There’s nothing quite like a walk through nature to relax you and take some stress away. It’s actually scientifically proven that being exposed to things like birdsongs when you’re out in nature can make humans happier.
But nature is also full of things that can hurt us, from rocks to twist an ankle on to animals that bite when startled.
The trick is to know when you’re in danger and when you’re not, and asking questions is always a good place to start to keep yourself safe.
When Reddit user Darkstalkker encountered this structure out in the woods, they had to find out what it was for.
And so they turned to Reddit’s r/whatisthisthing community for some help.
“[The] metal bit is about 2 feet wide and looks like it could uncomfortably fit a person in it,” they wrote . “My guesses are a well, sewer or time capsule. For context I live in eastern Massachusetts. We plan on going back to open it.”
It’s a legit good question!
Hey, in a state as rich in history as Massachusetts, a time capsule would make some sense — although that metal cover seems quite heavy duty and expensive for a time capsule, and they tend to be well marked, like the one pictured.
But stranger things have happened!
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Now, quite a few folks on Reddit were able to identify it as a manhole cover.
Possibly an upside down manhole cover, but definitely a manhole cover.
Although Darkstalkker noted that it was about 50-70 yards from a house, the online community weren’t fooled into thinking it was a well.
But even if it seems like a strange locale for a manhole, there are plenty of reasons it could be where it is: to inspect an aquifer or to maintain a storm drain, for example.
But what concerned people most was Darkstalkker’s “plan on going back to open it.”
That’s…a spectacularly bad idea, as many pointed out. It’s not quite like you see on TV, which obviously shows people doing such things for dramatic effect and in highly controlled settings.
In real life, those access points to the underground aren’t nearly so innocent.
There’s a reason only trained, well-equipped maintenance workers should be accessing manholes.
“Do not open it. DEFINITELY DO NOT GO IN IT! Manholes are notoriously deadly because they contain low oxygen percentages and high concentrations of poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulfide and methane,” wrote one person in the comments.
In those conditions, it’s easy to quickly become overwhelmed and die.
And it’s not just your own life at stake, either.
“We are taught during confined space rescue drills that more than 2/3 of deaths in confined spaces are would-be rescuers,” another commenter wrote . “We can’t handle the guilt of watching someone lie there and it literally kills us.”
It’s a scenario that has played out in real life recently, too.
In Florida in 2017, such a situation claimed the lives of three utility workers, the Tampa Bay Times reported. A firefighter who tried to rescue them almost became a fourth victim as well because his breathing apparatus wouldn’t fit through the opening.
One person wondered if there might be a scenario in which an impromptu rescue might be possible.
“Can the gas harm you if you go down and exit before you take another breath?” one person asked . “I know that it would be very difficult to meter your breath precisely enough to have enough breath left to climb back out but if you were able to do it or would the gas effect you?”
It’s not a dumb question — people have tried exactly that many times in real life.
And the answer to that is a resounding no.
“It’s been shown over and over that it is physically impossible to enter an atmospherically compromised confined space, retrieve a patient and haul them to safety on a single breath,” one person shared. “Every class tries as a test in a mock scenario and no one makes it. Don’t even attempt to try this in an emergency. Confined spaces are a real hazard and need to be taken seriously.”
So there you go: if you find a random manhole cover, don’t mess around with it.
The temptation to explore those secret areas can be tough, but it’s not worth it. Leave it alone. Don’t be fooled by all the times you’ve seen people pop down and explore harmlessly on TV, or by any ninja turtle shenanigans. Stay out, stay safe.
