Taking care of yourself comes first.
Wearing a seat belt in the front seat cuts your risk of a fatal injury in a crash by roughly half; in the front of a light truck, by about 60%. Among US vehicle occupants killed in 2022 whose belt use was known, half were unbelted.
People walking about 5,800 steps daily had roughly 40% lower mortality than those walking 3,500; at about 7,800 steps the difference was 45%. Benefits rise further before flattening. For people over 60, the plateau was around 6,000–8,000 steps.
A helmet with its chin strap fastened lowers a motorcyclist's risk of dying in a crash by about 40% and of head injury by about 70%. Tighten the strap: a helmet resting loosely on your head does not count.
A working smoke alarm can lower the risk of death in a house fire by about 60%. Around four in ten victims were asleep when the fire began; smell alone will not reliably wake you. If you burn coal or use gas indoors in winter, add a carbon monoxide alarm. China recorded about 11,500 carbon monoxide deaths in 2018; in the three winter months, roughly 70% occurred at home.
A compliant hose costs only a few dozen renminbi. China's Regulations on the Administration of Urban Gas require users to replace expired equipment and prohibit unauthorized changes to pipework or removal of gas meters. The same regulations say a gas supplier cannot force you to buy its chosen products or services. You can refuse a door-to-door sales pitch claiming that you “must replace” something through that seller.
In China in 2025 alone, 828 mushroom-poisoning incidents affected 2,165 people and killed 13. That year also brought records of 34 species not previously documented as causing poisoning in China. Silver needles, insect bites and bright colors cannot tell you whether a mushroom is safe.
The source describes bringing e-bikes into corridors or elevators and charging them at home as prohibited by China's high-rise fire-safety rules. Refusing to correct a violation can mean an RMB 500–1,000 fine for non-business users, or RMB 2,000–10,000 for businesses. The bigger issue is a fire blocking your only escape route.
For every 10 mmHg reduction in blood pressure, major cardiovascular problems fall by about 20%, stroke by 27%, heart failure by 28% and death by 13%. Among Chinese adults aged 35–75, 44.7% had hypertension, and only 7.2% of those affected had it controlled.
A blood test costing a few dozen renminbi can detect prediabetes before symptoms appear. The US screening recommendation covers adults aged 35–70 who are overweight or obese, with repeat testing every three years when results are normal.
A 1% increase in average speed raises the risk of a fatal crash by about 4%. There is no reassuring “a little is fine” threshold for drinking and driving: risk starts increasing at very low blood-alcohol levels.
A car seat cuts fatal injury risk in a crash by about 70% for infants under 1 and about half for children aged 1–4. Holding a child does not provide that protection; you cannot hold on securely during sudden braking.
A few dozen renminbi buys a restrictor. In New York, a program combining free window guards for high-risk households with home visits halved reported child falls in one borough over three years. The city later required landlords to fit guards in homes with children. An insect screen can give way when pushed; it is not fall protection.