10 Harmless Things That Can Turn Deadly

While most of us probably feel we are living healthy and safe lives as long as we put on our seatbelts when we drive, wipe up wet spots on the floor and go to the doctor every now and then, the fact of the matter is the world is a dangerous place. Some things we totally take for granted can turn into unmitigated killing machines if they’re put in the right situations. You can’t even really protect yourself from some of these, because you’ll never see them coming.

Icicles

Icicles are really pretty to look at. The smaller ones are even pretty cool to break off and play around with. Watch your step if you happen to be near larger ones and the air is warming, They tend to be sharp at the end and can certainly puncture skin if they are big enough and fall from the right height.

Dryer Lint

Dryer Lint is pretty gross. It’s also pretty deadly. You might be thinking we’re talking about accidentally inhaling the lint but the real danger is the chance of the detritus catching fire in the dryer itself. According to one 1998 report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 15,600 dryer fires that year that killed 20 people and injured another 370.

Ants

An ant, by itself is really pretty harmless. When ants get together, they can be ruthless murderers. Those who know a thing or two about ant murders say the insects kill about 30 people a year. Most of those deaths are from people who run across an angry ant hill and are bit over and over again.

A Glass of Water

While a glass of water likely won’t hurt you, you can actually poison your body if you drink too much water too fast. If you drink so much water in a short period of time that your kidneys can’t keep you, you can die from brain or lung swelling. Some drugs or severe dehydration can cause you to drink unsafe amounts at unsafe speeds.

Vending Machines

While it doesn’t happen all that often, a vending machine can tip over and fall on you. Between 1978 and 1995 there were 37 vending machine deaths in the United States.

The Flu

There’s a reason public health officials tell you to stay home if you have the flu. It’s not just to feel better. Tens of thousands of people die every year from the common flu virus. While it affects mostly the very young, or the very old, it can take out the middle aged and otherwise healthy if not monitored.

Grain

No, we aren’t talking about grains as being a choking hazard when you’re eating your Wheaties. It’s the storage of grain that can become deadly. If stored improperly, grain dust can build up, then heat up and actually explode. This usually happens in the giant silos that are storing thousands of pounds of the stuff, but it still happens.

Contact Lenses

Washing your contact lens in water, instead of the saline solution most associated with them can kill you. There are little amoeba creatures that swim around in water all over the world that can get into your brain through your contact lens. The worst part is that most people don’t know they’ve got the parasite until they’re on the autopsy table.

Paper Cuts

Any cut, even something as innocuous as a paper cut can lead to infection. Any infection, if left untreated and unchecked can kill you. Think about the next time you’re doing some filing.

Tylenol

Tylenol and other drugs that have acetaminophen can lead to real trouble. The problem is there are a number of drugs that have acetaminophen that you can overdose quite quickly. When you’re sick, pairing something up like Tylenol and Nyquil could lead to an overdose, which can cause kidney and liver problems as well as death.