Beware!

Being Friday the 13th, I figured it would be best to watch yourself. Do not let any black cats cross your path. Do not walk under any ladders. I do not have Paraskevidekatriaphobia, or an irrational fear of Friday the 13th. It is a good thing too, because there is a huge ladder in the warehouse I work at that I walk under all the time. Of course, the odds of any of the things people fear happening on such a day as today are very slim. Therefore, I guess if I see a black cat today, I will not have to run the other way.

Being struck by lightning
The Odds: 1 in 240,000
Only about 100 people in the United States die each year from lightning. Most strikes occur from June through August. Serious burns are actually rare. The most common injury is nervous system damage from the voltage.

Dying in a tornado
The Odds: 1 in 5 million
About 60 people are killed each year by tornados; the usual cause of death is flying or falling debris. These tips will help you stay safe during tornados:

Dying from a bee, hornet, or wasp sting
The Odds: 1 in 5.33 million
Only a few dozen people die each year from severe allergic reactions to stings.

Being bitten by a venomous snake
The Odds: 1 in 37,250
Although snakes bite roughly 45,000 Americans each year, fewer than 20 percent of those are from venomous snakes. Only 12 people a year die from a bite.

Being attacked by a shark
The Odds: 1 in 11.5 million
Only 23 people were involved in unprovoked shark attacks in 2000, and that was the record year for attacks.

Being attacked by a bear
The Odds: 1 in 36 million
Twelve people, on average, are mauled by bears each year in North America.