12 Terrifying Things In Missouri That Can (And Just Might) Kill You
Missouri is a beautiful state with so much to do and see…but there’s a bit of danger lurking about. Did you know that these 12 things in our state can kill you?
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
Missouri’s notorious ice storms are dangerous and can even be deadly; they cause traffic fatalities, power outages and falling trees.
Smoking kills more than 10,000 Missourians every year, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Missouri has the 9th highest rate of smoking in the U.S..
While we have a lot of love in our hearts for St. Louis, it unfortunately has one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation. According to Forbes, St. Louis is the 2nd most violent city (after Detroit), with 1,857 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
Oh no! Toasted ravioli, which is breaded and deep-fried, just might kill you. The number one cause of death in Missouri is heart disease, and these little nuggets of fabulousness might be making a contribution. We’re not advocating that you avoid them entirely...just eat in moderation.
Tornadoes are scary and deadly, but luckily we seem to have at least a few years in between fatalities.
Missouri has four species of rattlesnakes: the timber rattlesnake, massasauga rattlesnake and western pygmy rattlesnake.
Depression is a risk factor for several deadly health conditions including heart disease and diabetes. 20.6 percent of Missourians have been diagnosed with clinical depression, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Flash floods are deadly, and cause deaths in Missouri often; eight people died due to flooding caused by a major storm in December, 2015.
The New York Times reports that between 2008 and 2014, the gun homicide rate was 47 percent higher than the nation’s average.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports that Missourians were in 12,182 automobile accidents between 1998 and 2008. Oh, we know that YOU’RE a good driver...it’s the rest of them that are a problem!
Missouri has just two poisonous spiders: the brown recluse and the black widow. You’re most likely to be bitten by the brown recluse. Bites cause swelling and infection and could potentially be deadly (though deaths from spider bites are rare).
Missouri has five species of snakes that are poisonous; the copperhead is our state’s most venomous.
Which of these things are the most terrifying to you?
