Everyday Items That I Bet You Didn't Know Could Send You To The Hospital
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Everyday Items That I Bet You Didn't Know Could Send You To The Hospital

The surprising household objects that have caused thousands of injuries...

517
Everyday Items That I Bet You Didn't Know Could Send You To The Hospital
Pexels

Danger hides around every corner in our home, even concerning products you would never think could cause you harm. None of these items have danger written in big, bold letters, but some lacked adequate warnings from the manufacturer.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) put together this list of every day items after surveying emergency room information. Believe it or not, people landed at the emergency room after having an unfortunate experience with these household products.

Pillows, blankets, and mattresses.

Pillows provide you with several hours of comfortable sleep every night. They also present a tripping risk and a choking risk for babies. in 2015, the CPSC estimated that more than 770,000 American adults were injured by pillows. This placed the comfy object as the second most dangerous item in your home and the most dangerous item that isn’t built into your home. If you are curious about the injuries pillows caused, they included simple bruises, bone breaks, and in one out of seven cases, the injuries required hospitalization.

Chairs, sofas, and sofa beds.

This item came in third place for household items that caused the most injuries. The CPSC reported that as many as 600,000 injuries occurred from falls and other interactions with these types of furniture. You may want to think twice before jumping from couch to couch next time you're celebrating.

Metal cans and plastic/glass containers.

These items are as dangerous as they are versatile, according to the CPSC. They estimated that almost 295,000 injuries took place in 2015 from human interactions with containers and cans, with an additional 42,000 sustaining injuries from glass jars or bottles. Small children choked on bottle caps, and metal cans sliced fingers, often leading to stitches. People storing inappropriate material in plastic containers, including combustibles, presented another risk the CPSC highlighted.

Clothes

We choose our clothes for style and comfort. According to the CPSC, we may want to reconsider some choices. In 2015, nearly 350,000 people went to the hospital because of injuries caused by their clothing. Problems highlighted included flammability, injuries from drawstrings, children choking on buttons, and tripping from loose-fitting clothing. Warning, your clothes could send you to the hospital, tread lightly.

Bathroom fixtures

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regularly reports that the bathroom is the most dangerous place in the home, whether from the spread of germs or from injuries sustained in the room. A report from the CPSC agrees, estimating that almost 572,000 people received injuries connected to bathroom structures or fixtures or personal use items. Have you ever heard of the irrational fear of falling in the shower and have your neighbors find you after a week? Well, it's not too far from the truth.

Television stands

With the push for larger televisions, the risk of injury grows to match. Large sets present lifting risks for adults and a tipping danger to infants and children. The impact from a television set tip-over can be equivalent to two NFL linebackers hitting each other head-on at full speed.

Dressers

Falling furniture like heavy dressers has become a greater risk in the last couple of years than ever before. In 2016, Ikea had to pull around 27 million dressers from their stores after six children were killed after the furniture tipped over. As a result, several personal injury and product liability claims were made by the families of these children.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

93425
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments