If you look around, there are plenty of reasons to love our beautiful state. After all, life in Arizona is amazing, and the Copper State is filled to the brim with incredible natural wonders to marvel at. However, that does not mean living here is a utopian joyride. Here are just a few major things you may want to avoid the next time you step outside! Is Arizona safe? For the most part - just be sure to avoid the items on this list. Yikes!

1. Too much sun exposure

Yes, we live in one of the sunniest states in the US so it doesn’t hurt to wear some sunscreen. Unfortunately, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US, and can be caused by exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Staying out in the sun too long can also lead to other potentially deadly maladies, like...

2. Dehydration

Drink up that water! Throughout the year, you should be drinking at least eight glasses of water per day. But you will probably need more during the summer months when your body can dehydrate more quickly in the incredible heat. Adding electrolyte drinks can help as well if you spent more time than usual in the heat; trust us, getting heat sickness is a horrible way to spend an afternoon, and an even worse way to die.

3. Heat-related illnesses

Just like the previous two entries on this list, heat exhaustion and its more extreme relative heat stroke are entirely preventable. Avoid strenuous activities in the heat, stay hydrated, and stay in cool areas when you can. Maybe don't do the infamous Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon in the middle of August.

4. Scorpions

We get the heebie jeebies just looking at this guy, which is a stripe-tailed scorpion. Both it and the Arizona bark scorpion are little arthropods you want to avoid for as long as possible. Since they love to hide in dark places, if you live in a scorpion hotbed area make it a habit of ensuring your shoes are scorpion-free by hitting them upside down a few times. Honestly, though, scorpions are not out to get any of us - if you respect them (and don't startle them), they're more likely to fear you than anything else.

5. Flash floods

Every monsoon season, at least one person thinks they can outdrive a flash flood. Literally. It's every year out here. People do NOT learn from the (oftentimes deadly) mistakes of others. Just. Don’t. Do it. If a huge, heavy tour bus can get swept away by flash flood waters, don’t assume your little Honda will make it (or your F-150). Interestingly, Arizona has a law known as the "Stupid Motorist Law", which states that folks that do stupid things that result in requiring rescue services are billed for said rescue. Good, honestly.

6. Driving in dust storms

The "pull aside, stay alive" campaign is around for a reason. Once the roads start looking like this, it can only get worse before it gets better - the best thing to do is pull off the road to a safe place, turn off your lights, and wait out the dust storm. Do not leave lights on - this can lead other drivers to assume you're moving when you're not.

7. Rattlesnakes

We chose this picture for a reason: see how easily the snake blends in with its environment? When you’re out hiking or even just taking the dog for a walk, always be aware of your surroundings and look before you step. Sure, you'll usually get a warning via the tell-tale rattle, but not always. Don't surprise snakes.

8. Black cars with leather seats.

Black cars, leather seats, and Arizona summers (especially in the central and southern regions) don’t mix. Oh, and shorts. Lord help us if we encounter this specific danger while wearing shorts.

9. Touching anything metal in summer.

Getting seared by your seat buckle is the worst. So are third-degree burns from being barefoot on concrete, so it isn't just metal that's better off avoided by those without shoes.

10. Wasting water.

We live in a desert with limited groundwater and a few reservoirs that feed the entire southwestern region. You can live without your green lawn and 20-minute showers, seriously. Now more than ever, conservation is incredibly important. Check out some of our favorite water conservation tips to find out how to do your part.

11. Complain about living in Arizona.

Criticize the politics all you want, but if you complain that Arizona is boring or too hot or not green enough, be prepared for a backlash. Plenty of people will just as quickly tell you to move elsewhere. Our state is incredibly beautiful, and it's so much more than a boring, dead desert.

What else do you recommend your fellow Arizonans or visitors avoid? Let us know in the comments!