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"99% of Car Accidents Aren't Fatal" — 10 Things We Think Are Deadly but Really Aren't

Szőke Angéla3 min read
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"99% of Car Accidents Aren't Fatal" — 10 Things We Think Are Deadly but Really Aren't — Leisure
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Arachnophobia

When it comes to the deadliest spider, most people picture the tarantula. No wonder—it’s about the size of your palm and its hairy eight legs make quite an impression. Still, its venom isn’t deadly at all; it’s actually quite mild, comparable to a bee sting. It hurts, but you won’t be harmed—just expect a small red bump where it bit you.

Mold

Eating expired or moldy foods (like fruit) isn’t deadly—in fact, it can even benefit your gut bacteria in some cases.

Electrical Outlets

Some people have tried to harm themselves by sticking their hand in an electrical outlet. From childhood, we’re told to never do this because "the electricity will kill you"—but in reality, it’s not fatal. If you touch it with wet hands or a metal object, it can cause serious injury, but it won’t kill you. Still, don’t try it—it can cause burns and damage to blood vessels and nerves.

Man-Eating Fish?

The horror movie Piranha made generations fear these small fish, but they’re not nearly as dangerous as you might think. Don’t worry about swimming in the Amazon and suddenly seeing blood-churning water as hundreds of fish tear you apart. Piranhas are scavengers—they mostly feed on dead animals, and even if they bite you by mistake, it’s usually just a small nibble, not a painful attack.

Things and animals thought to be deadly
Source: unsplash.com

Botox

Many women hesitate about Botox because it’s a powerful toxin. That’s true—swallowing it can cause botulism and paralysis of breathing muscles, which can be fatal. But doctors use Botox diluted and injected under the skin safely. It’s not just for wrinkles—it helps stroke patients relax muscles, reduces excessive sweating, and even eases migraines.

Cars

Getting behind the wheel always carries some risk, but actually, 99% of car accidents aren’t fatal.

Struck by Lightning

Being struck by lightning is scary but far less deadly than you might think—there’s a 90% chance you’ll survive. Fatalities usually happen only if vital organs are damaged.

Source: unsplash.com

Sinking in Quick Sand

Sinking in quicksand is a nightmare for many, but this rare natural phenomenon isn’t usually dangerous. You won’t drown in quicksand; the real risk comes if you stay trapped too long and face dehydration or hypothermia.

In the Air

When we hear about a plane crash, it’s easy to assume everyone on board died. Yet flying remains the safest way to travel by far. Accidents get big headlines but are very rare. Surprisingly, 96% of passengers survive plane crashes.

The Orca

There’s even a horror movie about killer whales, but orcas have never killed a person in the wild. (They have in captivity, but considering the stressful conditions and forced performances in marine parks, it’s not surprising.) So if you’re swimming in the ocean, don’t worry—the killer whale won’t attack you, even though it’s the ocean’s top predator and regularly preys on great white sharks.