Pessimists Guide to the Outdoors: Why You Should Stay Inside
Some people are just naturally pessimistic when it comes to the outdoors. They don’t like the cold dry air, or bugs, or the foliage . They don’t like dirt or sweating. They don’t like the wildlife or any other numbers of things that have to do with being out in the wild. Some people are just plain afraid. Lots of nasty things can happen to those who don’t know what they are doing, or even to those who do. Unfortunately, the outdoors can sometimes find there way indoors. For those of you who are natural outdoor pessimists, this is for you; reasons why you should continue to avoid nature and stay in your safe little bubble.
Avalanches
Though far and few between, avalanche accidents and deaths do occur every year. The crazy thing is that a person doesn’t even have to be skiing or snowboarding on a remote mountain to get caught in an avalanche. It can happen on even the most used ski trails. Anybody who lives on a mountain base, or hikes near one that gets snow can get caught unaware. Avalanches are nondiscriminatory and can wipe out whole towns in a matter of seconds.
- In 1992 an avalanche in Eastern Turkey killed more than 250 people.
- In 1999 in Galtur, Austria, an avalanche killed more than 30 people.
- In 2010 alone in the United States more than 75 people died due to an avalanche.
Solution: Move to the desert.
Heat Exposure
It’s possible that heat exposure may be the most dangerous to those who enjoy the outdoors. Hyperthermia happens when the body can’t expel heat from itself at an expedient enough rate. As the body overheats it can experience dizziness, nausea, visual problems and irregular heartbeat. More than 400 people a year in the U.S. get some form of hyperthermia.
- Heat exposure has accounted for close to 100 deaths in the Grand Canyon.
- Hiking at higher altitudes can exacerbate the effects of heat stroke.
- Elderly people have a greater risk of getting some sort of hyperthermia.
Solution: Stay inside in the air conditioning.
Rock Slides
It’s highly unlikely to be the victim of a rock slide, get trapped and have to cut your arm off to escape five minutes before help arrives, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen. Rock slides happen all over the world and are responsible for hundreds of deaths annually.
- In 2003 Aron Ralston was the victim of a rock slide and had to cut his arm off to get out and get help.
- In 2008 a rock slide in Cairo, Egypt killed 20 people and injured 35 more.
- In 2009 two American students were killed in a rock slide while in hiking in China.
Solution: Stay away from big rocks and cliffs.
Freezing Weather
Mother Nature is a fickle biatch. One day it’s hot and the next it’s below freezing. Every body expects it to be cold in places like Alaska, but even people who live in extremely cold weather can be caught unaware by freezing temperatures and get hypothermia or die. Hypothermia is said to be the “sweet death” with symptoms that include amnesia, difficulty speaking, intense shivering and exhaustion.
- Altitude sickness can lead to hypothermia in places as high as Mount Everest or as low as Mount Rainier.
- In 2003 the Sherpa’s had to save a group of climbers from freezing because they were falling asleep while climbing.
- In 2003 in Vermont, a man fell asleep outside and ended up freezing to death.
Solution: Stay inside by the fire.
Even though death is inevitable, it can be avoidable. Although staying indoors doesn’t guarantee to hold off death, it is obvious that it is more dangerous to go outside and expose yourself to the unpredictable elements.
