Walking talking with cell phone causes injuries

• April 19, 2024

Young people between the ages of 16 and 25, who usually walk talking with their cell phones at the same time, are twice as likely to suffer injuries from accidents, according to a study by the Ohio State University , U.S.

According to the study, the number of young people or pedestrians who walked talking with cell phones and suffered some mishap, increased in number and percentage of total pedestrian injuries 2004-2010.

According to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission of the United States , lesions treated in emergency rooms between 2004 and 2010 doubled in that period, in addition to exceeding those recorded among those who had an accident while using their cell phones and driving during the last year.

In this sense, Jack Nasar, co-author of the study and professor of urban and regional planning at the University , says that "if current trends continue, I would not be surprised if the number of pedestrian injuries caused by telephones doubles again between 2010 and 2015.

As part of the results, it was observed that during the year 2004 alone, 559 pedestrians were treated in emergency rooms for injuries suffered while walking talking with the cell phone, including injuries to the feet, shoulders, arms and hips, from contusions. until fractures, by falls and run over.

"As more people have phones and spend more time with them, the number of injuries is likely to increase, and now people are also playing and using social networks on their phones," explains Nasar, which makes it more likely that the numbers continue to rise.

It should be noted that the percentage of accidents recorded among young people who spoke and walked, was greater compared to those who wrote text messages while advancing. 69% of the injuries in the first case, while in the second only 9%.