“Moving Water”: 35 People Share Things People Might Not Realize Are Really Dangerous

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.

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."

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.