
but now you’ll have to secure
your food,
shelter
and protect yourself against
new threats.
Do you have any idea how to do it?
Don’t worry.
We’ll show you everything
you’ll need to make it through
in one piece.
Just keep watching How to Survive.