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You wouldn’t expect items in your house to kill you. But there are a lot of things that could be a danger to your life without you realizing it.
- Toothpaste. There’s already a warning on the back that tells you not to ingest too much of it, but if for some reason you feel like downing some toothpaste, you may be in trouble. Too much toothpaste means intestinal blockage, and too much toothpaste with fluoride (much higher levels than you find in tap water) can cause convulsions and heart attack.
- Tylenol. Acetaminophen (or paracetamol, if you’re in the UK) is dangerously easy to overdose on. This includes other pain relievers like Midol, Excedrin, and Robitussin. There are about 500 deaths due to APAP overdoses every year. What does it do? It overwhelms your liver, effectively shutting it down. If you need Tylenol to stay pain-free, be sure to limit it to 3000 mg per day.
- Lint filters. If you’re one of those people who lets lint pile up as much as possible before emptying your lint filter, you may want to rethink your priorities. The lint in your lint trap can easily catch fire, and it’s the cause of almost 3,000 dryer fires and 100 deaths per year. Remember to empty your lint filter with every load, and remove any lint from your vent pipe every three months.
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- Extension cords. Of course, you should always be anchoring your extension cords to the wall or the floor so they’re not a tripping hazard. But if you load up your power outlets with power strips and cords, you’re at risk for one of the 3,300 yearly electrical fires per year. Unplug cords whenever possible, and use your power correctly.
- Gas ranges. Gas ranges are one of the leading culprits for household carbon monoxide poisoning, especially if you leave it on for a long time, forget to turn them off, or don’t ventilate their homes properly. If you have a gas range, make sure you also have a CO monitor in your home so you can be alerted if you have a leak.
- Houseplants. While houseplants are a great way to create a cheery home, but some of these plants are poisonous when ingested. Flowers like daffodils, irises, and lily of the valley can be highly poisonous to humans and animals. So keep a lookout if you have pets or small children.
Many of these common dangers are easily avoidable if you take the right precautions. So take the time to take care of your home. It may save your life.
