A couple of days ago I arrived home from work to witness my family huddled around the television paying keen attention to a segment that talked about the number of people that are injured by getting cut by glass coffee tables, end tables and other glass furniture.  The news article mentioned that unfortunately, many of these injury victims are children.  This is probably not all that surprising considering that we parents may be complacent when it comes to protecting our children from hazards around the home.

During the next phase of this news article, a grown man, probably in his 40’s, was telling his story of arriving back home from the hospital after nearly bleeding to death:  he was sitting on the glass coffee table in his living room when it shattered and he was severely lacerated on his way down to the floor.  He was rushed to the hospital and fortunately lived to tell the story.  His comment to the newscaster went something like this: “I had no idea a glass table could shatter like that!”.  Our daughter’s comment in response to his comment went something like this: “Daaaaahhhhh!!!  What are you thinkin’ Mister?  Helloooooo!!!!!  You’re 200 pounds and you’re sitting on a glass coffee table???  You had no idea a glass table could shatter like that?  That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!”

Our daughter nicely summed up just what I was thinking and I couldn’t have put it more eloquently!  Ah but there’s the rub and something that points to the root cause of most injuries: not thinking and not holding injury prevention on the forefront of our minds 24/7.  I really can’t be too critical however, as I’ve done some pretty stupid things in the past and fortunately, have never had a serious injury.  The difference between now and then is that I catch myself before I cross the Stupid Line, as Smartrisk calls it.  Have you ever crossed the Stupid Line?