More Than 250 People Have Died Taking Selfies in Just a Few Years
Sometimes you have to climb high for the perfect background, or maybe smiling at the camera just distracts you from an avoidable danger. While fresh stats are scarce, between October 2011 and November 2017, 259 people lost their lives while taking selfies.
Most of these deaths—often from drowning, falls, or car accidents—happened in India, Russia, Pakistan, and the United States.
The issue has gotten so serious that some places want “No Selfies” signs posted. For example, the U.S. Forest Service warns against trying to snap selfies with bears, and Yellowstone National Park has a list of risky selfie spots best avoided.
Car Chases Are More Dangerous Than You Think
Car chases aren’t just a thing here—they’re practically a culture in the U.S.
Sadly, nearly every day sees a fatality, often innocent bystanders or people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Between 1973 and 2013, it’s estimated that over 270,000 people were injured in car chases.
What’s even more surprising? Most of these chases started over minor offenses, usually traffic violations or misdemeanors.
From Backyard Parties to the ER
According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 19,000 people in the U.S. end up in emergency rooms each year with grill-related injuries.
Nearly half of these injuries are burns, and 38% involve children under five. House fires linked to grilling are also a serious threat. Fire departments report around 10,200 such fires annually.
These accidents result in about 10 deaths, 160 injuries, and $123 million in property damage each year.
Good News: Your Odds of Dying in a Shark Attack Are 1 in 3,747,067
That means it’s incredibly, truly, super rare. According to stats, you’re far more likely to die from the flu (1 in 63), a bicycle accident (1 in 919), or lightning strike (1 in 79,746).
In 2021, there were 130 shark attacks worldwide, with 32 in the U.S. and only one fatality.
The deadly attack happened in Massachusetts, though Florida is known as the most shark-prone state. To lower your already tiny risk, avoid bright swimsuits and shiny jewelry, stay in groups, steer clear of sandbars and drop-offs, and don’t swim at dawn, dusk, or in low light when sharks are most active.
