Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
Most of us have common sense and avoid dangerous things. Of course, there are adrenaline junkies who like motorcycles, bungee jumping, and rock climbing. But even then, our brain registers that what we're doing is dangerous. We prepare mentally and physically, so there’s no shock if something unfortunate does happen.
But what about the things we sometimes do but have no idea how dangerous they are? One person was wondering the exact same thing, so they decided to ask others: "What are some really dangerous things most people don't realize are dangerous?" If you're curious to know what everyday things you maybe should stop doing, scroll down and see for yourself!
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#2
Once we start calling sunburn radiation burns, people will start taking it seriously.
The top answers in this thread bring awareness to some dangerous activities people should know about. Like driving with barely any sleep. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report in 2017, drowsy driving resulted in 91,000 crashes. 50,000 of those ended in injuries and nearly 800 even in deaths.
What's the way to prevent it? Get enough sleep! Adults need a minimum of 7 hours of sleep a day, while teenagers need 8. The CDC recommends sticking to a sleep schedule. And if you're prone to snoring or a sleep disorder, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor about it.
#4
Moving water.
It can only take 6 inches of fast flowing water to knock you over, and double that can float a car.
#6
Combining different cleaning products can lead to toxic gas in the room.
Combining cleaning products was also a popular answer. It might seem that the more products you put together, the better clean you'll get. However, some mixes can result in seriously toxic substances. Mixing bleach and vinegar or hydrogen peroxide and vinegar can result in the formation of toxic gasses. They can be harmful if inhaled and irritate the skin and eyes. You should also never mix bleach with ammonia – the gasses this produces can be lethal. Bleach, in general, should only be mixed with plain water.
Another group of products that can be harmful if mixed are drain cleaners. Maryann Amirshahi, PharmD, MD, MPH, PhD, FACMT, FACEP, FASAM, FCP, co-medical director of the National Capital Poison Center, told Martha Stewart that it’s because some contain acids and others contain bases. "Mixing acids and bases can cause a chemical reaction that generates heat, which can cause thermal burns. It may also release toxic gasses depending on the product involved."
#7
Not sleeping. That s**t will ruin your mental state AND just ruin your overall functioning body.
#8
Visiting the wrong doctor. The general public will never know what makes a good doctor and what makes a bad one. The standard of care you get from one hospital to the next can be life changing...
censorshipsucks 8 months ago
yep I always tell someone to get a second opinion if they get offered surgery.
#9
Tooth infections.
Occam's Chainsaw 8 months ago
Think of how close your mouth is to your brain. Infection can travel between the two so quickly.
A surprising entry for some in this list might be sunburns. Hardly anyone hasn't had a sunburn in their lives: it hurts, it peels, and it just isn't a pleasant experience generally. But it's not just that your skin got a little too hot from being in the sun too long. As the Skin Cancer Foundation explains, "Sunburn is an inflammatory reaction to ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage."
The skin peeling means that your body is trying to get rid of the damaged skin cells. But sometimes, it might just be too much – every sunburn raises your risk for skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation claims that even one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles the chances of developing melanoma later in life. To avoid this, the best bets are covering up, staying in the shade, avoiding tanning beds, and investing in a good sunscreen.
#10
Indoctrination into the ideologies of charismatic but severely mentally ill and criminally motivated people.
#12
You know how the basic answer is "social media"?
Well, I'd like to up that.
A dangerous thing people get into so casually everyday is arguing with randoms.
It gets addictive, seeing notifs, seeing upvotes or "likes," and reposts.
Pretty soon, you start postponing work because you have to correct someone or you have to reply asap.
You lose sleep, you wake up frustrated, you randomly lash out on your loved ones, maybe even your pet.
You develop anger and attention problems.
Weaponized Beef 8 months ago
I quit Twitter over a year ago, and I cannot overstate how much it has improved my life. Every word of the above is an apt and ignoble description of how I conducted myself when I was deep into it. It is so, so polarizing. It gives a skewed perception of threats and deals almost exclusively in superlatives and their opposites; everything is the best, the worst, and right now. You and people like you are the last bastion against evil, and the "other side" is dehumanized and demonized. I became an anxious, hateful shell of a man, desperate for "likes" and ready to fight.
#13
When there is someone in your life who behaves in a sexually intimidating manner, or who can't stop from making sexual comments about you, tell someone! Decide who you can trust with this information and tell them *every time it happens.* Make notes about it, too, with dates and witnesses. MOST IMPORTANT: **Don't go anywhere with them alone!** That is when they will attempt to r*pe you. People like to think these sexual comments aren't dangerous, but they truly are. "Just ignore him," isn't good enough because they do this to get you to let your guard down. It's how they groom their victims so that you're so used to the vile comments that you stop regarding the person as potentially dangerous. "That's just how he is," is not an acceptable excuse for sexually denigrating somebody. Maybe the person is just a jerk, but you can't tell by how they look. R*pe victims say, "He suddenly became a very different, very aggressive person and then he attacked me. I never believed he would do anything like this!" Trust your own instincts! If someone makes you uncomfortable, pay attention and never, ever, go anywhere alone with them. Ever!
#14
At the beach, riptide, if you don't spot them and don't know how to get out of one, it can be terrifying and deadly.
#15
Quading or 4-wheeling. It's not uncommon in my area for some feller and his friends to take these vehicles through some forest or some s**t, only to end up overturning them and causing one of them to have a brain injury so bad the docs have to ask the family their thoughts on organ donation.
#16
Posting everything on social media and giving away all your information.
Learner Panda 8 months ago
Even family who have known me all my life would have great trouble guessing my passwords.
#18
Garage door springs.
P1 No-Name 8 months ago
I worked with a fellow who had his face torn off whilst trying to adjust a garage door - call a professional guys!
#19
Driving. Youre literally flying down the road at speeds that would kill you if you got hit in a gigantic hunk of gasoline filled metal.
People dont take safety on the road nearly seriously enough.
tuzdayschild 8 months ago (edited)
This is why signaling is so important. These "gigantic hunks of gasoline filled metal" basically have two ways to communicate, break lights and signals.
#20
Escalators. The torque produced to lift dozens of people and their luggage will not stop for your limbs. Watch your kids, carry your pets, don't be distracted. There are emergency stop buttons at the top and bottom, if you see a problem such as a person falling or loose metal or glass, use the button. Better delayed than traumatized, maimed, or dead.
Shine Chisholm (they/ them) 8 months ago
Places that don't have those emergency buttons have pretty regular deaths. Safety regulations may seem annoying, but they save lives
#21
Not using protection when having sex.
Shine Chisholm (they/ them) 8 months ago
I don't know why this isn't higher. STIs are a very real issue.
#22
Cheaping out on tires for your vehicle.
#23
Definitely alcohol.
Nurse here-most people don't realize the damage even 2 drinks a day does to your mind/body. I've seen so many patients in their early 40s with liver disease. It can be a silent killer and many don't realize how bad it is until it's pretty far gone.
Heather Atwood 8 months ago
We have now normalized wine mom behavior and it has dramatically increased the number of women who have liver disease, DUI's and don't even mention the calories!! Seriously, we need to stop making alcohol the life of every get together and resolution to stress, bad day etc. Smoke a bowl-zero calories and rarely causes health problems.
#24
- Being in a relationship with a narcissist
- Being in a relationship where you're constantly being gaslighted
These make even the strongest and most confident people develop self esteem issues and doubt everything they say or do.
#25
Falling/knocking people over. hit your head at just the right angle and spot and boom dead.
#26
Ladders.
Blue Bunny of Happiness 8 months ago (edited)
Always have someone foot a ladder at the very least, or better still, have it tied off/secured.
#27
Riding Electric scooters. I see people zipping around my city everyday easily pushing 25-30mph with no helmet, no pads, no gloves, wearing flipflops or slipon nothing shoes. People apparently don't realize how badly knees, elbows, hands, feet, and heads get f****d up hitting pavement going that fast.
Rob D 8 months ago (edited)
If there's any chance of hitting pavement at speed gear up. It takes split seconds of contact to cause 2nd and 3rd degree road rash. And do not get on the back unless you know for fact you're with a good rider. And any rider that let's you on the back without gear, big red flag. And FFS women, do not get on with any guy that "here, just use my helmet..." please.
#28
Dull kitchen knives.
Raphapablap 8 months ago
I know everyone says dull knives are more dangerous but I've only ever cut myself with sharp knives. I know its anecdotal, but that's just my experience!
#29
There’s a newish trend among wood workers called Fractal Burning or Lichtenberg burning where you use electricity to create this cool lightning like burns across wood. Problem is, it’s extremely dangerous. There has already been at least one person who died trying to do it (probably more but I only remember hearing of one specifically) . There’s a ton of videos of every day people doing this, but if you slip up just slightly, you’re gonna electrocute yourself.
Charles Whitaker 8 months ago
This is so dangerous. My niece had been doing this for several years before she got a little too careless. Thankfully she survived, but she lost 3 fingers and part of her hand where the electricity exited her body and she has severe nerve damage.
#30
People not knowing that “inflammable” means “really extremely f*****g flammable” and not “not flammable”.
troufaki13 8 months ago
"Inflammable" and "flammable" mean the same thing. WTH english language??? 😒
#31
The sun. Like some people are so worried about vaccines them will sit in the sun for hours without sunscreen. Even though it does cause cancer.
#32
Mountains, specifically going hiking in the mountains.
I recently climbed Snowdon (in Wales) and there were hundreds of people up there who were clearly inexperienced. People don't realise how quickly a fun hike can turn into someone's death.
Rachknits 8 months ago
Yes, people really underestimate how dangerous it can get on mountains even in the UK. We were climbing Ben Nevis and saw someone wearing flip flops, shorts and carrying an umbrella. Fortunately he was on the way down but he was lucky. The weather can change in a second and conditions at the bottom can be completely different to those at the top.
#34
Antifreeze. It's way more poisonous than you probably think it is, and it has a sweet taste that attracts cats and children. If your cat laps up a teaspoonful, they're pretty much already dead.
#35
Unsecured cutting boards. Put a dish cloth under it or something. Make sure it doesn’t slip
What do you think ?
John Dilligaf 8 months ago
Deer, just your normal whitetail deer. They'll come out of nowhere at night, causing you to either swerve and lose control or hit it and wreck your car. During rut season the bucks can get hyper-aggressive and territorial. Those horns aren't just for show.
Multa Nocte 8 months ago
This started out OK but got real weird toward the end, like there weren't enough entries for the list so someone just threw in an extra handful of questionable ones to round out the list.
Smart writer 8 months ago
Im amazed fire is hot wasnt on this stupid list
Load More Replies...
Petunia Petal 8 months ago (edited)
I think there should be a limit of 25 to 30 entries per list to keep the content of good quality.
Ken Beattie 8 months ago
Pretty sure that's why the articles start out with something like 70 items but get pruned to the top 30 most times. Just read them a week after they're posted, they'll be pruned by that point.
Load More Replies... John Dilligaf 8 months ago
Deer, just your normal whitetail deer. They'll come out of nowhere at night, causing you to either swerve and lose control or hit it and wreck your car. During rut season the bucks can get hyper-aggressive and territorial. Those horns aren't just for show.
Multa Nocte 8 months ago
This started out OK but got real weird toward the end, like there weren't enough entries for the list so someone just threw in an extra handful of questionable ones to round out the list.
Smart writer 8 months ago
Im amazed fire is hot wasnt on this stupid list
Load More Replies... Petunia Petal 8 months ago (edited)
I think there should be a limit of 25 to 30 entries per list to keep the content of good quality.
Ken Beattie 8 months ago
Pretty sure that's why the articles start out with something like 70 items but get pruned to the top 30 most times. Just read them a week after they're posted, they'll be pruned by that point.
Load More Replies... You May Like 50 Interesting Facts And Curiosities To Take Your Mind Off The Stress Of The Holiday Season “Like Something In A Movie”: 36 Hospital Workers Share Their Wildest Stories 50 Times People Saw Something ‘Mildly Interesting’ And Knew The Best Group To Share It In (New Pics)
Viktorija Ošikaitė
Gabija Saveiskyte
Viktorija Ošikaitė
Related on Bored Panda
