Buzz
Our world often feels like a hazardous place. The media is saturated with depictions of violence, catastrophic natural events, and accidents, which instill fear in many. While these dangers deserve attention, everyday objects and activities in our lives are statistically far more likely to cause harm.
Note: The statistics in this list are primarily focused on the United States. This is not due to a lack of consideration for other regions but because US-based data is more readily accessible.
10. Falling Out of Bed Claims More Lives Than Roller Coaster Accidents
While some individuals adore roller coasters, others are gripped by fear. These rides, with their towering heights and rapid speeds, offer a thrilling yet generally safe experience for amusement park visitors. Nonetheless, mishaps occur, resulting in an average of four fatalities annually in the US due to roller coaster accidents.
A quarter of roller coaster-related deaths involve workers, classified as occupational fatalities. Half of the deaths stem from pre-existing medical conditions worsened by the ride, which could be mitigated with better signage warning those at risk. The remaining quarter result from traumatic incidents, such as passengers falling from the ride.
Take comfort: your next roller coaster ride is unlikely to be fatal. In fact, you’re far more likely to die from tumbling out of bed. In the US, approximately 450 people perish this way each year. Ironically, bed rails can exacerbate the issue, as hospitals report that determined patients attempt to climb over them, leading to more severe falls.
9. Cows Pose a Greater Threat to Your Life Than Bears
Fatal black bear attacks on humans in North America have been increasing since the 1960s. Over the last 110 years, 63 individuals have lost their lives to black bears, primarily in Alaska and Canada. This averages to less than one fatality annually. However, with 86 percent of these deaths occurring after 1960, the current rate is approximately two fatalities per year.
The primary reason for this rise is believed to be human encroachment into black bear territories. Most deadly attacks are carried out by solitary male bears experimenting with humans as a potential food source. Interestingly, mother bears protecting their cubs or bears accustomed to human presence are rarely responsible for fatalities.
Although harmful encounters with black bears may increase as humans expand into their habitats, they are far from surpassing cattle in terms of human fatalities. Cattle cause an average of 22 deaths per year in the United States alone. Most of these fatalities result from intentional attacks by territorial bulls or protective mother cows, while others occur due to accidental crushing.
8. Rip Currents Pose a Greater Threat Than Sharks
Visiting the beach is a cherished summer activity enjoyed by people worldwide. However, these outings come with risks, such as sunburns, jellyfish stings, or even shark bites.
Most unprovoked shark attacks on humans result from mistaken identity, where the shark takes a single bite and retreats upon realizing it’s not a seal or fish. Even these single bites can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. Such incidents are rare, and most attacks occur after humans provoke the sharks.
If you’re in the water and feel yourself being pulled away from safety, a rip current is a far more likely culprit than a shark. Rip currents are incredibly powerful, capable of dragging you away from shore faster than an Olympic swimmer can swim. Attempting to swim directly against the current, a common mistake, often leads to exhaustion and drowning.
Approximately over 100 people drown annually in the US due to rip currents. In contrast, shark attacks claim a life in the US only once every two years
7. High School Sports Claim More Lives in the US Than Terrorist Attacks
Since the tragic events of 9/11 in 2001, terrorism has become a central fear in 21st-century American culture. From Al-Qaeda to ISIS, the media has been saturated with alarming images of terrorism, leaving many citizens anxious for their safety and that of their children.
In reality, US children face a far greater risk of dying on their high school sports fields than from terrorist acts. Approximately 50 young athletes lose their lives annually in the US due to sports-related injuries, with rural areas being the most affected. Common causes include heatstroke, traumatic brain injuries, and sudden cardiac arrest. Contributing factors include two-thirds of athletes arriving at practice severely dehydrated and 16 percent of football players continuing to play after being knocked unconscious, which carries a 50 percent mortality risk if further injury occurs. Sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of 90 percent of the young athletes it affects.
In contrast, terrorism has claimed an average of 12 US civilian lives annually, with 2001 being a significant outlier. For instance, terrorism caused nine deaths in 2009, 10 in 2010, 17 in 2011, 10 in 2012, and 16 in 2013. Most of these fatalities involved individuals traveling to Afghanistan, with no deaths occurring within US borders.
6. Disney World Claims More Lives Than Florida’s Alligators
Between 2005 and 2014, eight visitors lost their lives at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Common causes include heart attacks, often exacerbated by the lack of accessible defibrillators, and traumatic injuries. Additionally, five employees died during the same period, with three fatalities occurring in 2009 due to trauma or electrocution.
While Florida’s alligators may seem more terrifying than Disney’s mascots, the likelihood of being attacked by one is slim. These reptiles typically attack only when provoked, though unprovoked predation does happen occasionally. Victims are often caught off guard, but the odds of being killed by an alligator are lower than winning the lottery. From 2005 to the present, only six people have died in unprovoked alligator attacks, with no fatalities reported since 2007.
5. Summer Heat Poses a Greater Threat Than Lightning Strikes
Summer isn’t just about high temperatures; it’s also the season when fears of encountering heat hotter than the Sun’s surface peak. Lightning, reaching temperatures of 30,000 degrees Celsius (50,000 °F), can cause severe burns and kills an average of 51 people annually in the US. Contrary to common belief, most victims aren’t struck directly but are harmed by nearby objects hit by lightning. This is why seeking shelter indoors during a thunderstorm is crucial, as lying flat in an open area offers no protection from indirect strikes.
While heading indoors, ensure your air conditioner is working, as heat exposure is over 10 times deadlier, claiming approximately 618 lives annually in the US. Heat-related deaths are gruesome. As your body temperature rises, it attempts to cool down by increasing blood flow near the skin to release heat. If cooling fails, more blood is diverted away from vital organs, leading to severe consequences.
The reduced oxygen supply strains organs, while rising heat triggers a body-wide inflammatory response, making it even harder to cool down. At 40 degrees Celsius (104 °F), decreased blood flow to the brain due to increased intracranial pressure can occur, and damaged tissue may cause kidney failure. If your body reaches 49 degrees Celsius (120 °F) and you’re still alive, your cells will suffer direct heat damage.
4. Wind Chill Poses a Greater Threat Than Tornadoes
Hypothermia is a more insidious threat than heat. Mild cases may only present as typical cold symptoms, such as shivering and numb fingers. If shivering fails to warm the body, it reverses the heat response, redirecting blood away from the limbs to protect vital organs.
Intense shivering begins when the body temperature drops to 35 degrees Celsius (95 °F) but stops below 32 degrees Celsius (90 °F). At this stage, the person may experience confusion and even irrationally shed clothing.
Unconsciousness occurs at 30 degrees Celsius (86 °F). Victims may appear lifeless as their metabolism slows to conserve oxygen, with drastically reduced heart and breathing rates. The heart stops completely at 20 degrees Celsius (65 °F), though arrhythmias can cause death as early as 28 degrees Celsius (82 °F).
Excessive cold exposure claims approximately 1,300 lives annually in the US. Tornadoes, by comparison, kill an average of 75 Americans each year. The chill you feel while clearing snow is a far greater danger than distant summer storm clouds.
3. Binge Drinking Claims More Lives Than All Other Drugs Combined
Sending a child to college can be a nerve-wracking experience for parents. They’ve protected their kids from dangers like cows, ensured they’re warm in winter, cooked meals safely, and made sure every prescription was filled. Now, as their child leaves home to pursue a degree and a career, the fear of them falling into drug addiction looms. However, a more pressing concern might be their alcohol consumption.
Approximately 80,000 Americans die annually from binge drinking, defined as consuming five or more drinks in a short time for men or four or more for women. While not all deaths are due to alcohol poisoning, many result from car accidents and alcohol-fueled violence.
In contrast, drug overdoses claim about half as many lives each year in the US. For instance, 41,000 died in 2011 and 44,000 in 2013. These numbers include overdoses from both legal prescription drugs and illegal substances, with the latter accounting for less than half of the deaths. In short, parents should be more concerned about college parties than a roommate who smokes marijuana.
2. Poor Doctor Handwriting Poses a Greater Threat Than Ebola
Ebola is a horrifying illness. The virus attacks almost every organ and system in the body, sparing only bones and muscles. Collagen and other connective tissues dissolve, causing the skin to separate from liquefied tissue. Victims may bleed uncontrollably from various openings, a condition worsened by bloody vomiting and diarrhea, ultimately leading to fatal blood loss.
Fear of Ebola prompted US and international airports to screen passengers arriving from West Africa. Despite these measures, US health care workers contracted the virus, raising fears of an outbreak. In 2014, four Ebola cases were diagnosed in the US; one patient died, while the others recovered and were discharged. The fatality occurred after the individual contracted the virus in Liberia.
Patients at Texas Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, where three of the four Ebola cases were treated, faced a greater risk unrelated to the virus: their doctors’ poor handwriting. While often joked about, illegible notes and prescriptions cause approximately 7,000 deaths annually in the US. With 3.2 billion prescriptions written each year, unclear handwriting can lead to incorrect dosages or the wrong medication being administered.
1. Food Poisoning Affects More People Than Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a more insidious winter threat than hypothermia. It’s invisible, odorless, and tasteless, and it doesn’t trigger sneezing or coughing. Produced daily by cars and potentially by home furnaces, CO can be deadly. Once inhaled, it enters the bloodstream and binds to hemoglobin, which normally carries oxygen. This renders the blood ineffective, leading to approximately 430 deaths annually in the US from CO poisoning.
However, don’t abandon your gas stove just yet—proper cooking is essential to avoid foodborne illnesses. These diseases claim around 3,000 lives each year in the US. While poultry is a leading cause, fruits, nuts, and leafy greens also contribute significantly. Many deaths could be prevented through simple practices like thorough hand-washing and cooking food to safe temperatures.
