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Most people meet their maker because of non-communicable diseases like heart disease, stroke, respiratory complications or cancer. But every now and again, the Grim Reaper decides to switch things up with their dark sense of humor.
We can lead healthy lives, live with extreme caution and even try to plot and predict our demise. No matter what we do, just living poses some kind of risk. That's not to say we should be paranoid... just more aware.
Many people live in fear of losing their life in a car accident, violence or even a plane crash. But according to data, your odds of kicking the bucket because of an accidental opioid overdose are greater than having a fatal motor-vehicle crash.
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Not really ironic, but still funny as hell.
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The National Safety Council (NSC) reveals that while many Americans fear gun violence, they're much more likely to land in the grave because of an unintentional and preventable injury like slipping or falling down the stairs.
There's also a greater chance of you drowning in a bathtub than drowning in a flood. If you have a fear of flying, rest assured that the chances of not making it to the tarmac alive are super slim. In fact, so slim that there were too few fatalities in 2023 for the NSC to calculate the odds of it happening to you.
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As it happens, the glass was indeed unbreakable. The window *frames* however.
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Later in life he contracted polio and built himself an elaborate system of ropes and pulleys to hoist himself out of bed. One day he got tangled in this and died of strangulation.
It's long been said that prevention is better than cure. And since someone loses their life every two minutes in America because of something that could have been prevented, it pays to take it seriously.
The United States recorded almost 223,000 preventable fatalities in 2023 alone, prompting experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to publish the most common injuries they see, along with some practical advice for how to avoid them.
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AIDS denials that died of AIDS.
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According to those experts, falling to your demise is one of your biggest risks, especially among older Americans.
“Fall prevention starts by taking care of yourself,” says Holly Waller, senior director of Trauma, Burn and Inpatient Wound Services at UAB Hospital. “Ensure you are staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet and staying active so you can continue improving your balance and strength and lower your risk of falling.”
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before being reduced to life imprisonment. Godwin died from
electrocution when he bit into wires while attempting to fix a broken
television set, at the same time sitting on a metal toilet in his prison
cell at the Central Correctional Institute in South Carolina.
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Waller advises that you avoid using loose rugs at home, install safety bars in bathrooms and near stairs, and always make sure pathways are clear of items that could cause anyone to trip. It also helps for the elderly or vulnerable to wear shoes, no-slip socks and/or assistive devices like a cane or walker if needed.
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Another big risk is burns, especially in the winter months because of space heaters, heated blankets, bonfires or fireplaces.
"Space heaters should always be placed on a hard, flat surface at least 3 feet away from loose items such as curtains, furniture and clothing," warns the UAB site, adding that you shouldn't use these heaters near flammable liquids or chemicals. The expert also advises that space heaters be turned off when not in use and always be plugged directly into a wall, not an extension cord.
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Sedgwick died at the beginning of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, on May 9, 1864. He noticed his men diving for cover, despite the Confederates shooting from 1,000 yards away. He said, "Why are you dodging like this? They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."
He was shot by a rifle bullet moments later under the left eye and died.
When it comes to electric blankets, you might be surprised to know that it is not advisable for older adults or people with diabetes to use them. This is because of the thinning of their skin and the loss of sensation and nerve damage in their extremities.
"Heated blankets should be rolled up to prevent damage and checked regularly for damage to the cord or heating elements," cautions the site. "Unplug heated blankets before going to sleep or when they are not in use, and do not layer these devices with other heating products."
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Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote a profound book about a pilot who crashes his plane into the desert and makes the acquaintance of a blond little boy from the stars who loved a rose and is forever saddened when the boy returns to his home planet. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a pilot himself, later vanished without a trace while he was flying his plane ~~over the Sahara Desert~~. I choose to believe that the aviator was finally able to see his friend…
I think in recent years they actually found the wreckage of his plane, but still; you can’t tell me that death isn’t the most perfect way for him to have died… it’s just so unbelievably poetic. Obviously it probably sucked for him though.
