A shock comes from unexpected things, like when unusual things or seemingly harmless things attack us. There are many things can cause physical and mental harm which are unknown to many. From eating poisonous food to getting your bones broken by resting your feet on the dashboard of a car, everything is possible. You should always take care of basic things and be precautious of the things that can kill you unexpectedly. Let’s learn about 10 such things that seem harmless but could kill you.

1 Resting your feet on the dashboard of a car when you are in the passenger’s seat can cause you serious damage in an accident. You are positioning your lower limbs on top of the passenger airbag, and this device can explode in an accident at 100 to 220 mph.

People have the habit of resting their feet on the car’s dashboard while sitting on the passenger seat. It feels comfortable and gives more space to rest while on a journey.

An incident took place at Walker County, Georgia where a resident, Audra Tatum, and her husband were heading to pick up their children from their parent’s house, which was about four miles away. They got into a T-bone accident when a car pulled out in front of them which resulted in their car deploying the front airbags.

If you are riding and got into an accident, the airbags will get deployed. Audra had her legs crossed on the dashboard, she wasn’t able to put her feet down in time. The whole right side of her body was broken. She had several surgeries and years of physical therapy. Now, she can’t stand more than four hours at a time. We all should take lessons from Audra’s case and stop chillaxing in such poses. (source)

2 Flash flooding may not get a lot of attention, but it kills more people every year as compared to any other hazardous natural disaster according to UCAR. People underestimate flash floods when walking into flooded areas, but it takes only 18 inches of water to float any type of vehicle.

In the United States, an average number of 100 people die each year due to flash floods. According to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), more people die due to flash floods than any other hazardous natural disaster like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.

The floods occur when too much snow melts or due to damage in dams, which results in water being diverted into of storm drains and causes flooding.

Better predictions of other natural disasters prevent casualties, but in the case of flash floods, people don’t stop or evacuate, they try to cross or drive through the swollen streams or flooded roads.

Many car accidents happen due to flash floods, as only 18 inches of water can float off any kind of vehicle, and six inches of water can sweep any adult of their feet while walking.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these floods also bring various infectious diseases, chemical wastes, and sharp objects. Due to the growth of the population in flood-prone areas, the number of accidents continues to grow. (source)

3 Poor gum health can lead to heart diseases. Poor dental health and heart health has a huge correlation. Bacteria like gingivitis and periodontitis in gums can get into your body and can travel through blood vessels which can result in heart attack and strokes.

Poor gum health can kill you. That’s weird and scary at the same time, isn’t it? There has been a huge debate regarding the correlation between heart health and gum health. The studies have shown that gum disease (periodontitis) is definitely related to the risk of developing heart disease.

The risk of bacterial infection in the bloodstream increases when you have poor dental health and can affect the heart valves. If you have artificial valves, then oral health is of utmost importance.

Bacteria like gingivitis and periodontitis in gums travel through the blood vessels to elsewhere in the body and can cause blood vessel inflammation. This can cause a heart attack and a stroke may follow. The body’s immune system response is inflammation which causes vascular damage throughout the body rather than bacteria itself. (source)

4 When potatoes begin to sprout and turn a slightly green color, they can cause harsh health hazards when consumed. Solanine in green potatoes can cause nausea, headaches, neurological problems, and even death.

Have you ever thought that eating potatoes can be fatal? Well, potatoes can be fatal if they are consumed after they turn green. Due to being in constant heat and light, potatoes begin to sprout.

The production of chlorophyll increases, and some of the peel of the potato turns green. Chlorophyll may be a harmless chemical, but its presence in potatoes shows that the tubers in potatoes have also increased their production of a glycoalkaloid known as solanine.

Solanine is considered a neurotoxin that is harmful to humans if consumed. The consumption of solanine can cause headaches, nausea, severe neurological problems, and can also lead to death.

A study shows that 450 grams of green potatoes can make a small adult ill. So, always remove the green side of potato if you are consuming, or you can use these sprout potatoes in your garden for planting. (source)

5 Carbon monoxide gas is produced while burning wood, charcoal, or other fuel. This gas might not be seen as harmful, but when used in improperly ventilated appliances and engines mainly in closed spaces, it can cause severe health issues or can even cause death.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that is produced after burning fuels like wood, charcoal, and propane. It can cause carbon monoxide poisoning which propagates throughout your bloodstream.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused when you inhale combustion fumes or there is too much carbon monoxide gas is in the air. The oxygen in red blood cells is replaced by carbon monoxide, which causes severe health damage.

Moreover, when carbon monoxide is expelled in improperly ventilated appliances and engines located in closed spaces, it can accumulate to dangerous levels which can cause suffocation.

If a person is sleeping or intoxicated and inhaling carbon monoxide, then it can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, which leads to irreversible brain damage or even death. When you are suspicious about possible carbon monoxide poisoning, get into the fresh air and seek medical care. (source)