# What job are YOU \*personally\* most likely to die doing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2021, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611 "2021-12-07T03:30:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/1 "2021-12-07T03:30:12Z")
I misread this thread [What job are you most likely to die doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-most-likely-to-die-doing/955591/26) as What job are **YOU** most likely to die doing? As for me, my first thought was cleaning the leaves and pine needles out of the gutters up on a ladder, as it needs doing again for the 4th time this season, and I ain’t gettin’ any younger and my coordination and balance ain’t gettin’ any better. And I’m too stubborn and cheap to pay someone $200+ a pop when it’s such a frequent need this year. Fortunately/unfortunately, it’s a one-story, so it’ll a slow painful death after I fall. How about you? What job is most likely to do **YOU** in? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/2 "2021-12-07T03:42:58Z")
One of these days I’m going to go ass-over-hamper down the basement stairs with my laundry and crack my head on the concrete floor, never to be heard from again. I put a Care Bear in a nook in the wall at the bottom of the stairs, just so I have something nice to look at while I bleed out. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/3 "2021-12-07T03:53:01Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > One of these days I’m going to go ass-over-hamper down the basement stairs with my laundry and crack my head on the concrete floor, never to be heard from again. Ooh, that’s a likely possibility here, too. I did put in a 2nd handrail, so there’s a handrail on both sides, and theoretically I should always be holding on to at least 1 side, but it doesn’t always work out that way! ETA: I should get a Care Bear so I’ll be ready for the inevitable. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/4 "2021-12-07T04:01:46Z")
Widow-maker heart attack while shoveling the snow. It’s not that I’m too cheap to buy a snowblower, but my boys are 5, 3 and 6 months - I just think I can wait out Death until they’re old enough to do it for me. I’m 46, so that first snow 18 years from now and I’ve forgotten to get a blower, I’m a goner. 64, a year shy of retirement. Dammit! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/5 "2021-12-07T04:05:40Z")
Slipping on a cat toy on my way to the bathroom at night. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/6 "2021-12-07T04:08:32Z")
Changing a light bulb. I have one that’s up high out over a staircase. I have to lean out and reach up to grab the hanging light and then pull it back to me. I then have to lean forward as I unscrew the dead bulb and screw in a new one. If (or when) I slip, it’ll be an eight foot tumble down the stairs. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/7 "2021-12-07T04:52:01Z")
I literally LOL’d. I was NOT expecting those words coming from @ZipperJJ That’s got to be the darkest thing I’ve ever seen you post. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/8 "2021-12-07T05:09:02Z")
Yep, a ladder will be the death of me I’m sure. That or crawling around the corrugated iron roof cleaning out gutters, which ironically does not need a ladder in our case! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/9 "2021-12-07T07:29:12Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > my boys are 5, 3 and 6 months Your wife must be some kind of obstetrical marvel! Kudos to her! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/10 "2021-12-07T12:42:55Z")
Anything involving walking and tripping. I’m still dealing with an injury I sustained over eight weeks ago, in which I almost bled to death. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/11 "2021-12-07T12:58:52Z")
At my desk job downtown. Or begging in the street. That’s what my finances are like. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/12 "2021-12-07T13:09:29Z")
Seeing my grumpier patients, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/13 "2021-12-07T13:10:12Z")
Sequential thread alert, the next one down was how to wash your feet in the shower. So, I’m going with washing my feet in the shower. Second up will be shoveling snow or digging a hole taking out the ol’ ticker. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/14 "2021-12-07T13:11:03Z")
Driving to or back home from work. I’m convinced that other than old age and associated diseases (heart attack, stroke, cancer, etc.), if I die before my time, it’s going to be in a car crash. There are WAY too many bad drivers out there. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/15 "2021-12-07T14:13:41Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > As for me, my first thought was cleaning the leaves and pine needles out of the gutters up on a ladder, as it needs doing again for the 4th time this season, and I ain’t gettin’ any younger and my coordination and balance ain’t gettin’ any better. And I’m too stubborn and cheap to pay someone $200+ a pop when it’s such a frequent need this year. Fortunately/unfortunately, it’s a one-story, so it’ll a slow painful death after I fall. This. I did this on my house this spring for the first time in years. Being on the ladder wasn’t so bad by itself, but I was also dragging the garden hose up with me to blast debris out of the gutter. A two-story-tall length of garden hose is surprisingly heavy and clumsy, and prevents you from fully using both hands on the ladder as you climb. I don’t recommend it, and will be looking at different methods next year. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/16 "2021-12-07T16:57:11Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Your wife must be some kind of obstetrical marvel! Kudos to her! one possibility is a typo. Could be wives. That would explain the distribution. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/17 "2021-12-07T17:03:27Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > One of these days I’m going to go ass-over-hamper down the basement stairs with my laundry and crack my head on the concrete floor, never to be heard from again. I did just such a fall recently, but _I fall well_ so there was only minor injury. I thought I was on the last step, but I was actually on the next-to-last step. I stepped over the dog laying at the bottom of the stairs and went flying/tumbling. My phone was in my left hand but was fine. I landed face first and banged up the bridge of my nose. When I looked in the mirror afterwards, I looked like the MMA dude who, after the fight is stopped, looks around incredulously, insisting, “I’m fine, why’d they stop the fight” while cuckoos fly around his head. But my answer to the OP is a chainsaw/tree felling adventure. Especially now that my gf bought an ATV with a winch. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/18 "2021-12-07T17:29:41Z")
Working in the yard. Twice now I’ve failed to notice the symptoms of heat exhaustion. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/19 "2021-12-07T17:31:54Z")
Another candidate for a heart attack while shoveling snow here. I’ve been having cardiac problems for some years and got a stent six years ago, and every time winter comes since then, I dread the times I have to shovel my driveway. I also get very exhausted by it every time, though it’s not a very big area I have to shovel. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611/20 "2021-12-07T17:33:38Z")
Honestly, probably dying of a breakthrough infection from some maskless, unvaccinated idiot who coughs in my general direction while I’m shopping for groceries, which is one of my primary responsibilities. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-job-are-you-personally-most-likely-to-die-doing/955611.md?page=2)