You see them every day and maybe even take them for granted: railway tracks. You might not give much thought to those metal strips that sit on ballast or concrete until one day you find yourself running towards them because there’s a train coming at you from the other side. Train accidents are a tragic reality, and they can be extremely dangerous. The outcome of being hit by a train is almost always fatal. This article looks at some of the more unusual cases in which people have been hit by trains and survived, as well as what happens when you get hit by a train.
What Happens When You Get Hit By A Train?
If you are hit by a train, the consequences can be devastating. You may suffer from serious injuries, including broken bones, internal bleeding, and brain damage. You may also be killed instantly. If you do survive, you will likely face a long and difficult recovery process. The physical, emotional, and financial tolls of being hit by a train can be overwhelming.
Some Other Occurs When You Get Hit By A Train
1. You will be hit
The first thing to remember is that when a train is coming towards you, there’s no way you’re going to get away. Trains are designed to be as efficient as possible. This means that they travel at very fast speeds, and take up a lot of space. As soon as the train driver spots you on the tracks, he or she will blow the horn and apply the emergency brakes, but it’s too late. The train is going too fast for it to stop in time. If you’re standing on the tracks when this happens, then you have about one second left before impact.
2. You will die
Trains are incredibly powerful machines and their impact on the human body can be devastating. The sheer force of being hit by a train means that most people don’t survive the accident – especially if they are hit by one at high speed – but if you do survive, there can still be serious consequences for your health and well-being later in life.
3 . You could become paralyzed
If you manage to survive being hit by a train then there are still serious injuries that can affect your quality of life for years afterward: broken bones; spinal cord damage; brain damage; loss of limbs; or even paralysis from the waist down or lower limb amputation. These injuries mean that in some cases people who have survived being struck by trains will never walk again and may need assistance with daily tasks for the rest of their lives.
4. You could lose a limb
Even if you don’t suffer any broken bones, there are plenty of other ways you can end up seriously injured after being hit by a train. The impact will often knock you to the ground and this can result in serious injuries, such as brain injury or spinal cord damage, even if you don’t suffer any broken bones. In some cases, the force of the rain hitting your body can result in the amputation of a limb; either your arm or leg will be completely ripped off by the train before it passes over you and carries on down the tracks. This is probably one of the most horrific injuries that can occur from being hit by a train – and one that is often fatal too.
5 . You could die from blood loss
If you are lucky enough to survive being hit by a train then there’s still plenty of danger to go: shock and blood loss can be fatal too; especially if you are left on the tracks for several minutes before medical attention arrives. The force of being hit by a train can also cause severe internal bleeding, which is extremely dangerous and life-threatening unless it is treated immediately with surgery or blood transfusions.
6 . You could lose your legs (or worse)
Even if you survive all these injuries without dying – which is incredibly rare – there are still plenty more dangers ahead: infection; amputation; nerve damage; organ failure; and even death. For example, if you are left lying on the tracks for several hours after being hit by a train then you could develop gangrene, which is when your limbs become black and rotten and have to be amputated; or you could die from blood loss.
7 . You could lose your eyesight
If you are hit by a train then there is a very real chance that you may lose your eyesight too; either permanently or temporarily. In some cases, the force of the rain hitting your body can result in retinal detachment, which means that your retina gets torn from the back of your eye and becomes detached from it. This is incredibly painful and can lead to permanent blindness if it isn’t treated immediately with surgery.
How Fast Train?
- Trains are very fast. The average train can travel up to 100 miles per hour, and the fastest trains can reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.
- Trains are heavy. The average train weighs more than 1,000 tons and can weigh as much as a small naval destroyer ship or a large commercial airliner.
- Trains are long. A train is typically over 100 cars long, and many trains have over 200 cars on them.
- Trains are loud! Trains often exceed 90 decibels (dB), which is louder than an ambulance siren or a rock concert.
- Train tracks aren’t designed for pedestrians or vehicles to be on them; they’re for trains only!
So Why Do People Still Get Hit By Trains?
1. People think they can outrun trains
Many people believe that they can outrun a train or that the train is going to slow down before it reaches them. It’s true that some trains do slow down before reaching a station, but this is not the case with all trains and it’s certainly not the case when they are traveling at high speed.
2. People are unfamiliar with railway tracks
Some people might not be familiar with railway tracks and thus don’t know what to do when they see one coming at them. This is one of the main reasons why people get hit by trains in the first place they don’t know how to react.
3. People don’t look both ways before crossing tracks
Crossing railway tracks without looking both ways for oncoming traffic can be very dangerous, especially if you have headphones in or your mind is elsewhere. Always look both ways before crossing any railroad track!
4. People decide to take a shortcut over railroad tracks
Sometimes people will decide to take a shortcut over railway tracks instead of going around them – this decision is almost always fatal, as many people simply fail to see an approaching train in time to avoid it (even if they look both ways). If you consider taking a shortcut across any type of track, think twice and make sure there aren’t any trains coming towards you first!
5. Drunkenness plays a part in many cases
Drunkenness is an obvious factor in many cases of people being hit by trains, but it’s not the only factor. People who have consumed too much alcohol or drugs are likely to make poor decisions, including the decision to jump over railway tracks instead of finding another way around them.
6. People run across tracks while looking at their phones
Texting or looking at your phone while you’re crossing tracks can be extremely dangerous, especially if you don’t see a train coming towards you in time to avoid it. Always put down your phone when crossing any type of track!
7. People are walking on the tracks and get hit by a train
It seems like common sense that walking on railway tracks can be dangerous, but many people don’t realize that this activity can be fatal as well! This is especially true when people are drunk and decide to walk along railway lines for some reason – they fail to see an approaching train in time and get hit by one. Walking on railroad tracks is extremely dangerous!
3 Everyday Objects That Can Save Your Life If You’re Hit By A Train
- A tree
The most common tree in the world is the oak, and one of its most notable features is its ability to grow straight up. If you’re hit by a train at high speed, it could mean that you’re going to be buried under a pile of earth. The best way to survive such an incident would be to make sure that you’re not underneath an oak tree.
- A car
When a train crashes into another vehicle, the results can be devastating. If you were hit by a train while driving your car, you could lose your life instantly or suffer severe injuries. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you don’t get caught behind a truck or in front of any other vehicles when crossing railway tracks.
- An umbrella
One of the most common objects that you see in the rain is an umbrella. What’s not so common, however, is that one of these umbrellas can save your life. If you were hit by a train while holding an umbrella over your head, you could be crushed to death under the weight of the train.
Conclusion
Train accidents are tragic, and they can be extremely dangerous. If you find yourself on the tracks, you have a very small window of opportunity to get out of their way. You should always keep an eye on the train schedule and avoid walking around in areas with train tracks. If you find yourself on the tracks, walk as far away from the train as possible and wait for the train to pass before trying to climb back to safety. It’s important to remember that train accidents can be fatal, and you should be aware of your surroundings at all times.
