Woman Uses Hand Signal from TikTok to Get Help

A woman was recently rescued from a scary situation in Tennessee.  And it's largely due to a popular hand signal from TikTok. The woman was in a domestic violence situation that could have ended in a very bad way.

The Rescue

This past Sunday, the woman ran into a Tennessee convenience store.  She mouthed the word "help" and also gave the hand signal.  This signal is crossing your thumb on your palm and covering it with the rest of your fingers.  It has been circulated widely on TikTok.  Thankfully, the woman knew to use it, and a customer in the store recognized it.  The customer was able to report it, ultimately rescuing the woman from her dire situation.

When deputies arrived, the truck was leaving the parking lot, and witnesses informed police.  They began pursuit, which lasted 10-15 minutes before the truck crashed.  The woman was not injured, and the man was taken into custody.

The customer who noticed the woman is part of a motorcycle group that helps women in domestic violence situations. What perfect timing that he happened to be in the store and knew the signal. He says, "If you see something, say something."

The hand signal was invented by the Canadian Women's Foundation. It found it's way to TikTok and quickly gained popularity. The signal is called the "Signal for Help." The Canadian Women's Foundation created this signal in response to many reports of domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was originally intended for use on video calls, which were extremely common during quarantine and working from home.

This incident in Tennessee is not the first report of someone being saved by this signal. Last November, a teen in Kentucky was able to silently signal for help and was able to be rescued, thanks to a nearby driver who saw the signal and knew what it meant.

Thankfully, this story has a good ending, with the woman being rescued and unharmed. But not all stories end like this.  Remember, if you see something, SAY SOMETHING.  Yes, there's a chance you could be wrong... but there's also a chance you could save a life.

While TikTok is full of entertainment, there are also opportunities to learn. And this video and story are a perfect example.  Raising awareness for things like this are crucial to helping anyone in times of need.

Source: ABC 8 News, Narcity

Did you know there are some dangerous TikTok food trends that are making the rounds on the popular app? TikTok is incredibly popular. In fact, at the end of last year, we learned that TikTok had surpassed Google as the most popular site on the planet.

And honestly, here is a lot to love about the app. It can provide minutes (or hours) of entertainment, you can learn some interesting facts, and even find great hacks for just about anything. And there's been no shortage of recipes that have quickly gone viral. But, be careful when you're trying out some of those food trends on the popular app.

The website Eat This, Not That! got in touch with some food safety experts and registered dietitians to uncover some of the most dangerous food trends that are circulating on TikTok.

Here are some of those trends, according to Eat This, Not That!

The fact that anyone ever thought of this is mind-blowing.  But the alarming "sleepy chicken" trend reemerged early this year, although it initially started on social media a few years ago.

The concept behind this? Brining or marinating raw chicken in NyQuil, the cold and flu medicine, before boiling it or frying it.

Cara Harbstreet, MS, RD, LD, of Street Smart Nutrition addresses the dangers of this trend, saying it is absolutely not a safe way to consume the chicken or the cold and flu medicine. Some creators are seen using around half a bottle of NyQuil, which is well above a recommended dose. With this approach, it's hard to know for sure what the consumer actually ingests of the dosage, but more than likely it's more than a recommended dose. And apparently, boiling a medication can increase its potency.

Harbstreet also points out that a lot of the chicken in these videos appear undercooked. We all know eating undercooked chicken is unsafe.

In summary- use medicine for just that-- and follow recommended dosing.  And when cooking chicken, be sure to cook it thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Don't get us wrong, we love tips and tricks to make things easier and quicker... but, sticking a cheese sandwich in a toaster to make a grilled cheese isn't a great idea. One expert points out the importance of using equipment for its intended purpose.  And toasters weren't made to be panini presses.  Using this method could actually spark a fire.

Sorry, but the best option on this one is to go back making grilled cheese sandwiches the traditional way!

There are a lot of nutritionists, or wannabe nutritionists and fitness "gurus" who share videos documenting their daily food intake.  And while that in itself isn't bad, it could be dangerous.  The videos typically represent healthy, fresh meals, which is great.  But many see the videos as, "If I eat like that, I can look like that."  This can lead to unhealthy and disordered eating.  And on top of that, everyone's bodies are different and depending on your activity levels and health, your body may require more or less calories or different vitamins, minerals, etc.

Many videos have circulated on TikTok about adding chlorophyll drops into your water.  That by itself is probably safe, but many make claims that this simple addition can cure various issues. It's up for debate exactly what benefits you may actually see, or how effective it really is.  The trend itself is likely safe if you consume the recommended dose.  Just don't get your hopes up for any major miracles.

Consuming chlorophyll may lead to some minor GI discomfort, diarrhea or dark stools.  The expert on this one recommends skipping pricey supplements and use the real thing to get your chlorophyll- like spinach, kale, collard greens, arugula and broccoli.

We've seen this trend a lot among the fitness community on TikTok. Obviously, pre-workout supplements are used by many fitness enthusiasts.  But dry-scooping the powder could be dangerous.  The expert on this one highlights the choking risk, but also potential toxicity if the amount consumed is above recommended dosage.

Many pre-workouts have very high caffeine levels.  In high doses, it could cause heart problems, trouble breathing or even death.

Be aware of what's in that pre-workout... and take the time to mix it with an adequate amount of water.