#safety advice

[madamepestilence]

This pride month, make your queer ancestors proud and turn it back into a protest. Don't let corporations dominate pride. Protest for a Free Palestine.

Protest for the queer Russians who've had their rights stripped. Protest for a free Sudan. Protest for a multi-polar world not dependent on the US. Protest for Southern hemisphere autonomy.

Protest for a free Ukraine. Protest to reverse restrictions on trans Americans and Europeans that have taken place in the past few years.

Protest to get rid of fascism and corporate lobbying in governments. Protest for economic and government reform to the left.

Stay in groups. If you see a police kettle, turn around. If police confront you, SHUT THE FUCK UP - IF NOBODY TALKS, EVERYONE WALKS.

If you are a responsible gun owner and live in a place with concealed- or open-carry laws, keep your gun on your person (may you not need them). You are less likely to be assaulted if visibly armed.

Don't bring your phone, they may disable it and will use it to track you back to your home. Don't wear contacts, they'll trap in tear gas. You can find gas masks at Army-Navy stores.

Saline solution (lightly salted water) will burn like a motherfucker, but is much safe at clearing tear gas from your eyes than regular water or milk and prevents infection.

[randomtheidiot]

Advice my mother gave me.

If someone asks for sex and you don’t want to fuck them, just say “no”. Don’t give them any sort of reason or excuse. I know it’s tempting to let them down easy by saying “I have plans” or “I’m not in the mood for sex” or “I’m not emotionally available right now”, but they will break down every excuse you give. Don’t bother with the polite, well meaning excuses and just tell them no without telling them why. They shouldn’t be asking why.

[giritina]

It's so cruel that if a black schizophrenic person wants any kind of help, they probably have to call 911, a centralized line for all emergency services. Even if they don't intend to call the police, there's a chance of them being sent in place of other emergency services. If you ask for them not to be called, you'll rarely be listened to. Then, the advice for dealing with police is to be in complete control of yourself, not be erratic in the slightest way because it gives ground for your death. So if you are someone who is not in control of yourself, who has a disorder that effects your ability to control your speech, body, mind, etc etc, you cannot call for help without risking death or institutionalization

[ianosmond]

Important safety information about the eclipse on Monday

You *can* remove the eclipse glasses during totality; not before or after.

If you find yourself falling apart instead of falling in love, turn around, bright eyes.

It is no longer considered best practice to cut the beating heart out of a human chest at the top of a pyramid to bring the sun back; nowadays, they just short out a LUCAS device.

If you are imprisoned by an evil bishop, break out, and look for a hawk and a wolf who are in love.

Most critically - No matter what, do not buy any strange and exotic plants which mysteriously appear during the eclipse.

[wanderguidehub]

Ultimate Hiking Guide for the South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the awe-inspiring landscapes of the South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park. This guide is meticulously curated to assist all levels of adventurers to navigate through the enchanting trails, providing insider tips and advice for optimal viewing spots and safety. Unleash your inner explorer and marvel at the stunning vistas that this iconic American…

[cozybearz]

An addition to the point about clothes, an alternative option to wearing less clothes, particularly if you’re in a drier climate, can be wearing loose, light, flowy clothes, especially made of materials like linen. They provide sun protection while still allowing air flow. Obviously depends on your local climate and your own tolerances/preferences but it can be a good option.

For all of the northerners that stood up for Texas during our freeze and said, "Don't make fun of them, they've never dealt with this before. Their infrastructure isn't made for snow and freezing."

This one is for you.

Where I live 108°F with 80% humidity with no wind is normal.

Pacific North West is dealing historic best waves 35-40°C or 95-105°F.

First of all. Don't make fun of them for bitching about the heat. Just like Texas isn't built for a freeze and our pipes burst, Pacific North West isn't built for heat and a lot of their homes don't have AC.

If you live somewhere with a high humidity like 80+ HUMIDITY IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. The "humidity makes it feel cooler" is a lie once it gets beyond a point.

If you live somewhere with a lower humidity, misters are nice to cool off outside.

Once you get over 90°F (32°C) a fan will not help you. It's just pushing around hot air. (I mean if you can't afford a small AC unit because they're expensive as hell, by all means a fan is better than nothing).

If you have pets, those portable AC units aren't safe. If your pets destroy the outtake thing, it'll leak CO2. Window units are safer.

Window AC units will let mosquitoes or other small bugs in. Sucks, but that's life.

Now is not the time to me modest. If you have to cover for religious reasons, by all means. If you don't, I've seen people wear short shorts and a swim top. It's not trashy if it keeps you from getting heat stroke.

If you do have to cover up for religious reasons, look for elephant pants or something similar. They're made with a breathable material.

Shade is better than no shade, but that shit it just diet sun after some point. Don't think shade will save you from heat stroke.

I know the "drink your water" is a fun meme now, but if you're sweating excessively you need electrolytes. Drink Gatorade, Powerade, or Pedialite PLEASE. I don't care if you're fucking sitting in one spot all day. That shit WILL save you from heat stroke.

Most importantly. RESEARCH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAT STROKE AND HEAT EXHAUSTION PLEASE!

If you're diabetic and can't drink Gatorade, mix water, fruit juice, and either lite salt or pink salt

If you can afford it, cover windows with thick curtains to insulate the house

If you have tile floors, lay on them with skin to tile contact. If you don't, laying your head on cool counters works too.

If the temperature where you're at is hotter than your body temperature, don't wear heat wicking clothing. Moisture wicking is safe though.

Check your medication labels. Many make you more susceptible to sun and heat

-Room temperature water will get into your body faster. This is something I learned doing marching band in high summer in Georgia, and it saved all of our asses. Sip it, don't gulp it, especially if you're getting into the red; same goes for whatever fluid you're drinking. And just in general drink during the day.

-If you are moving from an air conditioned space to an un-air conditioned space, if at all possible try to make the shift gradual. When my dad and I were working outside and in un-ac houses a few years ago, he'd turn the air down to low in the truck about ten-fifteen minutes before we got where we were going. This way your body doesn't go from low low temps to high temps. S'bad for you.

-If you can, keep your lights off during the day. Light bulbs may not generate a lot of heat, but the difference is noticeable when it gets hot enough. I literally only turn my bedroom light on in the evening when it gets too dark.

Don't be afraid to just like... pour water on yourself if you need to. The evaporation will cool you off.

Put your hand to the cement for 15 seconds. If you can't handle the heat, it'll burn your dog's paws. Don't let them walk on it.

Dogs with flat faces are more prone to heat stroke. Don't leave them out unsupervised.

Frozen fruit is delicious in water.

Wet/Cold hat/handkerchief on your head/neck will help you stay cool.

Pickle juice is great for electrolytes! You can even make pickle juice Popsicles!

Heat exhaustion is more, "drink water and get you cooled off." Heat stroke is more "Oh my god call 911."

Image Description provided by @loveize

[Image description: an infographic showing the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The graphic is labeled "Heat Dangers: First Warning." Signs of heat exhaustion: faint or dizzy, excessive sweating, cool, pale, clammy skin, rapid, weak pulse, muscle cramps. If you think you or someone else may be experiencing heat exhaustion, get to a cool, air-conditioned place, drink water if conscious, and take a cool shower or use cold compress. Signs of heat stroke: throbbing headache, no sweating, red, hot, dry skin, rapid, strong pulse, may lose consciousness. If you think you or someone else may be experiencing heat stroke, call 911. End description]

Be safe.

-fae

[sharkshavebeenknowntosneeze]

[bruneburg]

Beastly Reminder

[reddraven]

Hey fellow painsluts and other masochistic subbies... I just wanna share something that was helpful for me. Maybe it'll resonate with some of you too...

But like... its okay to not enjoy pain sometimes

And what I mean by that is recieving pain is not a passive role

It takes a lot of focus and mental energy to process that kind of intense stimuli. Learning how to translate pain into pleasure is a skill. Its something you develop over time

So if you're ever in a scene, and the pain your recieving is just... pain... its okay to stop, take a break, negotiate a different kind of scene , or do whatever you need to do

Take your time learning to process pain, and learning what kind of pain you like. You are still valid as a sub and as a masochist no matter where you are on that personal journey

[thebiballerina]

While we're at it:

Driving while excessively tired kills people.

Not wearing your seat belt kills people (and not necessarily just yourself).

Not knowing where you are going and driving unpredictably because of it (abrupt lane changes, sudden stops, etc.) kills people.

Driving while "under the influence" kills people, and that applies to many substances beyond alcohol. (Including some prescription and over-the-counter medications. Read the directions and talk to medical professionals as appropriate.)

Driving without the appropriate preparations for weather and road conditions kills people.

Driving may be treated casually, especially in areas where alternative transit options are limited. Yet it is, fundamentally, a dangerous activity which should be taken seriously. It kills people more frequently than many nominally dangerous activities. I once knew a flight instructor who reassured people about the dangers of airplanes by telling them that, statistically, the most dangerous part of the lessons was driving to the airfield. This Vox article is a very interesting read about the framing of discussions about air vs. road safety in the USA.

There is plenty of blame to be placed on factors beyond individual drivers here, including: the devaluation of accessible public transit, a lack of public funding and regulations devoted to road conditions, employers with work days long enough to inevitably exhaust workers, and the normalization of showing up to work/school in hazardous weather. But just because personal responsibility is not the primary solution, doesn't mean individuals shouldn't care or try—much like with COVID safety. And we certainly shouldn't be proud, or even just nonchalant, about habits that kill people.

Source on the airplane vs. road safety statistics (other than the flight instructor I knew): For USA data, there is a USAFacts page which includes easy-to-read graphs for 2019; if you want to check their data or look for details on other years, I believe they put the graphs together with Bureau of Transportation Statistics data on passenger miles, injuries, and fatalities by transportation mode. I can't speak on other countries, but presumably the data is out there for many of them.

Why do so many people make tiktoks while they're clearly driving. What the fuck. Stop that shit, you're gonna kill someone.

[uncanny-tranny]

Periodic reminder that unless a person specifically and clearly tells you it is okay to tell others they are trans or queer, you should err on the side of caution and assume they do not want you to tell people (especially random people!) about their transness or queerness.

You have no idea, generally, why somebody doesn't talk openly about their trans or queer status, and you have no idea, truly, how somebody might react to that information. The most progressive person out there is still capable of harbouring incredibly negative thoughts about somebody's queer status.

[misanderousmisfit]

Tell me you don't understand Tom "Iceman" Kazansky....

[amid-fandoms]

"i want people to not be ashamed to see doctors about butt issues" okay he may not be phregnant anymore but he is SO mom coded he is literally our mother

[worstloki]

there is a difference between being born to a throne, maliciously vying for a throne, stealing a throne, and having a throne thrust upon you when you are already in the midst of an identity crisis. And I fear Loki's place in the line of succession has people unable to differentiate between any of these

[crazycatsiren]

"If you really care about *xyz* people then why aren't you talking about *insert current world event here*?"

I'm going to unpack this for a minute.

The idea that we have to be constantly discussing every single issue that's going on around us, all the time, in all the places, is neither realistic nor practical.

Because guess what? We can't. Nobody can do that. Nobody has the time, energy, head space, mental capacity. We all got our own lives, our own worries, our own baggage, our own stuff going on.

And you know what? For a lot of people, it's not what social media is for. We're not on Tumblr for that, and it should be respected. It's called boundaries. Some of us are in our own little corners of the internet to vibe and goof with our internet friends and guess what, that's fine, and that's our way of keeping ourselves safe.

You don't know who we are, what situations we're in, what's going on in our lives behind a blog and a username. There's absolutely nothing wrong with keeping your political opinions to yourself on the internet. A lot of us grew up in a time when there were such things as privacy and anonymity online, when there were things that you just didn't share with strangers in computer screens, and there are valid reasons for that. You don't know anything about us on here and we want to keep it this way. Not everyone is going to announce out loud, every time they make a charitable donation or do any humanitarian work or support a cause. For some of us, it's simply safer to keep these things to ourselves. For some of us, it's just a private matter and you're not entitled to our private lives.

We don't owe you an explanation for everything we believe in. We don't owe you an open door into our hearts and minds. We don't owe any random stranger on any part of the world wide web anything about ourselves.

It's also perfectly valid to advocate for one or two things that effect you and/or your loved ones personally, that are much closer to home. There are people everywhere who need help. Just because their hardship is different, doesn't mean they deserve less attention and less aid.

If you really want to make a difference, pick one thing that's close to you and give it as much as you can. You'd be doing a lot more than trolling around on Tumblr.

And for gods' sakes, don't put everything about yourself online for the sake of woke points or validation from strangers who don't even care about you. Keeping yourself safe is the most important thing.

[m-12-7-jo]

"Anytime you seek help from the police, you're inviting them into your community and putting people who are already vulnerable into dangerous situations.

But we can build trusted networks of mutual aid that allow us to better handle conflicts ourselves and move towards forms of transformative justice [...]."

"Don't feel obligated to defend property – especially corporate "private" property. [...] ask yourself if anyone is being hurt or endangered by property "theft" or damage. If the answer is no, then let it be."

"If something of yours is stolen and you need to file a report for insurance or othe purposes, consider going to the police station instead of bringing cops into your community."

"If you observe someone exhibiting behavior that seems "odd" to you, don't assume that they are publicly intoxicated. Ask if they are OK, if they have a medical condition, and if they need assistance."

"If you see someone pulled over with car trouble, stop and ask if they need help or if you can call a tow truck for them."

"Keep a contact list of community resources like suicide hotlines. [...] people with mental illness are sixteen times more likely to be killed by cops than those without mental health challenges."

"Check your impulse to call the police on someone you believe looks or is acting 'suspicious'. Is their race, gender, ethnicity, class, or housing situation influencing your choice?"

"[...] create a culture of taking care of each other and not unwittingly putting people in harm's way." As in, encourage others to avoid inviting police into community and public spaces, including rallies and demonstrations.

"If your neighbor is having a party and the noise is bothering you, go over and talk to them. Getting to know your neighbors [...] is a good way to make asking them to quiet down a little less uncomfortable."

"If you see someone peeing in public, just look away!"

"Hold and attend de-escalation, conflict resolution, first aid, volunteer medic, and self-defense workshops in you neighborhood, school, workplace, or community organization."

"Don't report graffiti and other street art[tists]. If you see work that includes fascist or hate speech, paint over it yourself or with friends."

"Remember, you can support friends and neighbors who are being victimized by abusers by offering them a place to stay, a ride to a safe location, or to watch their children. Utilize community resources like safe houses and hotlines." (You could also offer to store money for them in a safe location if they need that)

Source: 12 Things to Do Intead of Calling The Cops.