"It's Surprisingly Common": Medical Professionals Are Sharing Common Behaviors That Are Actually Quite Dangerous

We all know some activities are risky for your health (take riding a bike without a helmet, for example), but plenty of seemingly mundane behaviors can also be quite dangerous, although many people don't realize. Well, a Redditor recently asked, "Medical professionals of Reddit, what is something so common yet so dangerous that people don't know about?" Here's what doctors and other medical professionals said.

"ATVs. I’ve seen some injuries I didn’t even know COULD happen, including in young kids.

Trust me, you don’t want your kid to be the one who shocks a room of trauma surgeons."

"ATVs. I’ve seen some injuries I didn’t even know COULD happen, including in young kids. Trust me, you don’t want your kid to be the one who shocks a room of trauma surgeons."

"If you have anything in your home that requires button batteries (like coin batteries), hide them until your kids are at least thirty.

The issue isn’t choking; There’s a much worse option. The +/- sides of the battery are really close together. If the coin gets stuck in an esophagus, saliva coats the battery and forms a neat little circuit where electrolysis starts. This circuit begins to pull one hydrogen molecule off H20 and generate hydroxide (extreme base, like drain cleaner). If it isn’t removed quickly enough, you have a reaction that keeps producing hydroxide until it melts them from the inside out."

"If you have anything in your home that requires button batteries (like coin batteries), hide them until your kids are at least thirty. The issue isn’t choking; There’s a much worse option. The +/- sides of the battery are really close together. If the coin gets stuck in an esophagus, saliva coats the battery and forms a neat little circuit where electrolysis starts. This circuit begins to pull one hydrogen molecule off H20 and generate hydroxide (extreme base, like drain cleaner). If it isn’t removed quickly enough, you have a reaction that keeps producing hydroxide until it melts them from the inside out."

"I spent a month rotating in orthopedic trauma surgery.

I'd say at least half of the broken hips I've operated on were from elderly people tripping over their dogs."

"I spent a month rotating in orthopedic trauma surgery. I'd say at least half of the broken hips I've operated on were from elderly people tripping over their dogs."

"Escalators. The torque produced to lift dozens of people and their luggage will not stop for your limbs.

Watch your kids, carry your pets, don't be distracted. There are emergency stop buttons at the top and bottom; if you see a problem (such as a person falling or loose metal or glass) use the button. Better delayed than traumatized, maimed, or worse."

"Escalators. The torque produced to lift dozens of people and their luggage will not stop for your limbs. Watch your kids, carry your pets, don't be distracted. There are emergency stop buttons at the top and bottom; if you see a problem (such as a person falling or loose metal or glass) use the button. Better delayed than traumatized, maimed, or worse."

"Water. Currents and waterfalls are two things that kill people all the time.

Even a gentle-looking river can be very deceptive if there’s enough water moving along — people, cars, etc. Rip currents at the beach. Flash floods. Water seems gentle, but it doesn't care about anything in its path. The tops of waterfalls are super deceptive, with the combination of powerful current and slippery rocks that look like a beautiful place to grab a picture — but they can kill you in an instant."

"Water. Currents and waterfalls are two things that kill people all the time. Even a gentle-looking river can be very deceptive if there’s enough water moving along — people, cars, etc. Rip currents at the beach. Flash floods. Water seems gentle, but it doesn't care about anything in its path. The tops of waterfalls are super deceptive, with the combination of powerful current and slippery rocks that look like a beautiful place to grab a picture — but they can kill you in an instant."

"Not sleeping. Sustained lack of sleep will ruin your mental state and ruin the overall functioning of your body."

"Not sleeping. Sustained lack of sleep will ruin your mental state and ruin the overall functioning of your body."

"Firefighter paramedic here. DON'T PUT YOUR FEET ON THE DASHBOARD! OR OUT THE WINDOW!"

"Firefighter paramedic here. DON'T PUT YOUR FEET ON THE DASHBOARD! OR OUT THE WINDOW!"

"Periodontal disease. Please brush and floss, folks."

"Periodontal disease. Please brush and floss, folks."

"Chronic dehydration. You are mostly made of water, so you need to put enough water into your body."

"Chronic dehydration. You are mostly made of water, so you need to put enough water into your body."

"If your poop is black in color.

This could likely be a sign of an upper GI bleed, and you may not even be symptomatic until you’ve lost a lot of blood."

"If your poop is black in color. This could likely be a sign of an upper GI bleed, and you may not even be symptomatic until you’ve lost a lot of blood."

"Being too focused on cardio and dieting but never doing muscle/strength training after 40.

No one expects you to be a bodybuilder, but if you can't get to a standing position with one limb unable to be used, then you need strength training to protect your body."

"Being too focused on cardio and dieting but never doing muscle/strength training after 40. No one expects you to be a bodybuilder, but if you can't get to a standing position with one limb unable to be used, then you need strength training to protect your body."

"Having any type of open wound if you're elderly. Just go get them checked out!"

"Having any type of open wound if you're elderly. Just go get them checked out!"

"E-bikes and E-scooters. These things are way more dangerous than most realize."

"E-bikes and E-scooters. These things are way more dangerous than most realize."

"Keeping objects on the front dashboard of your car. They can turn into missiles in a car crash."

"Keeping objects on the front dashboard of your car. They can turn into missiles in a car crash."

"Binge drinking and taking prescription drugs. The combination leads to so many accidental overdoses."

"Binge drinking and taking prescription drugs. The combination leads to so many accidental overdoses."

"Cheaping out on tires for your vehicle."

"Cheaping out on tires for your vehicle."

"Those mandolin vegetable slicers!"

"Those mandolin vegetable slicers!"

"Area rugs are basically death traps for people with poor mobility."

"Area rugs are basically death traps for people with poor mobility."

"Antifreeze. It's way more poisonous than you probably think it is, and it has a sweet taste that attracts cats and children.

If your cat laps up a teaspoonful, they're pretty much already dead."

"Antifreeze. It's way more poisonous than you probably think it is, and it has a sweet taste that attracts cats and children. If your cat laps up a teaspoonful, they're pretty much already dead."

"Seeing a chiropractor. If you want to have a stroke in your 20s, this is a good way to do it."

"Seeing a chiropractor. If you want to have a stroke in your 20s, this is a good way to do it."