3 Astonishing Facts About the Human Body
No. 3: The liver is the powerhouse of the body. This industrious organ is responsible for more bodily functions than any of its peers. Several essential systems rely on a healthy liver to work correctly.
The human body hosts as many fun facts as it does bacteria, and that’s saying something. Every part of our anatomy is fascinating, and these three facts about it can lead to your next foray into an unsettling but interesting dinner conversation. No. 1: The eyes see upside down. Our eyes perceive light upside down. Don’t worry, though; you’re seeing the world correctly. A complex series of nerves and brain matter set things right side up. This is how it works: When light hits the eye, corneas shift the image upside down. The retina transmits it to the brain using electrical signals through the optic nerve. The brain then flips the image around to the correct orientation. No. 2: You’re carrying trillions of bacteria. Every human body is its own universe, an incomprehensibly vast ecosystem supporting an ever- growing quantity of life. At least 38 trillion bacteria roam the body’s various organs, trying to survive, thrive, and reproduce. Human cells comprise only a tenth of that number. We couldn’t live without these bacteria, such as the humble Bacteroidetes, which help us digest food. Others are destructive and possibly lethal, including the infamous E.coli.
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Bile production: This acidic fluid digests fats and eliminates waste.
• Blood filtering: Toxic substances — such as alcohol and drugs — work by flowing through our cardiovascular system. The liver breaks them down so they don’t get out of control. • Blood clotting: Livers create vitamin K, a necessary substance in the blood clotting that protects cells from harm. These are but a few of over a hundred daily liver functions. This is an incredible, respectable organ and deserves a standing ovation for all its hard work. Bodies are fascinating. There’s no end to what you can discover. From the oddity of the eye to the power of the liver, every organ has a million mysteries. As science continues to advance, we’re likely to uncover a realm of new and fascinating facts about our bodies.
Pool Chemicals Pose Risks for Swimmers DIVE SAFE!
Pool chemicals such as chlorine and muriatic acid are essential in killing germs, preventing algae growth, and balancing the pH of the water. However, when these chemicals come into contact with the skin or other body tissues, they can cause coughing, choking, chest discomfort, and shortness of breath. High levels of exposure can lead to severe burns, and ingestion or inhalation risks lasting damage to the skin, lungs, and eyes. The longer the contact, the more severe the burns. One family received a $26 million settlement in a lawsuit over severe chemical burns suffered in 2020 by a 3-year-old child at a South Carolina resort. The parents didn’t immediately notice the chemical burns in the boy’s groin area, which eventually required hospitalization and extensive skin grafts. These injuries can occur on premises that public users consider safe. In 2018, 12 children enrolled in a California swim school were hospitalized for chlorine exposure after excess residue from a
chemical feeder was pumped into the pool. In another case, patrons of an upstate New York community pool suffered blisters, nausea, and vomiting after a 2018 power outage shut down some of the pool’s water flow systems. The system failed to restart correctly, allowing chlorine and acid to mix, generating toxic gas. Our law firm recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of our clients involving another hazard, “pool shock” — the addition of a large dose of chlorine to a pool quickly in response to an algae buildup or human contamination. Our clients sustained severe, permanent physical harm after hotel employees carelessly shocked a pool while they were swimming in it. If you or a loved one shows signs of chemical exposure after a swim, seek immediate medical treatment, take photographs, and document the injuries. Please contact us if you feel you may have a personal injury case, and we will be happy to work with you.
Families will be flocking to pools and water playgrounds to beat the heat this summer. As they dive in, few people will be thinking about the risk of injury from swimming pool chemicals. But the hazards are real. Pool chemical injuries led to more than 13,000 emergency room visits from 2015 to 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one-third of the injured swimmers were children and teens under age 18.
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