r/safety

A reminder from Poison Control ahead of July 4th: the small hand-held fireworks (sparklers, snake pellets, bang snaps) aren't just a burn risk; they're made from some genuinely toxic ingredients: 

- Sparklers: metallic fuel (aluminum, iron, sulfur) + an oxidizer like barium nitrate

- Snake pellets (domestic): ammonium perchlorate, asphalt, nitronaphthalene

- Snake pellets (imported): can contain mercury thiocyanate, arsenic, and barium salts

- Bang snaps: gravel wrapped around silver fulminate

Two real cases: a 16-month-old chewed on a sparkler and vomited 8 times overnight (needed overnight monitoring for electrolyte issues, ended up fine), and a 2-year-old swallowed two snake fireworks nobody saw fall (also fine after 24 hours of monitoring and activated charcoal).

Beyond the usual fireworks safety tips (keep it legal, keep kids from lighting them, keep away from anything flammable), add these two: don't let anyone lick or swallow a firework, and watch for smoke inhalation.

If you think someone's had an exposure, you can get free, confidential help 24/7 online at webPOISONCONTROL.org or by calling 1-800-222-1222.

Learn more: https://www.poison.org/articles/fireworks-safety-tips-202

So I got rear-ended on the 405 about 3 months ago, nothing super dramatic but I ended up with a herniated disc and missed a bunch of shifts (I’m a server, so no work = no money). At a BBQ last weekend my cousin was like “dude, don’t just take whatever the insurance throws at you, get a lawyer,” which kinda kicked this whole thing off in my head.

Right now the at-fault driver’s insurance is offering to cover my ER bill and a bit extra, but it feels low compared to what I’ve lost in tips and now ongoing PT. I’ve started googling local car accident lawyers in California, saw a bunch of firms that do free consultations and “no fee unless we win,” and one of the sites I clicked was something like https://brafflawfirm.com while I was half-asleep last night.

I might be looking at this the wrong way, but is it actually better to get a lawyer on contingency, or do they just eat up whatever extra I’d get over the insurance offer? Anyone here in CA gone this route and felt it was worth it? How much of a pain is the process day-to-day?

Hi,
I just came across this and thought it would be interesting: https://gofund.me/983176dff

I saw someone online use this kind of window cling film on their car’s moonroof/sunroof and it created a dazzling effect inside the car on a sunny day. I’d love to have the same, however I’ve read about glass objects catching things on fire due to the lensing effect. Those kinds of glass objects typically throw off lil rainbows of light in the right lighting and this window cling does too. Does anybody know if this kind of film could possibly do the same lensing effect and risk starting a fire inside my car?

Like I'm going to have time in a emergency to break the glass and then fumble with the key to unlock the dam thing

The Foundation of Every Healthy Relationship Starts With Safety

By Rob Andress | Street Safe Self Defence Training Company

When we speak to students in high schools across Ontario, we often ask a simple question:

“What do girls want in a relationship?”

The answers are usually the same.

Love.

Trust.

Respect.

Honesty.

Someone who listens.

Someone who cares.

All of those matter.

But there’s something more important than all of them.

Safety.

Because if someone doesn’t feel safe with you, nothing else matters.

Not love.

Not attraction.

Not promises.

Not gifts.

Not apologies.

Safety is the foundation upon which every healthy relationship is built.

Safety Isn’t Just About Strangers

When young men hear the word “safety,” many think about protecting women from strangers.

But statistics tell us something different.

Most violence against women comes from people they know.

People they trusted.

People they dated.

People they loved.

People they once felt safe with.

That’s why one of the most important questions a young man can ask himself isn’t:

“Would I protect her?”  It is:  “Does she feel safe with me?”

What Safety Means to Young Women

Most young women think about things many young men never have to consider.

They wonder:

Will he accept “no”?

Will he become angry if I disagree with him?

Can I spend time with my friends without jealousy?

Will he pressure me?

Will he read my messages?

Will he become controlling?

Can I end the relationship without fear?

These aren’t signs that girls are weak.

They’re realities many young women live with every day.

Understanding that reality isn’t about guilt.

It’s about empathy.

Love Is Not Control

Movies and social media often teach young men the wrong lessons.

They tell us jealousy means love.

Possession means commitment.

Never letting go means loyalty.

But healthy relationships don’t work that way.

Love isn’t controlling someone’s phone.

Love isn’t demanding passwords.

Love isn’t becoming angry because she wants space.

Love isn’t making someone afraid to disappoint you.

Love is creating an environment where someone feels:

Safe.

Respected.

Heard.

Free to say no.

Free to disagree.

Free to leave.

Because love without freedom isn’t love.

It’s control.

Real Strength Is Emotional Control

Being strong isn’t about muscles.

It isn’t about intimidation.

It isn’t about getting your way.

Real strength is self-control.

Real strength is hearing “no” and respecting it.

Real strength is managing disappointment without anger.

Real strength is making people feel safer because you’re around, not less safe.

At Street Safe Self Defence Training Company, we teach students that emotional intelligence is one of the greatest strengths a person can develop.

Nobody Owes You Access

One of the hardest lessons for some people to learn is this:

Nobody owes you:

Their attention.

Their affection.

Their body.

Their time.

Their forgiveness.

Another chance.

And nobody owes you access simply because you want it.

Healthy relationships are built on consent, respect, and choice.

Not pressure.

Not guilt.

Not fear.

A Message to Young Men

If you want to be the kind of man people trust, remember this:

The greatest gift you can give a woman isn’t your money, your muscles, or your promises.

It’s safety.

Safety inside the relationship.

Safety when she’s upset.

Safety when she disagrees with you.

Safety when she needs space.

Safety when she says no.

And yes, safety if the relationship ends.

Because if someone is afraid of your reaction, they aren’t in a healthy relationship.

They’re in survival mode.

And no relationship should ever require survival.

What We Teach in High Schools

At Street Safe Self Defence Training Company, Rob Andress and Beth Andress work with students in more than 70 Ontario high schools, teaching:

Healthy relationships

Dating violence awareness

Consent and boundaries

Social Violence vs. A-Social Violence

Emotional regulation

Situational awareness

Online safety and sextortion awareness

Respect and communication

Violence prevention

Because our goal isn’t to teach young people how to fight.

It’s to teach them how to create safer lives and healthier relationships.

Stop the Before, So the After Never Happens.

About the Author

Rob Andress is a Violence Prevention Specialist and co-founder of Street Safe Self Defence Training Company, one of Canada’s leaders in reality-based violence prevention and healthy relationship education. Alongside Beth Andress, he has educated thousands of young people across Ontario on dating violence, consent, emotional intelligence, and the importance of creating safety within relationships.

Learn More

Street Safe Self Defence Training Company

https://www.streetsafeselfdefence.com