On the r/AskReddit subreddit, u/gary1405 posed the question, “What’s something most people don’t realize will kill you in seconds?” The discussion unearthed several everyday hazards that can have fatal consequences within moments.
One of the common themes mentioned by fellow Redditors was anything to do with road rage, which includes brake-checking large vehicles like semi-trailer trucks. Another prevalent concern is the risk of slipping in the shower. This can lead to severe head injuries or even death, especially among older adults.
One less commonly known risk is cracking your neck and the use of massage guns on your neck. Neurosurgeons warn against this, as it can lead to stroke, paralysis, and even death if done incorrectly.
In house and forest fires, smoke inhalation is a leading cause of death, not the fire itself. Scientific American notes that inhaling carbon monoxide and other toxic gases during wildfires can lead to swift incapacitation and death.
Below are 25 split-second causes of death and stories from Redditors:
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“Moving water. It’s freaking dangerous. Water is heavy so when it’s moving it has a lot of energy. It might not feel too bad walking through knee-deep flowing water but if you fall the water will have more area to push on. You may not be able to get yourself on your feet again.”
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“Road rage in general. You don’t know who’s around you, you don’t know if they’re armed, you don’t know their mindset. They won’t be in your life longer than a few seconds just fucking let it go and cool off somewhere,” adds u/Rat192. “🙃 only problem is when you are angry your are not always rational and none of this comment will really matter.”
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“There’s a show on Netflix where bartenders compete by making cocktails. Once in a while, they’ll use dry ice for presentation. The smart ones keep it contained, separated, or removable. The…less-smart ones toss it directly in the drink, get DQ’d when the judges refuse to drink it, and usually get eliminated that round. The judges explained that even a small loose chunk can get caught in your throat, sublimate CO2 directly into your respiratory system, and suffocate you,” writes u/PocketBuckle
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“Electrocution. A dear coworker friend died in his basement recently. There had been flooding and he had no idea it was electrified. One step and it was over. He was 58,” u/sugarintheboots writes.
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u/stevenpfrench writes: “There were two utility workers in my home town that died going into an underground drainage control. Opened it up and the first guy went down and passed out from whatever gases were down there. Second guy went in after him and passed out too.”
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“Rust. If you run into a hole in the ground with rusty stuff inside, that does not get good ventilation. Dont go in. Rust is iron combined with oxygen. And it can eat all of the oxygen in the air. And fun fact, your body cant tell how much oxygen is in the air, but does sense carbon dioxide is there. So you dont know you are going until you are dead,” writes u/remes1234.
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