This section covers just one thing: what actions you should take right away when an emergency occurs, what to do next, and what to avoid. The entries on first aid and wilderness survival focus on specific causes of death and survival rates. Those dealing with scams and threats involve financial loss and threats to personal freedom. These two sets of figures cannot be compared with each other. Entries are ordered by how common each situation is and how much difference proper or improper action can make in terms of lives saved. These guidelines are primarily meant for you, your spouse, and close family members. In fact, 79.2% of cardiac arrests happen at home, so the people you’re most likely to help are your household members, followed by friends and coworkers. While helping strangers can also be worthwhile, it ranks last in priority due to risks such as false accusations or getting involved in legal trouble. Therefore, the entries in this category emphasize actions to protect yourself and include clauses that limit your liability. Only actions that must be taken within a few minutes are included here. Identifying scams or dealing with extortion attempts require longer-term measures and are not covered in this section. Detailed anti-fraud rules and descriptions of seven common types of fraud can be found in Section 8, Item 3. Information on handling situations where someone threatens to release private photos or intimate videos is provided in Section 8, Item 32. If money has already been transferred, you should immediately call 110 or 96110 to request a stop payment, as explained in Section 8, Item 2.
English text comes from the independent translation maintained by dlgrv. New entries without a translation appear in Chinese. The author's Chinese original is authoritative for the latest content. Translation snapshot: dlgrv/HowToLiveBetter · 11818c6
Immediate chest compressions can save lives when someone collapses and stops breathing — call 120 and fetch an AED too
Most people you’d need to help are family members — 79.2% of cardiac arrests happen at home. When someone performs CPR, the survival rate jumps from 3.9% to 16.1%. If a person is unresponsive and not breathing, start compressions right away. Position your hands at the midpoint between the nipples, press down hard at 2 times per second, and keep going. Ask a second person to call 120 and bring an AED; you must not stop compressing.
Cost
This costs nothing. A CPR course from the Red Cross or a h…
Benefit
Meta-analysis of 79 studies involving 142,740 participants shows that overall, only 7.6% of people suffering f…
02Evidence B
Elderly falls: if someone falls, first kneel down, call out to them, and dial 120 — don’t rush to help them up. It is perfectly legal to walk away from strangers; once you stop, however, you must not touch or move them.
This guidance is primarily aimed at one’s own elderly relatives and people you know well. First, check whether they’re breathing; if not, follow step 1 (perform chest compressions). Even if they are breathing, don’t lift them up — they may have suffered a stroke or fainting spell prior to the fall, and forced movement could worsen injuries. Instead, kneel down, speak to them, and ask if they remember how they fell. If they complain of back pain or seem to have a fracture, do not move them; call 120 right away.
Cost
No money is required. Kneeling down to ask a few questions…
Benefit
The Ministry of Health’s “Technical Guidelines for Intervention in Elderly Falls” states two key points: “Fall…
03Evidence A
Sudden facial drooping, weakness in one arm, and slurred speech — call 120 immediately; don’t wait or drive yourself.
If someone’s face suddenly droops, they can’t lift one arm, and their speech becomes slurred, call 120 right away. Administering medication within 3 hours of symptom onset can increase the chance of regaining basic independence by about 1.75 times compared to not receiving treatment. Waiting 3 to 4.5 hours reduces this benefit to only 1.26 times. After 4.5 hours, there is virtually no difference. Be sure to note the exact time symptoms first appeared. Do not give water or medicine, and never drive the person to the hospital yourself.
Cost
No cost at all. These three steps are easy to remember: as…
Benefit
This conclusion comes from a meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials involving 6,756 patients. Intravenous throm…
04Evidence B
Sudden dizziness, double vision, loss of vision in one eye, or inability to touch one’s nose — all warrant calling 120 for stroke suspicion
Out of 736 stroke cases, 14.1% showed none of the classic FAST symptoms at onset — no facial droop, no arm weakness, no slurred speech. Relying solely on those three signs would miss many cases. Adding checks for unsteady gait, double vision, or inability to touch the nose reduces that omission rate to just 4.4%. Any sudden dizziness, double vision, or failure to touch one’s nose should prompt an immediate call to emergency services and precise timing documentation.
Cost
No cost involved. Besides the three FAST signs — facial dr…
Benefit
In 2014, researchers at the University of Kentucky Stroke Center reviewed 736 cases of acute ischemic stroke.…
05Evidence B
One eye suddenly goes dark, as if a curtain has been pulled shut; even if it clears up within minutes, seek emergency care for stroke on the same day
When one eye suddenly goes dark, as if a curtain has been pulled shut, it means a blockage has occurred in the blood vessels at the back of the eye. The longer the blockage persists, the less of the retina can be saved. This condition is also a form of cerebral ischemia, and the following days represent a high‑risk window for stroke. For patients in this situation, receiving evaluation and treatment on the same day reduces the likelihood of another stroke within 90 days from 10.3% to 2.1%. Seek emergency care at a hospital with a stroke center on the same day; do not wait until the next day to see an ophthalmologist.
Cost
No direct cost. However, emergency evaluation and vascular…
Benefit
The 2021 scientific statement from the American Heart Association on central retinal artery occlusion — blocka…
06Evidence B
One eye is swollen, painful, red; there’s a rainbow halo around lights; plus headache, nausea, and vomiting — so an emergency eye visit is needed that same day.
This is an acute glaucoma attack. Fluid can’t drain from the eye, so pressure spikes quickly. The longer it goes untreated, the more damage occurs to the optic nerve, and that damage is permanent. During Wuhan’s lockdown, patients waited an average of 241 hours before getting treatment; 21.87% ended up blind. In the same period the year after the lockdown, the average wait time dropped to 121 hours, and only 7.84% became blind. A total of 76 days of lockdown were covered in this study.
Cost
No cost at all. An emergency eye exam includes measuring i…
Benefit
An eye hospital in Wuhan compared two groups of patients with acute primary angle-closure glaucoma. In 2020, d…
07Evidence B
Chest pressure, tightness, or heaviness lasting more than 15 minutes without relief — call 120; do not drive yourself.
If you feel chest pressure, tightness, or heaviness that lasts over 15 minutes without easing up, call 120 right away. For patients treated within 55 minutes of arrival at the hospital, the mortality rate within 30 days is 2.8%. For those treated later than 55 minutes, the rate rises to 9.7%. Every minute of delay means more heart muscle tissue dies. Do not drive yourself — losing consciousness while behind the wheel could lead to a second accident.
Cost
No cost at all.
Benefit
Israel conducted a nationwide study on acute coronary syndrome. The research focused on patients experiencing…
08Evidence B
Sudden tearing pain that spreads from the chest to the back and waist — call 120 and describe it as “pain moving downward”
This condition causes a tearing-like pain that starts in the chest and travels down the back and waist. When calling 120, simply describe it as “a tearing pain that’s moving downward.” Without surgery, treatment with medication alone results in a mortality rate of 58%. Its management is the exact opposite of that for heart attacks: doctors only order enhanced CT scans after suspecting this condition, not anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy. Also mention any significant difference in blood pressure between both arms or absence of a pulse on one side.
Cost
No cost at all.
Benefit
The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) includes data from 464 patients across 12 centers…
09Evidence A
A sudden “worst headache of one’s life” that peaks within an hour — go to the ER for a head CT right away
The key point isn’t how intense the pain is, but how quickly it reaches its peak. In 2,131 people experiencing severe headaches that peaked within an hour, 6.2% had a ruptured blood vessel on the surface of the brain. Anyone aged 40 or older, with neck pain or stiffness, who was seen collapsing by others, whose headache started during physical activity, came on suddenly like an explosion, or has limited neck flexion when examined should go to the ER for a head CT. The vast majority of people who get tested end up fine, but missing even one case of bleeding can be fatal.
Cost
An emergency visit itself costs very little. A head CT in…
Benefit
Ten Canadian emergency departments conducted a prospective cohort study on 2,131 patients with “severe headach…
10Evidence B
After an elderly person suffers a head injury, they may develop unsteady gait, sluggishness, excessive sleepiness, or weakness on one side of the body two to three weeks later — a CT scan is recommended.
After a head injury, blood usually starts accumulating only around the third week. At the time of impact, there may be absolutely no symptoms at all, and the person might not even recall the injury. The recurrence rate after surgery for this condition can reach 33%, while the mortality rate may be as high as 32%. If an elderly individual suddenly appears confused, walks unsteadily, feels unusually sleepy, or shows weakness on one side, it’s important to first ask whether they fell or hit their head in the past two to three months, then proceed with a CT scan.
Cost
A single cranial CT scan costs roughly 200–300 RMB.
Benefit
The Neurosurgical Society of the Chinese Medical Association has published a Chinese expert consensus on medic…
11Evidence B
A leg suddenly swells, feels tight, and is tender to the touch — seek medical care promptly; if shortness of breath or chest pain develops suddenly, call 120 immediately.
If one leg suddenly swells, becomes noticeably thicker than the other, and is painful to press, get a leg vein ultrasound done as soon as possible. Should shortness of breath, chest pain when taking a deep breath, a rapid heartbeat, or dizziness appear, a blood clot may have traveled to the lungs — call 120 right away. Among people diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, 17.4% die within three months. Sitting still for more than four hours roughly doubles the risk, though the actual chance for any one person remains very low.
Cost
An ultrasound of the leg veins (lower extremity venous ult…
Benefit
The International Cooperative Registry on Pulmonary Embolism (ICOPER) gathered data from 2,454 patients with c…
12Evidence A
For severe bleeding, first press firmly on the wound with your hand; if bleeding from a limb can’t be stopped, apply a tourniquet and call 120 right away.
The proper order is to press hard on the wound with your hand or a cloth; if bleeding from an arm or leg won’t stop, put on a tourniquet and then call 120. Once applied, never loosen it. Battlefield data shows that 90% of patients whose tourniquets were applied before going into shock survived, compared with only 10% whose tourniquets were applied after shock set in; all 5 patients who needed a tourniquet but didn’t get one died. Wrap the tourniquet above the bleeding site, twist until the flow stops, and write down the time. Do not use shoelaces or rope as substitutes. For neck or torso injuries, only compression works — never apply a tourniquet there.
Cost
A twist‑type tourniquet costs anywhere from a few dozen to…
Benefit
Over six years, 11 Level I trauma centers in Texas treated 1,026 patients with vascular injuries to the limbs;
13Evidence A
For dog or cat bites and scratches, rinse the area with soap and running water for 15 minutes, then get vaccinated on the same day.
Once rabies symptoms appear, the fatality rate is practically 100%. Rinsing with soap and water followed by vaccination is the sole safeguard. First, rinse the affected area with alternating streams of soap and running water for 15 minutes, then seek medical care on the same day. If the skin is broken and the wound has been licked, this constitutes a category III exposure, requiring the extra passive immunization product. The fact that a pet has been vaccinated does not alter this classification; exposure level is determined solely by the nature of the injury, not by the animal’s background.
Cost
Rinsing requires no expense. The full course of rabies vac…
Benefit
According to the 2023 guidelines issued by China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and…
14Evidence A
Immediately rinse a burn with cool running water for 20 minutes; avoid applying toothpaste or soy sauce
Rinsing a burn with cool running water for at least 20 minutes within 3 hours of injury reduces the likelihood of needing skin grafts to roughly 60% of the rate for those who do not perform this step. Use cool water, not ice water, as ice application can worsen the damage. If clothing sticks to the wound, do not pull it off forcefully; after rinsing, cover the area with a clean cloth and head to the hospital. Never apply toothpaste, soy sauce, sesame oil, or flour to the burn. Even if you remember to rinse later, doing so within 3 hours still provides benefit.
Cost
No cost involved. It requires 20 minutes of time.
Benefit
An Australian study followed 2,495 children with burns. For kids who rinsed the burn with cool running water f…
15Evidence B（指南强推荐，但底层证据等级低）
Sudden widespread rash, difficulty breathing, or dizziness — treat as anaphylactic shock; call 120 immediately and explain the situation clearly.
If someone suddenly develops a full-body rash along with trouble breathing or dizziness, treat it as anaphylactic shock. Call 120 right away and clearly state “suspected anaphylactic shock” so emergency responders can bring epinephrine with them. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment; antihistamines and steroids act too slowly to be effective in such cases. Individuals who have experienced this before should consult a doctor for an epinephrine auto-injector and learn how to administer it to the outer midsection of the thigh — this can be done even through clothing.
Cost
No cost involved. However, people with known severe allerg…
Benefit
Epinephrine is the recommended first-line treatment for all grades of anaphylactic shock (Grade 2 and above);
16Evidence B
Someone is having a seizure — clear the area, place them on their side, time the episode, and don’t put anything in their mouth.
Move any hard objects away from the person. Lay them on their side with their mouth facing down, and start timing the seizure. Don’t hold them down, don’t force their mouth open, and don’t put anything into their mouth — doing so can easily damage teeth and jaws. Call emergency services if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if it stops briefly then starts again, if the person doesn’t respond afterward or has trouble breathing, if it occurs in water, or if this is the person’s first seizure ever. Only give water after they’ve fully regained consciousness.
Cost
No cost at all.
Benefit
This approach prevents injuries to teeth and jaws caused by forcing the mouth open or inserting foreign object…
17Evidence A
Diabetic patients suddenly start shaking, break out in cold sweats, and have slurred speech — first give 15 grams of sugar, then retest after 15 minutes
First, give 15 grams of sugar — sugar cubes or a small carton of juice both work fine. Retest blood sugar levels after 15 minutes; if they’re still low, repeat the process. A blood sugar level below 3.0 mmol/L is medically significant hypoglycemia. If a person reaches a stage where they need outside help to manage it, it can be fatal. Never feed anything to someone who is unconscious — they could choke, so call emergency services right away.
Cost
No cost involved. Just keep a few sugar cubes or a small c…
Benefit
A blood sugar level below 3.0 mmol/L qualifies as clinically meaningful hypoglycemia. If a person shows change…
18Evidence B
If someone is electrocuted, cut the power first, then use a dry wooden stick to pry the source of electricity away; never pull the victim by hand directly.
First, turn off the power, or use a dry wooden stick to move the electrical source away before touching the victim. Pulling them by hand directly can turn one victim into two. If the victim isn’t breathing after being freed from the current, immediately perform chest compressions as described in step 1 of this section — don’t hesitate to act just because it’s an electrical injury. Never attempt to handle situations involving downed high-voltage lines or nearby electrical equipment on your own; instead, move to a safe distance and wait for utility workers to cut the power.
Cost
No cost involved.
Benefit
This approach prevents rescuers from getting electrocuted as well, avoiding a situation where one victim becom…
19Evidence B
If a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, or if everyone in a room suddenly has headaches, nausea, or dizziness, get outside first and then call for help
If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or if multiple people in the same room start experiencing headaches, nausea, and dizziness, move everyone outdoors right away before calling for emergency assistance. Do not stay inside trying to figure out what’s happening, and do not go back inside to turn off any valves. These symptoms resemble both a common cold and the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. The clearest warning sign is that symptoms improve immediately once people are outside. In the United States, over 400 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires, and more than 100,000 people require emergency medical treatment.
Cost
No cost at all.
Benefit
Each year in the US, over 400 people lose their lives to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning that has no link…
20Evidence B
If someone accidentally ingests detergent, pesticides, or medicine, do not induce vomiting — take the container and seek medical help right away; if it splashes into the eyes or onto the skin, rinse thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes.
If someone swallows detergent, pesticides, or medicine, do not make them vomit — spitting out corrosive liquids would burn the esophagus all over again. Instead, have them drink some milk or egg whites, then head to the hospital right away while bringing the product container and its instructions. If the substance gets into the eyes or onto the skin, rinse with copious amounts of water for a full 15 minutes; for eyes, gently hold the eyelids open while rinsing and avoid rubbing. Mixing disinfectants with toilet cleaners can produce chlorine gas.
Cost
No cost involved. Simply keep detergents, disinfectants, p…
Benefit
The Chinese CDC provides four distinct response protocols. For ingestion: drink milk or egg whites promptly an…
21Evidence B
In case of splashes of acids, alkalis or other chemicals on the body, immediately remove contaminated clothing and rinse with copious amounts of running water; for eyes, gently pull the eyelids apart and rinse thoroughly before leaving the scene.
Follow three simple steps. First, strip off any clothing, shoes and socks that have been exposed — the areas covered by fabric sustain the worst injuries. Second, rinse both skin and eyes with plenty of running water for at least 15 minutes; the Hunan Provincial Emergency Management Department recommends 20–30 minutes, so err on the side of caution. Third, pull the eyelids apart to rinse the eyes thoroughly, then head straight to an ophthalmologist. Use lukewarm water, never hot.
Cost
No cost involved. On your first day at work, locate the ey…
Benefit
These three on‑site actions are vital. First, promptly removing contaminated clothing prevents further absorpt…
22Evidence B
Dizziness, nausea, lack of sweating, or confusion in hot weather — move the person to a cool area immediately, remove clothing, and cool them down with water; do not give water to anyone who is unconscious, and call 120 right away.
Red, hot skin, slurred speech, and confusion are signs of heatstroke. It can progress from dizziness to unconsciousness in just a few minutes, and the mortality rate is extremely high. Immediately move the person to a cool, well‑ventilated area, take off their clothes, and cool them using cool water and wet towels while calling 911. Never give water to someone who is unconscious — it can cause choking.
Cost
No cost involved.
Benefit
The U.S. National Weather Service describes heatstroke as a “serious medical emergency.” Its symptoms include…
23Evidence B
For people suffering from heatstroke, as long as they remain conscious, they should drink small amounts of cool, lightly salted water or sports drinks at frequent intervals — never gulp down large quantities. Alcohol and sugary drinks must be avoided.
Only conscious individuals should drink. Consume cool, lightly salted water or sports drinks in small portions, about 500–1000 ml per hour. Do not drink too much at once; vomiting can cause liquid to enter the airways, which is far more dangerous than heatstroke itself. Alcohol and sugary drinks must be avoided, as they cause further fluid loss. Applying cool water to the skin or using ice packs on the neck, armpits, and inner thighs is recommended — cooling should always come before rehydration. Never give anything to drink to someone who is unconscious or speaking incoherently.
Cost
No cost involved. A bottle of sports drink costs just a fe…
Benefit
The Chinese CDC published the “Guidelines on Prevention and Emergency Treatment of Heatstroke (2014),” which s…
24Evidence B
Stay low to the ground during a fire, feel the door before opening it, don’t open a hot door, use stairs not elevators, and never look back after escaping
Drop to the ground and crawl under the smoke toward the nearest exit. Before opening a door, feel the knob and the surface of the door itself; if either feels hot or smoke is seeping through the crack, do not open it and instead head for the other exit. Open the door slowly, and shut it immediately if thick smoke appears. Always use stairs rather than elevators, since power outages can trap you inside. Once outside, do not return for any reason. If your clothes catch fire, stop moving, lie down, roll on the ground, and shield your face with your hands.
Cost
Installing one or two standalone smoke detectors at home c…
Benefit
The official FEMA guidance on fire escape reads exactly: “Drop to the ground and crawl under the smoke toward…
25Evidence C
Upon seeing someone drowning, shout for help and call 110/120, then reach out a pole or floating objects — never enter the water yourself
A drowning person instinctively pulls their rescuer underwater, so anyone who enters the water risks drowning too. The proper sequence is: shout for help → call emergency services → extend a long pole or rope → throw life rings, empty buckets, or plastic bottles → if the victim is on shore and not breathing, start CPR immediately. Never form a human chain by holding hands and entering the water. Globally, roughly 300,000 people drown each year; this ranks as the fourth leading cause of death among children aged 1–4.
Cost
No cost involved. The hard part is resisting the urge to j…
Benefit
WHO reports that about 300,000 drownings occur worldwide each year, with 92% occurring in low- and middle-inco…
26Evidence B
If someone is choking and can’t speak, stand behind them and perform 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts; if they collapse, start CPR immediately.
First, ask, “Are you choking? Can you speak?” If the person can still cough forcefully or make a sound, do not intervene — coughing is the most effective way to dislodge the object. If they cannot speak, stand behind them and give 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts, repeating this sequence until the object comes out or the person loses consciousness. Once they collapse, begin CPR at once and call emergency services. For pregnant individuals or very obese people, perform chest thrusts instead. Never reach into the mouth to try to remove an object you cannot see.
Cost
No cost involved. To perform the technique: make a fist wi…
Benefit
According to the original text from the U.S. National Library of Medicine: first ask, “Are you choking? Can yo…
27Evidence C
If you get lost or your vehicle breaks down in the Gobi Desert, a desert, or any remote area, stay right where you are — near your car. First, transmit your location, then shield yourself from the sun and retain body heat, conserve water, and absolutely do not wander off.
It’s best to remain right where you are, ideally right next to your vehicle — which serves as the best possible shelter from the sun. The proper sequence of actions is: if you have a signal, first send your exact coordinates, then make a phone call; next, shield yourself from the heat and retain warmth; afterward, conserve water by staying motionless during daylight hours and only moving after nightfall when temperatures drop; then, absolutely do not wander off; finally, if needed, signal for help using reflective mirrors, smoke, or repeated three-part signals. Before setting out, be sure to share your route, destination, return date, and vehicle details with someone you trust.
Cost
Before entering such remote zones, inform someone of your…
Benefit
The National Park Service’s Mojave Desert webpage contains three relevant statements. One reads, “Each person…
28Evidence B
Shivering, slurred speech, and unsteady walking are signs of hypothermia; change into dry clothes, wrap up, warm the torso first, and give sweet hot drinks instead of alcohol
When body temperature drops below 35°C, hypothermia sets in. Victims start to shiver, speak unclearly, walk unsteadily, and have trouble thinking. Remove any wet clothing and wrap the person in a thermal blanket or dry clothes, making sure to warm the torso before the limbs. Offer sweet hot drinks, but avoid alcohol — it suppresses shivering. The absence of shivering does not mean improvement; it actually signals worsening condition. If the person loses consciousness, begin CPR immediately.
Cost
An emergency thermal blanket costs just a few dollars, plu…
Benefit
According to the U.S. National Weather Service, any body temperature below 95°F (35°C) indicates hypothermia,…
29Evidence B
Snake bites: stay still, remove rings and watches, rush to a hospital with antivenom — no cutting, no suction, no tight binding
Stay seated and motionless; keep the bitten limb immobilized. Remove any rings or watches right away, as swelling will develop quickly. Get to a hospital that carries antivenom as fast as possible — antivenom is the only treatment capable of reversing most toxic effects. Do not cut the wound, do not suck out venom with your mouth, do not apply ice, and do not wrap the limb so tightly that it turns purple. Avoid alcohol and do not run around. If possible, take a photo of the snake from a distance; do not try to catch it.
Cost
There is no cost involved. The main expense is knowing in…
Benefit
The WHO states: “Immediately immobilize the affected body part and transport the victim rapidly to the nearest…
30Evidence B
First, figure out what kind of building you’re in during an earthquake: if it meets seismic safety standards, stay right where you are; if it’s an old structure prone to collapse, head outside right away.
First, determine what kind of building you’re in. For structures built after 2001 that meet seismic codes, you’ll need to go down stairs or through a hallway to exit — so stay put: protect your head and neck, crawl under a solid table, and hold onto its legs tightly. In single-story homes, older brick buildings, or makeshift houses without seismic protection, the exit is just a few steps away — so leave immediately. Under no circumstances should you jump from heights, use elevators, or try to run down stairs while the ground is shaking.
Cost
No cost at all. Just take a moment beforehand to see how m…
Benefit
The China Earthquake Administration’s educational video “Earthquake: Hide or Run?” promotes the rule “Take she…
31Evidence B
When encountering bears, wild boars, or packs of wild dogs, don’t run, don’t scream, don’t make eye contact — instead, turn sideways and back away slowly.
Never run — bears can sprint uphill or downhill just as fast as racehorses. Also, don’t climb trees; both black bears and brown bears are excellent climbers. Stand your ground and keep speaking to the bear in a low, calm voice. Once it stops moving, turn sideways and back away slowly. If a brown bear attacks, lie down and play dead: place your hands behind your neck and spread your legs apart. For black bear attacks, do not play dead — run toward a vehicle or building; if escape is impossible, fight back using whatever is at hand. In case of dog bites, follow the steps outlined in item 13.
Cost
No cost involved. When heading into the mountains, bring a…
Benefit
The original guidelines issued by the U.S. National Park Service on bear encounters contain six key points: “D…
32Evidence B
If caught in a thunderstorm outdoors, get into a hard-topped vehicle or building; avoid ridges, lone trees, water surfaces, and metal objects
There is no safe spot outdoors during a thunderstorm. You must get into a hard-topped vehicle or building; convertibles and motorcycles do not qualify. Tents, gazebos, areas under trees, or rocky outcrops also do not count as shelter. Stay away from open areas, mountain ridges and peaks, isolated tall trees, water surfaces, and metal railings or poles. If a group cannot all fit together, spread out rather than huddling close. Begin retreating the moment you hear thunder; it is only safe to leave 30 minutes after the final clap of thunder.
Cost
No monetary cost. The downside is that your trip gets inte…
Benefit
There is no safe spot outdoors during a thunderstorm. It is only safe to leave 30 minutes after the final clap…
33Evidence A
Gradually increase your sleeping altitude when heading to high elevations; if symptoms worsen, descend immediately — don’t tough it out.
This guideline focuses on sleeping altitude, not daytime elevation. Sleeping above 2,450 meters already poses a risk of altitude sickness. Once above 3,000 meters, you should only raise your nighttime altitude by 500 meters per night, allowing an additional day of acclimatization for every 1,000-meter increase. Symptoms such as headache, nausea, unsteady gait, altered mental state, or shortness of breath even at rest indicate the need to descend. Descending takes priority over oxygen therapy or medication.
Cost
It requires an extra day or two for acclimatization. Preve…
Benefit
Sleeping above 2,450 meters increases the risk of altitude sickness. Without prompt descent, high-altitude cer…
34Evidence B
If a tick is attached to the skin, use fine-point tweezers to gently pull it straight out while keeping it close to the skin; do not apply oil or use heat.
Use fine-point tweezers to grasp the tick’s head right next to the skin, then pull it straight outward steadily. Avoid applying oil, using heat, or twisting the tick — those actions can force any pathogens it carries into the skin and often leave its mouthparts embedded in the flesh. After removal, record the date. If you develop fever, a rash, or fatigue in the following weeks, be sure to mention that you were bitten by a tick when seeking medical care.
Cost
A pair of fine-point tweezers.
Benefit
Applying oil, using heat, or twisting the tick can cause it to release pathogen-laden fluids into the skin. Th…
35Evidence B
Always boil any water taken from the wild before drinking it; one minute of boiling is sufficient — there’s no need to extend the time just because you’re at high altitude.
Any microbes capable of causing illness through water are killed within seconds at boiling temperature. Boiling for an additional minute simply provides a safety margin for any possible oversight; it isn’t necessary to prolong the process at higher elevations. If boiling isn’t feasible, use a filter or chemical purification tablets instead — each method has its own limitations regarding which pathogens they can eliminate. Even crystal-clear streams and meltwater can harbor parasites.
Cost
You’ll need to carry extra weight in the form of a stove a…
Benefit
All microbes that can cause disease via water are inactivated within seconds at boiling temperature. The belie…
36Evidence C
If a stranger demands money in a remote area, hand over cash, avoid any confrontation, note their features, and call police after escaping
Give him the money, do not fight back, and do not argue. By demanding a few hundred yuan, he is committing robbery — a crime punishable by at least three years up to ten years in prison. If he enters a residence, uses a weapon, or causes serious injury or death, the sentence rises to ten years or more, even life imprisonment or death. If you chase after him and strike him after he has taken the money, that is no longer considered self‑defence. Immediately after escaping, write down his appearance, accent, vehicle license plate, and the direction he fled, then call 110.
Cost
The cash you have on you. The real challenge is keeping yo…
Benefit
Your life is far more valuable than a few hundred yuan. The offender is committing a serious crime for such a…
37Evidence B
If you stumble upon a group fight, walk away immediately — don’t try to break it up, don’t stand around watching, and don’t pick up any weapons on the ground. If you want to call the police, retreat to a safe distance and dial 110.
If you intervene, your actions shift from “trying to calm things down” to “taking part in a fight.” Participating in a group brawl can land you in prison for up to three years; if many people are involved, it happens on a road, or weapons are used, the sentence rises to three to ten years. Watching isn’t worth it either — the more onlookers there are, the messier the scene gets, and you’re more likely to get hurt. The right move is to walk away. If you do want to call the police, step back to a safe spot and dial 110, clearly stating the location, how many people are involved, whether anyone is carrying knives or sticks, and if anyone has collapsed.
Cost
No money is required. The hard part is resisting the urge…
Benefit
Article 292 of the Criminal Law states: “Those who lead or actively take part in group brawls shall be sentenc…
38Evidence B
If you may have been exposed to HIV, get PEP within 72 hours — the sooner, the better
If you suspect you’ve been exposed to HIV, 72 hours is the hard deadline — ideally you should start PEP within 2 hours. The medication must be taken for 28 consecutive days. After 72 hours this option is no longer available, so don’t wait until the next day to decide.
Cost
A full 28‑day course of PEP can cost thousands of yuan;
Benefit
The Beijing Municipal Government’s HIV‑prevention outreach defines this as “post‑exposure prophylaxis,” abbrev…
39Evidence B
After saving someone and getting injured or incurring expenses, first seek compensation from the perpetrator and yibao; then apply for recognition as a person acting in the public interest.
If you get hurt while saving someone, you’re not simply out of luck. Those injured while acting in the public interest should receive treatment first, with costs covered afterward. Medical bills are the responsibility of the perpetrator; if the perpetrator flees or cannot pay, basic medical insurance steps in. Even without a perpetrator, the person you saved is legally obligated to provide reasonable compensation — this is a legal requirement, not a matter of personal generosity. At the same time, you should apply for official recognition as a person acting in the public interest so that any injuries can be treated under workers’ compensation rules.
Cost
There is no direct expense. However, submitting the applic…
Benefit
Article 183 of the Civil Code states: “Anyone who suffers harm while protecting another person’s civil rights…
40Evidence B
Knives, rebar, glass piercing the body – apply pressure around the foreign object to stop bleeding; do not pull it out
Pulling out the object can cause severe bleeding and makes it harder for doctors to assess the extent of the injury. The correct approach is to call 120, then use your hand or a dressing to apply firm pressure around the object to control bleeding and keep it stable so it doesn’t move. If internal organs are visible through an abdominal wound, do not push them back in; simply cover them with a clean, moist dressing. For chest wounds where air bubbles are escaping, do not seal them with plastic wrap – doing so can cause the lung to collapse.
Cost
No cost involved. The hard part is resisting the instinct…
Benefit
The 2025 International First Aid Guidelines from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent So…
41Evidence B
If a fracture is suspected, do not move the injured area; keep it supported and apply cold compresses for no more than 20 minutes. Never try to realign it yourself.
Any injury to a limb should be treated as a possible fracture, even if the person can still stand or move. Only X‑rays can confirm a fracture. Keep the injured area still — support it with your hand or use a triangular bandage or rigid splint to maintain its original position. Apply cold compresses as soon as possible, but never for longer than 20 minutes at a time. Do not attempt to realign the bone yourself. For open fractures where bone has pierced the skin, first stop any bleeding and cover the wound with clean dressing; do not push the bone back into place.
Cost
No cost involved. Use a rigid board, rolled-up magazines,…
Benefit
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies published its 2025 International First Ai…