Just wondering if you all have had any close calls.
My closest call was out at a large lake in the wilderness with my friends. I was a skilled swimmer at the time so I told them, I'm going to swim across to the other side. Seemed easy, what I didn't factor was how quickly very cold water can sap you of energy.
About halfway across I was totally gassed. I looked back. It was just as far to go back as to go forward. I started to panic. I realized quickly though that panicking is how people drown. I calmed myself and switched to an easier stroke (breast stroke), and made it across - safe but thoroughly rattled. I still have a picture a friend took of my waving from the other side far in the distance. I found a large piece of wood to use as a flotation aid to get myself back.
Stupidest thing I've ever done, but people do stupid things when they're young. People drown all the time doing what I did. I still get anxiety when I think about it.
So what about you Stackers? Any narrow escapes from the Grim Reaper?
I had a "swimming across the lake" experience like you, when I was a teen. Not as dramatic, but when I got to the middle of the lake, I was very seriously wishing that I hadn't done that...or had at least brought a floatie with or something. Not quite panicked, but almost.
Cold water is a completely different experience from warm water.
I'm a LOT more cautious now when swimming. Especially since someone drowned in a small lake I used to do a lot of swimming in. If I did longer swims like that again, I would use something like this
Earlier this year I took too much acetaminophen while I was sick. I woke up from sleep feeling nauseous, so I went to the toilet. I collapsed there, completely out of control of my body. I was awake but I couldn't move at all. Couldn't even move my eyes. I remember sweating puddles. I thought that was it, that I would die there in such a pathetic way, alone.
Some time later when I was able to move again, I called my parents and asked to be taken to the hospital. They checked up on me, figured I was okay, but monitored me for awhile.
I was fine, but I went cold turkey on the acetaminophen after that.
Not really. I almost got hit by a car acting like a jackass with my friends when I was a teenager but I guess that's the closest call I can think of.
Mine too involved a car accident, nothing fancy like trying to be a daredevil.