Everything we do comes with risks, even the most boring things. Case in point: I take an odd sense of pride in the time I ended up in the ER as a teenager with a broken wrist (okay, a greenstick fracture, but that’s way less dramatic). You’d think I earned it doing something cool, like skateboarding or climbing a tree. Nope. I was doing my homework when I stood up, slipped on one of those plastic document sleeves (yes, I’m that old), and went down.
Luckily, my wipeout ended with only a cast on my arm and a (not-so-cool) story to tell. But not every activity gets off quite so easily—some can have way more serious, even fatal, consequences. So when medical professionals were asked about the things they’d never do themselves based on the injuries they’ve seen, they had plenty of answers. Granted, most of them are considerably more exciting—and a whole lot riskier—than completing a homework assignment, and some are things most of us might already consider common sense to avoid, or at least approach with caution. But a few of these might genuinely surprise you.
#41
No trampoline
No motorcycle
No ebike
No football
No backsquatting, deadlifting, or weighted glute bridge beyond 1 plate (135).
No motorcycle
No ebike
No football
No backsquatting, deadlifting, or weighted glute bridge beyond 1 plate (135).
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11points
#42
As an EMT I'll pile onto motorcycle. But I'll also add that a *ridiculous* number of my 911 calls are alcohol related.
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11points
#43
OK, got another one. Parasailing.
The year before I worked there, participant in the annual event attended our Emergency Department with a broken ankle.
The year I was there, in an ambulance in our car park, deceased.
The year before I worked there, participant in the annual event attended our Emergency Department with a broken ankle.
The year I was there, in an ambulance in our car park, deceased.
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11points
#44
Alpine climbing / mountaineering enters the room.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a wonderful hobby/sport, but it comes with a pretty extraordinary collection of ways to get yourself into trouble.
For starters, it’s essentially climbing and backcountry skiing rolled into one, with the dangers of both sports layered on top of each other.
Then you have the objective hazards. Things you can assess and mitigate to some extent, but never completely control. Avalanches, serac collapse (where huge blocks of glacial ice can break off over your head with little or no warning), rockfall, which has been particularly intense in the Alps this year, or crevasses, which are deep cracks in glaciers that can sometimes be completely hidden beneath seemingly solid snow bridges.
Then add the physiological hazards: altitude sickness, pulmonary or cerebral edema, hypothermia, frostbite, snow blindness, dehydration, extreme exhaustion and impaired judgement from cold, fatigue and lack of oxygen.
And all of this happens in an inherently hostile environment, anywhere from roughly 3,000 to 8,000 metres, where the air gets progressively thinner, temperatures can become brutally cold, weather can change incredibly fast, and rescue may be hours or sometimes days away.
The fascinating thing about mountaineering is that being experienced doesn’t make those hazards disappear. It mostly makes you better at recognising them.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a wonderful hobby/sport, but it comes with a pretty extraordinary collection of ways to get yourself into trouble.
For starters, it’s essentially climbing and backcountry skiing rolled into one, with the dangers of both sports layered on top of each other.
Then you have the objective hazards. Things you can assess and mitigate to some extent, but never completely control. Avalanches, serac collapse (where huge blocks of glacial ice can break off over your head with little or no warning), rockfall, which has been particularly intense in the Alps this year, or crevasses, which are deep cracks in glaciers that can sometimes be completely hidden beneath seemingly solid snow bridges.
Then add the physiological hazards: altitude sickness, pulmonary or cerebral edema, hypothermia, frostbite, snow blindness, dehydration, extreme exhaustion and impaired judgement from cold, fatigue and lack of oxygen.
And all of this happens in an inherently hostile environment, anywhere from roughly 3,000 to 8,000 metres, where the air gets progressively thinner, temperatures can become brutally cold, weather can change incredibly fast, and rescue may be hours or sometimes days away.
The fascinating thing about mountaineering is that being experienced doesn’t make those hazards disappear. It mostly makes you better at recognising them.
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11points
#45
Fishing -- I see far too many in places I would never want to have a fish hook (which is pretty much anywhere but you can also use your imagination). Those hooks are made to NOT come out without a fight.
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11points
#47
Not a doctor, but a woodworker. I'm surprised powertools aren't making much of an appearance on this list. Thoughts, doctors?
fingersarefun:
Hand surgeon here. Many wood workers and machinists etc lost parts of their fingers and just get back to life. True table saw injuries with multiple digits happen, but less frequently when people are experienced and careful. Also the saws with the auto stop are hopefully becoming more common. Many of my orthopedic partners do wood working because it’s so similar to what we do to bones. You just have to be careful.
We are much more worried about motorcycles, ATVs, trampolines, and things where you lose your life, cognitive function, and ability to walk pain free.
Henghayki8:
Woodworking. Lathe related injuries are some of the horrific things I've even seen in my life...
fingersarefun:
Hand surgeon here. Many wood workers and machinists etc lost parts of their fingers and just get back to life. True table saw injuries with multiple digits happen, but less frequently when people are experienced and careful. Also the saws with the auto stop are hopefully becoming more common. Many of my orthopedic partners do wood working because it’s so similar to what we do to bones. You just have to be careful.
We are much more worried about motorcycles, ATVs, trampolines, and things where you lose your life, cognitive function, and ability to walk pain free.
Henghayki8:
Woodworking. Lathe related injuries are some of the horrific things I've even seen in my life...
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10points
#49
Bull riding from when I worked out in the country, if it don’t get you while you’re young it’ll get ya even after you’ve hung up your boots.
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10points
#50
I was in for cutting off my finger on a table saw and I asked the hand surgeon what sort of accident he treated the most. Without any pause, he said matter-of-factly that he gets to meet most of his clients because of table saws, circular saws and dogs.
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10points
#51
I would say pruning. My friend worked at an eye clinic and the number of people coming in with branches stuck in their eye hole was very high. Never prune anything above your head.
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10points
#52
Any extreme sport, especially the ones that require helmets and also spine protection.
I am not a thrill-seeker (primary care and investment in the stock market is enough risk for me) and I really like having an intact spinal cord.
I am not a thrill-seeker (primary care and investment in the stock market is enough risk for me) and I really like having an intact spinal cord.
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9points
#53
Anesthesiologist & Critical Care physician:
Never ever:
1. Get on a Motorcycle
2. Drink around fire
3. Play around fire
4. Add accelerant to fire
5. Smoke while wearing oxygen.
Never ever:
1. Get on a Motorcycle
2. Drink around fire
3. Play around fire
4. Add accelerant to fire
5. Smoke while wearing oxygen.
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9points
#54
Pickleball. It's all a front for Big Ortho. The amount of older people destroying their knees hips and shoulders is insane.
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9points
#55
Not a exactly a hobby but using a pogo stick. I was so upset after someone gave me one as a gift but my mom wouldn’t let me go near it even with a helmet. she had the same rules for trampolines but they don’t usually fit in an apartment. she already had to stitch me up enough for things that were safe (I was a dumb kid) and adding those would be a catastrophe. if I ever have kids they will not be going near either of those.
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9points
#57
I lifeguarded for over a decade worst beach/lake thing is floaties and tanning over watching toddlers.
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8points
