Things are not always what they seem.
So one should never assume a situation is harmless without a full assessment, although it's sometimes hard to tell.
But if you're ever stranded out in the wild, don't just assume those tasty-looking berries growing in the forest are safe to eat. Not all of these pulpy fruits are meant for human consumption, and ingesting the wrong one could kill you.
Curious to hear more examples of deceptively innocuous situations that could be a matter between life and death, Redditor figinjosejospe asked:
"What seems harmless but is actually incredibly dangerous?"
These are the things to take note when driving.
Stay Alert
"Tired driving is as dangerous as drnking and driving."
– Dull-Geologist-8204
Remove From The Dashboard, Please
"Putting your feet on car dashboard."
– Entire_Fan_1811
Be mindful of your travel companion.
Pet In The Passenger Seat
"Having a loose animal in the car. A safety instructor once told me doctors had to dig dog bones out of a person after it got between them and an airbag."
– NicholasF82
Secure Your Pet
"My uncle thinks I’m ridiculous for putting my dogs in restraints in the car. I’m talking rolling his eyes, scoffing, acting like it’s the most absurd thing he has ever heard. Like a moron."
"Last time I checked, dogs are not immune to the laws of inertia and will absolutely go flying through the car if there is a sudden stop. And while I of course care about the safety of my dogs, I also care very much about protecting myself and my human passengers from 40+ lbs of projectile dogs."
– YaBoyfriendKeefa
Belts Aren't Pet-Proof
"Our terrier got loose of her restraints once while our dad was driving and for some reason she thought the safest place to hide was under his feet. Under the clutch."
"Luckily we were on a straight, constant speed road so we could drag her out, but that wouldve been a dead dog or dead us if anything had happened, especially if she moved behind the brake pedal."
– Jonatc87
Whenever you're around a body of water, remember the following.
Sketchy Surface
"A patch of calm, smooth ocean between sections that look rough."
Generally that means that there's a rip under the surface. That patch of water wants to yank you out to sea and drown you.
– Otherwise_Window
Terrifying Death
" Pool covers. It's like being wrapped in a bedsheet underwater. You cannot get free and you cannot scream for help. Once you're in the only way to get out is to be incredibly lucky and get free or have faith that someone saw or heard you fall in and hope that they get you in time."
"It's a lengthy, terrifying, death that's completely avoidable."
– Dominic7o
Nature is beautiful. But don't underestimate its potential to protect itself at all costs.
Difference Between A Bear And A Moose
"A bear will usually give you fair warning before murdering you, a moose will dance on your crippled corpse just cause you dared look at it."
– Northern_boah
Leave The Berry
"Colorful and pretty wildlife you’re unfamiliar with."
"If you wouldn’t eat a berry you’re unfamiliar with, why would you pick up an animal you’re unfamiliar with?"
– sketchysketchist
Beware Of The Bovine
"Bison. Just go to Yellowstone, grab some popcorn, find a tourist route and watch. You'll see."
– Spraynpray89
Even innocuous pranks can lead to horrific results.
You know the cake tradition at weddings, where one's face is shoved into a cake.
Not everyone thinks it's funny.
As Redditor TheIrishninjas mentioned:
"Pushing someone's face into a cake, even relatively lightly."
"Some cakes have skewers inside to support them. A seemingly harmless prank could lead to being impaled, approach it from just the wrong angle and it's bye bye eyes."
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social