Random info that could save your life (how to escape from a car boot)

[billionzAndTrillionz]

Just a random bit of useful info from one of my son's PHCE lessons (teacher is ex-police 🙂) ...

If you're ever stuck in the boot of a car in a kidnap situation, there is usually a very visible quick-release handle inside. If not, or if the kidnapper has disabled it, you may be able to pull up the flooring of the boot and find a wire that connects the dashboard to the boot's quick release mechanism - pull it towards the driver and the boot should release.

Otherwise, find the wiring for the brake lights and pull them out, or smash them from the inside using whatever tools you can find - the car is then more likely to be stopped by police.

Also, if you are on the other end of this and you are an international supervillan who is holding the world's only hope of survival hostage, don't tell them your cunning plan, just shoot the bugger.

Best Mumsnet thread EVER. Loved the fat tips and the Arab dad bit and horrible Jayne had me rolling

I had a similar emergency and Claire at no 1 couldn't help because "her dog had kept her up all night". Thankfully, Keith at no 8 fashioned a tourniquet and got me to A&E quick smart.

I know someone who had an intruder inside their home. They quietly left the property and tried to lock the intruder inside the house and called the police whilst outside.

If you find yourself struggling in water, lie on your back and float.

If there is a fire and you are trying to get out of a room in a burning building, check with the back of your hand whether the door handle is hot. If it is, don't open the door as the fire is likely to be on the other side of it. Also you won't burn your palm or fingers.

Small dogs can be better at deterring burglars than large ones - they can get under furniture and bark but aren't easy to get at.

What's in an evacuation kit?

That’s me too! Best of luck to anyone considering kidnapping me 😄

@comeondover im not sure what an evacuation kit contains. I read multiple books on 9/11 and the Irish traders “who were below the point of impact” which is a crucial fact had 100% survival because their home office prepares them for terrorist attacks. Evacuation kits attached to chair evacuate immediately no one left behind. I imagine them thinking oh this damn evac kit always in the way. I would think a mask of some sort at least a light source maybe a fire proof blanket that type of thing. Not a survival kit an evacuation kit. It impressed upon me the importance of leaving even if going against directive.

I was being followed by a man on the Paris Metro. He started by asking me the time and I told him, so I couldn't pretend I didn't speak French. Then he kept trying to talk to me and I couldn't shake him off. He followed me onto the train, followed me when I moved places in the carriage etc. He followed me along the platform when I got off. At the last possible moment before the carriage doors closed again, I jumped back on the train. The doors closed behind me and I was rid of him.

My first thought was to give it every verse of Baby Shark I can think of, so I am glad there is a precedent for this kind of thing.

I reckon I wouldn't get to the end of 'Bastard FIL shark, doo dodo doo doo'before the car would screech to a halt, I'd be ejected from the boot and told to fuck off home.

Don’t unplug your hoover (or anything that spins) immediately after turning off. Until the spinning mechanism entirely stops, there is still enough power in the spin to generate electricity, and the prongs of the plug will still be momentarily electrified (and not earthed).

Buy a rope ladder from amazon to escape an upstairs fire you just hang it out the window and get down (never had to use it thank god but I'm Thinking to do a practice run which could be hilarious for my kids and the neighbours)

I’m sure I read somewhere that breast implants have serial number on them

So If your murdered and your body is found with no identification your implants can identify who you are

I keep a car hammer / knife that’s attached to one of those long bendy keyrings in my car that’s attached to my seatbelt clip
if I ever need to break my car window I can and if I ever need to cut my seatbelt I can do that as well

Anyone who grew up in the 70s knows about the fire behind the door from Towering Inferno 😁

That's definitely a thing in books and TV no idea if it's done in practice

I think the same is true of knee and hip implants. I am always puzzled by the “ X was identified by dental records” thing, I mean fair enough if you know who the persons dentist was, but surely there isn’t a continual flow of Jane and John Doe dental x rays being sent to dentists surgeries asking them to check through their clients to see if they match.

Counting your way to the exit is not really an option while being blocked by idiots getting their duty-free from the overhead lockers.

It means that they have an idea who it is and have checked with their own dentist not contacted every dentist on spec, that would be unworkable

Ooh I can help with with the horrible neighbours / copious bleeding situations.

I once sliced through my finger with a bread knife. It was late so I don't want it bother my neighbours (who are all lovely BTW).

A tea towel and duct tape is all you need to secure the wound and drive to A&E.

Note: do not try this if you're in danger of bleeding out / fainting.

Also don't use your favourite tea towel.

That makes sense, though will probably ruin the plot for my not yet written murder mystery ……..

I did this once. It hurt but it worked!

Love this thread OP. I was once stopped in my car at traffic lights. A man got in and sat in the passenger seat of my car. This was years ago before central locking. I happened to have one of those yellow over the handbrake anti theft things. I whacked him as hard as I could on his upper arm. He jumped out of the car and ran off. So my advice would be to carry one of those in your car. If they still exist? Also handy for breaking of car windows as necessary.

Shouting 'fire!' if you're being attacked isn't proven to be more effective and actually risks people doing nothing - people run away from fires, not towards them. They may also not necessarily call 999 for a fire they cannot see or smell.

The key is to make as much noise as you can so you can draw people to your location. Shout 'No!', 'Get off me, I don't know you', 'Don't touch me', or similar as LOUDLY AS YOU CAN. No assailant wants you to draw attention to what they are doing, so shout and make it as difficult as possible for them to drag you away in the first place - smash their nose with your palm, gouge eyes, scratch, poke - and at the first opportunity, RUN AWAY.

Me three! On the rounded side of a Chesterfield!