What Risk Really Means
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Health experts frequently use statistics in regard to health. For example, "You have a one in ten-thousand risk of this or that happening". Should this be worrisome? In a word -- no. The following examples will help you get a better handle on what these numbers really mean! |
A risk of 1 in 1,000,000 is about equal to:
- The chance you will flip a coin 20 times and get heads 20 tries in a row
- 30 seconds in a year
- Less than 1/2-inch in a mile
A risk of 1 in 100,000 is about equal to:
- The chance you will flip a coin 16 times and get heads 16 tries in a row.
- Five minutes in a year.
- 1/2-inch in a mile.
A risk of 1 in 10,000 is about equal to:
- The chance you will flip a coin 13 times and get heads 13 tries in a row
- 53 minutes a year
- 6 inches in a mile
Source: International Food Information Council Foundation
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