10 30-Second "Save Your Life" Activities

It doesn't take long to save a life. In 30 seconds you can:

1. Put your seatbelt on. Seatbelts save lives, it's a fact, and it's a very fast, simple thing to do (be sure to push the belt low around your hips instead of letting it ride over top of your belly; in a high speed crash, a belt that rides up high instead of low around your hips can snap your spine).
2. Go push the test button on your smoke alarm. Did it ring? If yes, you're done, if no, you will need to change the batteries in it.
3. Put your kid in a car seat. Once the seat is installed properly-and of course you tested the seat in the store for ease of you--it takes less than a minute to secure your kid to the seat which makes a whole lot of difference in the event of a car accident.
4. Have your blood pressure checked. They have these machines all over the place (grocery stores, the mall, etc) and they only take about 30 second to give you a read out. If it is too high or too low (there will be a chart on the machine) follow up with your medical provider.
5. Lock your door when you enter or leave your home or vehicle. This is a quick activity that can soon become a habit if you do it consistently and it can save your life in the event that you are targeted by a random car jacker or robber.
6. Secure your firearm. This could be as simple as removing the magazine or emptying the rounds from a revolver and stashing them in your pocket. Obviously you should have a better plan for securing your firearms, but in the event that you need to leave your firearm anywhere that it is not under your direct control, doing this simple task could save the life of a curious kid or adult that doesn't know anything about safe weapons handling.
7. Take the car keys away from someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It sounds quick and easy but trying to reason with someone who is under the influence is like banging your head against the wall. Nevertheless, this simple, quick action could save a life (or many lives for that matter).
8. Before you hop on your bike or motorcycle, stick a helmet on your head. It takes just a few seconds to do this but the difference between a massive amount of road rash and a traumatic brain injury is significant.
9. If you are caught after dark walking outside, whip out your cell phone and use it to help make yourself visible to passing cars. Drivers can't see you if it is dark and you are wearing dark clothing.
10. If you (or your kid) are playing sports and sustain a hard knock on the head, stop playing for the day. It takes a few seconds to call a time out and excuse yourself from the game (another thing that's easier said than done), which is better than the alternative (multiple head injuries that could render you an invalid or dead).