Ignorance May Not Kill, But Your Knowledge Can Haunt You
Someone once told me "what you are ignorant of would not kill you".
I have never understood that statement, however; the person added that knowledge would make your conscience prick you when you have done something wrong or eaten something unhealthy.
I do not know how many people also believe in this school of thought. Although, I totally agree with one of Erinco Ferm's quote,
"Ignorance is never better than knowledge".
However, I think I scaled through a situation that might have cost me my right foot when I was 7 years old. We lived in a bushy environment; the kind of bush that breeds mosquitoes and small rats. My parents tried their possible best to make our apartments free from mosquitoes; we cleared the bush regularly, used insecticides frequently, but no matter what they did, they were never able to get the apartment free from rats.
These rats were deliberately annoying, hence my parents decided to use the local rat trap to eradicate these little creatures. The trap was very efficient and in no time we had fewer rats in the house, and sometimes no rats at all in the house.
One Saturday morning I needed to get something from the shelve, since I was not tall enough, I decided to struggle to get to the top of the shelve. When I thought I was closer to what I wanted to get, I suddenly felt a sharp pain on my right foot.
I looked down and discovered my foot was trapped in this local trap. At first, I did not seem to believe that I had gotten my foot trapped, and to think that I was the only one at home that day. I ran out of our apartment, to meet my neighbors who were outside the compound. The moment I saw two adults outside, I shouted and started crying.
I cried so loud. They helped me untrap my foot and I felt relieved. They administered first aid to me; clean my wound, used a bandage to cover the wound. I knew I was not taken to any clinic, although our landlord's was a nurse. I was not also sure if she was around on that particular day, that was a long time ago.
My parent returned from work, my mum appreciated everyone for caring for me while she continued where they stopped. I think the whole care ended that way. Recently, a year old girl was brought into the hospital on account of domestic accident. She had leaped towards a kettle which contained boiled water, and she ended up pouring hot water on her laps. The girl was given tetanus vaccine to prevent tetanus infection, and the wound was later dressed.
Each time I have to give my patient tetanus shot, I most times flash back to this particular experience.
What if my foot got infected with tetanus?
Coupled with the fact that the rat trap was an old, rusted trap.
What difference will it be if I get any of my feet trapped in a local rat trap or something similar now?
I would get a tetanus vaccine immediately. I would not wait for anyone to tell me if I need to get the vaccine or not. Somehow, my knowledge about what tetanus infection is and the complications of it, coupled with the images of every patient I have treated who got infected with tetanus would haunt me.
I would not have my peace of mind. I would be so bothered, such that I would always imagine myself hospitalized because of tetanus infection.
You see, tetanus is a serious disease caused by a bacterial toxin that affects your nervous system, leading to painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles, with a prognosis of 10% death. It is quite sad that I have lost a patient to this disease. Now, you understand why my knowledge would prick me whenever I am injured and I choose to ignore getting a tetanus shot.
Tetanus is caused by a bacteria called, Clostridium tetani which is found in soil, dust and animal feces. Also, cut from a rust object is associated with tetanus infection.
Tetanus vaccine is the vaccine used to prevent tetanus infection. It is always given to children to build and boost their immunity, likewise also pregnant women.
Perhaps the person who told me your ignorance cannot kill you was a bit correct.
How you ever done something that might have caused you your life or something precious when you were younger?
However, you scaled through somehow
Do share with me.
